Craig Rosenbaum | May 24, 2024 | Workplace Accidents
Getting hurt at work presents a unique set of challenges. Your employer may carry workers’ compensation insurance that can offer some relief. However, the process of obtaining full benefits is often anything but straightforward.
Depending on the facts of your case, you might also be able to file a personal injury lawsuit. Through that claim, you can recover economic and non-economic damages, potentially adding up to much more than what you can get through workers’ comp.
No matter the industry you work in and the nature of your injuries, you may have legal options after a workplace accident. Continue reading to learn about 10 of the most common types of workplace injuries.
Exposure to Harmful Conditions
Many occupations require exposure to potentially harmful materials and environments. If proper safety protocols aren’t followed or implemented by the employer, serious injuries and illnesses can result.
Construction, manufacturing, and laboratories are industries and locations where these kinds of injuries are especially high risk.
Overexertion and Repeated Stress
Many jobs entail performing the same or similar tasks repeatedly. Some tasks, such as picking up and moving heavy objects, may be physically demanding. Others, such as typing on a keyboard, may not be as demanding but can still cause harm over time.
Repetitive motion and overexertion injuries can happen to just about anyone, regardless of their occupation.
Slips, Trips, and Falls
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, slips, trips, and falls comprise a significant percentage of workplace injuries annually. These incidents can cause life-altering injuries or even death.
Nationwide, the CDC states that well over 1 million people suffered slip and fall injuries at work in a recent year.
Struck by Objects and Equipment
Many jobs entail working with objects and equipment that pose significant danger if not operated correctly. The construction industry is one prominent example. Being struck by a falling object or debris can cause immense harm, even when wearing all the right personal protective equipment (PPE).
This type of injury also falls within the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s (OSHA’s) “fatal four.”
Soft Tissue Damage
Many kinds of injuries fall within the larger category of soft tissue damage, such as:
- Strains
- Sprains
- Bruises
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
Almost any employee is susceptible to suffering a soft tissue injury, even if their job doesn’t require significant physical effort.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Car, motorcycle, and other motor vehicle accidents happen every single day. Delivery drivers and others in similar roles must get behind the wheel to make a living, while many other positions require operating a vehicle at least some of the time. Although modern vehicles are safer than ever, severe injuries can still result from a crash.
Note that even though New York is a “no-fault” state for car insurance, it’s still possible to take legal action against the responsible driver in many cases.
Fires and Explosions
Fortunately, fires and explosions aren’t as common as some of the other injuries discussed here. However, when they do occur, they can cause a high number of injuries or deaths at once.
If you have lost a loved one in a fatal workplace accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim against the responsible party.
Electrocutions
Electricity is a vital component of modern-day society worldwide. Virtually every industry utilizes electricity to some degree. While some employees are much more likely to suffer an electrocution injury than others, the risk is almost universally present.
Electrocution injuries include burns, seizures, cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, and more.
Violence From Animals or People
Most jobs involve interaction with other people, whether colleagues, clients, or customers. Some roles, such as farmers, also involve regularly working with animals.
Violent acts, whether intentional or otherwise, are a common source of workplace injuries. Many of these actions, such as assaults, also constitute crimes subject to prosecution.
Being Caught in Heavy Machinery
Being caught in or between heavy machinery is also listed among OSHA’s “fatal four.” Crushing injuries, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are just a few types of harm that can result.
Although not every worker will be at risk of sustaining a caught-in/between injury, those who do can sustain harm that impacts them indefinitely.
Get Legal Help After an On-the-Job Accident
Getting legal advice from an experienced workplace accident lawyer is one of the best steps you can take after being injured at work. Most attorneys in this area of the law offer free consultations, so you can learn about your best course of action at no charge.
From there, almost every personal injury attorney works on a contingency fee basis. That means you only pay attorney’s fees if your lawyer successfully handles your case. If you’ve been injured in an accident in Manhattan, NY, and need legal help, contact our New York City construction accident lawyers at Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers
100 Wall St 24th Floor
New York, NY 10005