If you suffer an injury while doing your job, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Workplace injuries can occur in an instant, such as a slip and fall, or develop gradually over time, like repetitive stress injuries. Both types can have a serious impact on your health and ability to work.
This guide outlines some of the most common workplace accident injuries and how they happen. Working with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can help ensure your claim reflects the true extent of your injury and that you receive the maximum compensation available. Contact Rob Levine Law today for a free consultation.
Slips, Trips, and Falls Caused by Unsafe Work Conditions
Slips, trips, and falls occur when an employee loses footing or balance due to unsafe conditions such as wet floors, loose carpeting, uneven surfaces, or obstructed walkways. An office worker, for instance, might slip on a freshly mopped floor that lacks warning signs, twisting a knee and fracturing a wrist while attempting to break the fall. These accidents can occur in any workplace and often result in injuries that disrupt an employee’s ability to work.
Overexertion and Physical Strain Injuries
Overexertion and physical strain injuries occur when an employee places excessive stress on the body through lifting, pushing, pulling, or repetitive movements. These injuries often affect the back, shoulders, and joints, commonly resulting from lifting heavy objects without assistance or proper technique.
For example, a warehouse employee may attempt to lift a heavy, awkwardly shaped package alone, feel a sharp pain in the lower back, and later receive a diagnosis of a disc herniation. In severe cases, intense physical strain can also trigger a heart attack, particularly in workers with underlying health conditions.
Impact Injuries Caused by Falling or Moving Objects
Impact injuries occur when a falling or moving object in the workplace strikes an employee. These injuries often result from unsecured materials, falling debris, moving equipment, or objects dropped from elevated surfaces. For example, a construction worker may be struck on the head by debris falling from an upper floor, suffering a serious concussion and a deep head laceration. Impact injuries can range from bruises to severe head or spinal trauma.
Repetitive Motion Injuries Affecting Muscles and Joints
Repetitive stress injuries develop when workers perform the same movements repeatedly over time, placing ongoing stress on muscles, tendons, and joints. Common causes include typing, assembly line work, frequent use of tools, and other tasks that require continuous motion. For example, a data entry specialist or assembly line worker may develop carpal tunnel syndrome in the dominant hand after years of high-frequency wrist movements. These injuries often worsen gradually and can lead to chronic pain and reduced function.
Vehicle Accidents Involving Company or Work Vehicles
Work-related vehicle accidents happen when employees are injured while operating company vehicles or driving for work-related purposes. Common causes include distracted driving, speeding, fatigue, heavy traffic, and unsafe road conditions. A delivery driver rear-ended at high speed while stopped at a light may suffer severe whiplash and a possible mild traumatic brain injury. These injuries can disrupt an employee’s ability to work and require ongoing medical care.
Ladder, Scaffold, and Roof Fall Injuries
Ladder, scaffold, and roof fall injuries occur when workers fall from elevated surfaces while performing job-related tasks. Common causes include faulty or unstable equipment, improper setup, inadequate safety protections, and failure to follow established safety procedures. A maintenance technician who falls 15 feet from a defective ladder may suffer a compression fracture in the spine, requiring immediate surgical intervention. Such accidents frequently cause serious, life-altering injuries.
Physical Assaults and Violent Incidents at Work
Workplace violence injuries result from physical attacks or threats that occur during the course of employment. These incidents often involve customers, clients, or members of the public. For instance, a security guard assaulted on company property may sustain a broken jaw and later experience severe anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. These incidents often require both medical and mental health treatment.
Cuts, Lacerations, and Puncture Wounds
Workplace cuts, lacerations, and puncture wounds result from contact with sharp tools, machinery, or materials. These injuries frequently occur in food service, manufacturing, and construction settings. A food service worker may suffer a hand injury by cutting it deeply on a meat slicer. They may require extensive stitches and suffer permanent nerve damage in the fingers.
Burn Injuries From Heat, Chemicals, and Electricity
Workplace burn injuries result from exposure to heat, hazardous chemicals, or electrical currents. Hot machinery, open flames, chemical handling, and faulty wiring are frequent contributors to accidents. A factory worker who spills a strong acid while transferring chemicals may suffer a third-degree burn on the leg, requiring a lengthy hospital stay. Burn injuries can cause severe pain, scarring, and long-term functional limitations.
Machinery Entanglement Accidents
Machinery entanglement accidents occur when clothing, hair, or body parts become caught in moving equipment. Common causes include loose clothing, inadequate safety guards, and a lack of training on the proper use of machinery. For example, a construction worker’s loose clothing may get caught in heavy equipment, pulling their arm into the mechanism and resulting in a severe crush injury that requires surgical amputation. These accidents are often severe and can lead to permanent disability.
Maximizing Compensation After a Workplace Injury
Maximizing your workplace injury compensation starts with prompt medical attention and thorough documentation. Record every treatment, doctor visit, and missed workday, and gather evidence about the incident. An attorney can help organize your records, communicate with insurers, and protect your rights.
At Rob Levine Law, our workplace injury lawyers guide clients through the claims process to help ensure the compensation they receive fully reflects the severity of their injuries.
Win or no fee™, that’s the Fee Free Guarantee®. Contact us online or call 888-791-9135 today for a free consultation.
