Every year millions of workers suffer workplace injuries in the United States. In fact, according to the National Safety Council, about 7 million work-related injuries occur each year; that amounts to nearly 13,000 work-related injuries every day.
If you’re an American worker, these numbers may be alarming to you, since no matter where you work, workplace injuries are always a possibility.
With that in mind, here are the most common workplace accidents, the injuries they may cause, and what you should do to get the compensation you need after an on-the-job injury.
8 Common Workplace Accidents in Workers’ Comp Cases
Now, if you suffer a work-related injury, you may be in for a very difficult time. For starters, you’ll have to pay for medical bills (which will probably be very high), and you won’t be able to work until you’re fully recovered.
That means you won’t get the income you need to support your family. However, there is something that can help ease your situation: workers’ compensation benefits.
These benefits will cover your medical expenses and your lost wages. In other words, they will be your lifeline while you get back on your feet.
However, getting these benefits is often more complicated than it sounds.
Insurance companies will do everything in their power to make you accept the lowest settlement possible to save a few dollars.
If you want to increase your chances of receiving the maximum compensation available for your case, you should talk to a Los Angeles workers’ compensation firm, such as C&B Law Group.
Most Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorneys offer free consultations, so don’t hesitate to reach out to them to find the right attorney for your case.
Slip and falls
A slippery floor, tools or wires on the floor, unsafe ladders – these are all common causes of slips and falls.
Even if employers take extensive safety measures to prevent these types of accidents, they still account for nearly one-third of all workplace accidents that occur each year.
If you’re somewhat lucky, you may only suffer a bruise after a slip and fall at work. However, you may also suffer a more severe injury, such as a fracture, traumatic brain injury, or even a spinal cord injury.
Motor vehicle accidents
Right off the bat, you may not relate motor vehicle accidents to your occupation.
However, if you find yourself doing a work-related activity while driving your car, or your employer’s car, and you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a car crash, your injury would be deemed a job-related injury even if it did not occur at your workplace.
A car accident can have dire health consequences for anyone. You could suffer everything from fractures, lacerations, neck injuries, and many other injuries.
Repetitive motion injuries
A large percentage of work-related injuries that occur each year are due to repetitive motion injuries.
These are injuries that develop over time due to the effects of repetitive motions or routine postures on the job.
Many workers are prone to this type of injury, such as those who spend long hours using a keyboard, cashiers, and even those who perform more demanding physical activities, like construction workers.
Some of the most common repetitive motion injuries are carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, tendonitis, and trigger finger.
Obtaining compensation for this type of injury is often especially complicated (especially if you suffer from a pre-existing condition) since you must prove that your injury is related to your job.
So, if you sustain a repetitive motion injury, talking to a workers’ compensation attorney near you may be exactly what you need to get the compensation you deserve.
Falls from heights
Some employment sectors have to deal with the possibility of falling from significant heights while on the job.
OSHA estimates that about 36.5% of construction worker fatalities are due to falls from great heights, such as from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, skyscrapers under construction, etc.
Given this alarming statistic, it’s not surprising that employers take many precautions to prevent this type of accident.
However, if you are unfortunate enough to fall from a very high place while working, chances are that at the very least you will suffer fractures in various parts of your body, and in the worst-case scenarios, you may be disabled for life, or die due to the impact.
Being struck by objects
OSHA estimates that about 10.1% of workplace fatalities occur when employees are struck by falling or misplaced objects.
This type of injury is most common in workplaces where debris or other work materials tend to fall from heights, such as construction sites.
If you are struck by a small falling object and you are wearing a safety helmet, the injury may be mitigated and may only cause a small bruise.
However, if you are not wearing proper protection, or if the object impacting you is too large, you may suffer a fracture or brain injury, depending on where you are hurt.
Electrocution
According to OSHA, 8.6% of occupational fatalities each year are caused by electrocution injuries. This percentage doesn’t include the many people who suffer non-fatal electrocution injuries.
The truth is that there are a variety of workplaces where workers are at risk for this type of injury. The industries in which the most electrocution injuries occur include construction, mining, agriculture, and fishing.
Workers who suffer an electrocution injury due to improper wiring exposed wires, or any other reason, are at risk for cardiac arrest, severe burns, and death in more severe cases.
Caught-in or caught in between
The last of the so-called “Fatal Four” of workplace accidents are those accidents in which a worker is caught in or between machines, large debris, cars, objects, machines, or anything else large in size.
About 2.5% of workplace fatalities arise from this reason, according to OSHA statistics.
Furthermore, trench collapses in mines or construction sites, or the collapse of structures can cause this type of accident.
Although these situations are rare, if you are involved in such an incident you are likely to suffer severe consequences, such as crushed limbs or death.
Overexertion injuries
If you push your body beyond its capabilities by constantly lifting, pushing, throwing, holding, or carrying objects as part of your job, you are likely to eventually suffer an overexertion injury sooner or later.
From these activities, your muscles are likely to become weaker and weaker, making you prone to injuries such as back injuries, muscle strains, neck injuries, and connective tissue injuries.
On the other hand, if you work in unfavorable weather conditions, your health may suffer as a result, which would also be considered to be an overexertion injury.
What should you do to get the compensation you need?
After sustaining a work injury, the first question that probably comes to your mind is, “what should I do to get the compensation I need?”
The truth is that after your injury, one of the first things you should do is contact a workers’ compensation lawyer in Irvine CA to help you deal with this difficult situation.
The attorney will have the required experience to guide you every step of the way and will take care of representing you before the insurance company to increase your chances of receiving the settlement you deserve.
If you have more questions about workers’ compensation, visit Legalfacts.org for more information about the law or to contact an experienced attorney near you.
