Common work injuries

Construction Injuries

Construction sites abound in potential hazards – particularly for the people who work in and on them. Because of this, construction sites are one of the most heavily regulated types of work environments that exist, requiring various kinds of permits, routine inspections, equipment training, and other safety programs in order continue operating and keep people safe. Unfortunately, every year the construction industry is near the top of the list in terms of the number of accidents and injuries that occur and the severity of those injuries. If you get hurt on the job, do not simply assume that your employer and the workers compensation laws will properly take care of you. There are all kinds of tricks for insurers and others to use to minimize the compensation you receive. Protect yourself and your family. Get skilled legal representation. Examples of constructions accidents that may occur are:

• Welding accidents
• Misused tools
• Harness mishaps
• Fires
• Explosions
• Defective equipment
• Falls
• Falling objects

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (RSD)

We are still learning about RSD and the intense, ongoing pain that is its hallmark. One thing that most experts do believe, though, is that the condition can be connected to stress. So, if you have a stressful job, it may be causing you to suffer from pain that is making every single part of your life far more difficult.

Repetitive Trauma Work Injury

Do you work on an assembly line? Sit at a desk all day typing on a keyboard? The two jobs may seem to have little in common, but both involve engaging in repetitive movements over a long period of time. Because of this, both of them can tax your body in a very specific way that causes injury (such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome), over time. These also include injuries due to repetitive heavy lifting resulting in:

• Shoulder Injuries
• Low-Back Injuries
• Neck Injuries

Toxic Mold & Chemical Exposure

These types of injuries can occur in any type of workplace. Those that are inherently dangerous because you are working with known toxic substances such as:

• Paramedics
• Firefighters
• First Responders
• Chemical Plants
• Pesticides

And more common workplaces that are older and built with outdated materials or haven't been cleaned or renovated in some time such as:

• Office Buildings
• Government Buildings
• Firehouses
• Hospitals
• Buildings built with asbestos

If your job causes you to be exposed to something that leads to you contracting an autoimmune disorder, cancer, hepatitis, tuberculosis, asthma, severe allergies, pulmonological disorders (such as RADS), COPD, or another similar condition, you deserve workers’ compensation.

Fractures & Broken Bones

Breaking a bone is quite serious. While bones can certainly break if, for example, heavy objects fall on them or someone experiences a fall to another level, all it really takes is falling in the wrong way. You can slip and fall on a walkway, and if your arm or leg gets tangled up at just the wrong angle, the result may be a broken bone. Because of this, fractures can occur in any workplace.

Depression & Anxiety

Some injuries are not visible to the naked eye or through any physical tests. Rather, they involve psychiatric or emotional trauma. If you are suffering from emotional distress due to your physical injury, do not ignore it or try to convince yourself that it is any less “real” or debilitating just because it is not physical. Some work injuries can leave us with severe emotional scars that make it difficult to live a normal life. *Florida courts have ruled that, emotional & psychiatric conditions must be a direct result of the original, physical work-related injury.

Catastrophic Injuries

The types of injuries covered under this term include crushing injuries, amputations, severe burns over large portions of your body, and other painful and disabling serious injuries. These tend to be the types of injuries that leave people permanently disabled or disfigured. In many cases, those who suffer catastrophic injury are entitled to benefits for the rest of their lives, so you want to make sure that you fight for everything that you and your family deserve. Though they can occur anywhere, catastrophic injuries most frequently occur in industries where people often work with large, heavy machinery or dangerous items or chemicals. Some of the more serious injuries include:

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Loss of limbs
• Head trauma resulting in memory loss or difficulty concentrating
• Failed back and neck surgery (Failed Back Syndrome)
• Electrocution
• Chemical & other severe burns
• Loss of sight (blindness)
• Loss of hearing

   

Slip and Fall

Property owners have a duty of care to the people they invite onto their property. This is true whether you are talking about a store, another place of business, your apartment complex, or your neighbor’s house. Moreover, falls can be incredibly serious in many cases, resulting in high medical bills, missed work, and more. If you are injured on another's property due to their negligence, you should not have to pay for their mistake. We have the knowledge and experience you need to help you fight for the compensation you deserve.

Heart Conditions and Strokes

Sometimes the very nature of the work can lead to someone developing a heart condition or suffering a stroke. When this happens, workers’ compensation is there to protect you and ensure that your employer compensates you.

Lacerations or Puncture Injuries

One of the most common types of workplace injuries, and workers’ comp claims are due to cuts, lacerations or punctures. Depending on the nature of the incident, these injuries can be relatively minor (cutting your finger with scissors) to much more serious (getting hit with a nail gun or breaking a pane of glass and falling onto the shards). Since there are so many different ways to cut or puncture yourself, this is an injury type that can occur in a wide variety of professions and workplaces.

Overexertion and Overuse

If your work involves physical labor, such as pulling, pushing, lifting, or throwing, it can cause you to pull a muscle or strain a joint relatively easily. Most frequently these types of injuries occur in people working construction, warehouses, factories, and package delivery,  though first responders, EMT's, fire fighters, and others also report them. In fact, according to the Department of Labor, this is the most common workplace injury. Some of the activities resulting in overuse or overexertion injuries include:

• Repeated lifting of boxes
• Repeated use of tools
• Repeated stair climbing
• Lifting from floor-to-waist or wist-to-overhead
• Repeated twisting and kneeling

Wrongful Death (Survivor Benefits)

An employer’s workers’ compensation liability does not end with an employee’s life. If your loved one dies on the job due to work conditions, you may be eligible to receive death benefits as a spouse or for dependent children.