Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance created to help employees who have been injured on the job to help recover. This is done in the form of a claim process. Generally, if you are injured in the workplace you fill out a workers’ compensation form that is then reviewed and either approved or denied. It should be noted that every state has various laws on file, however they can differ in scope. Some of the potential benefits that you might be able to receive if you file a workers’ compensation claim include:
- Death benefits
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation services
As you can see, workers’ can stand to receive a significant amount of benefits if they are injured on the job. Nobody expects to be, of course, and today’s workplaces are becoming increasingly safer with new safety codes being developed and implemented all the time. Unfortunately, nothing is ever 100% safe. This is true even if you, as an employee, have taken all of the safety precautions possible to avoid being injured. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the ten most common worker accidents and injuries that result in workers’ compensation claims.
1. Falls, Slips, or Trips
When it comes to the workplace, one of the most common accidents is, by far, the slip or fall. This can happen for a number of reasons, the most common being wet floors that are improperly labeled or sidewalks that are icy and snowy.
2. Overexertion
Typically seen in construction jobs, factory jobs, or any other kind of job where physical labor plays a big role in the workplace, overexertion happens when you push, pull, lift, or throw something and are injured as a result. This is probably the most common injury found in the workplace.
3. Bodily Reaction
What happens if you trip or fall, manage to catch yourself in the process, but still receive an injury? These are known as “bodily reaction” injuries, and they can happen to anyone, at any workplace, and at any time.
4. Falling to a Lower Level
This tends to happen when workers slip off of a roof, a ladder, or down some stairs at a multi-level workplace. This can include even things like professors falling down stairs at a university or high school.
5. Struck by an Object
This typically happens when an object falls from a shelf or is dropped by a worker, striking someone beneath them.
6. Highway Accidents
This is an especially common injury for truck drivers, and encompasses accidents while on the roadway for work.
7. Struck into Object
This happens when someone is pushed or falls into something like a barricade or a bookshelf.
8. Repetitive Motion Injury
This kind of injury occurs from doing the same thing over and over again. Sitting, using a mouse, or working on an assembly line are things that can cause this injury.
9. Workplace Violence
Unfortunately, sometimes the workplace can see bodily conflict. This type of accident occurs as a result.
10. Machinery Accidents
This kind of accident occurs when heavy machinery injuries a worker via mutilating or crushing.
If you have been injured in the workplace, find a workers’ compensation attorney today!