Schedule A Free Consultation

(800) 529-1441

personal injury lawyer near me
Menu Menu Bar

What Are The Most Common Workplace Injuries?

Table of Contents

  1. Slips, Trips, and Falls
  2. Soft-Tissue and Back Injuries
  3. Falling Objects
  4. Work-Related Vehicle Accidents
  5. Protect Yourself At Work

There are hundreds of thousands, 2.5 million to be exact, of accidents, many of them serious, in workplaces every year.

About 5,000 workers are fatally injured in the workplace each year, with nearly a million injured workers losing days from work.

That’s why, as workers and even small business owners, it’s essential to be prepared and take the proper precautions to avoid a workplace accident.

You stand to benefit from knowing as much as possible about how workplace injuries happen and what workplace injuries are the most common so you can work smarter and safer.

But accidents can still happen to even the most prepared person, anyone can be a victim at any time.

If an injury happens to you at work, can you sue outside of workers comp for a workplace injury?

To help you avoid an unnecessary injury at work, below we have compiled a list of the most common workplace injuries.

 

I met with Harry Brown personally and he sat with me for 20 minutes at our initial consultation to explain everything. He even called after my surgery to see how I was doing. I met with him several more times after that and was kept informed about my case throughout. I highly recommend Harry Brown as an attorney.

STEVEN SWEENY, SAVANNAH 

Slips, Trips, and Falls

No matter where you work, there is a good chance you will encounter a slippery surface at some point in your career.

Whether you work in a factory, a restaurant, an office building, or on wall street, there is no surface immune to becoming slippery enough to cause you to slip and fall.

Or, again, no matter where you work, it is possible to trip and fall over something.

Maybe a diner in your restaurant scoots back in their chair as you walk by, causing you to fall.

Or someone on the same floor of your office building drops their three-ring hole punch on the floor as you’re walking by, send you headfirst into the carpet.

People in the construction industry are at risk almost every day of falling while working at height, whether it be from a ladder or scaffolding.

No matter where you work or what you do, slipping, tripping, and falling is always a possibility.

slip and fall incident report
Man with a low back injury at work

Soft-Tissue and Back Injuries

Sprains, strains, and tears to muscles, tendons, and disks are the most common types of injuries reported by employees.

These types of injuries cost millions if compensation dollars every year, and back injuries are the number one cause of missed work.

There are several types of soft-tissues injuries, most of which only require a few days of rest to recover.

Others, though, can cause permanent disability.

Overextension is one of the most common types of work-related injuries, and it occurs from pulling, pushing, lifting, gripping, carrying, or throwing.

Overextension is known to cause sprained and torn muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

It’s the most common cause of work-related severe back injuries.

does workers comp cover car accidents

Related Article

Does Workers Comp Cover Car Accidents, or do I Need a Third-Party Claim?

Falling Objects

This is one you don’t often think about, but plenty of workers are injured by falling objects every year.

This might seem probable if you work in a warehouse environment or on a construction site, but being injured by falling objects isn’t limited to just those environments.

Objects that fall from shelves or cupboards can cause debilitating injuries, especially if you aren’t expecting it and don’t see it coming.

People in an office building are often less aware of their surroundings than those on a construction site, making them more vulnerable to injury.

work vehicle accident
falling object work injury

Work-Related Vehicle Accidents

Thousands of car accidents happen every day, and a large portion of those are work-related car accidents.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reported that traffic accidents are the leading cause of work-related deaths in the United States.

If you’re in an accident driving to or from work, you likely aren’t eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.

But if you drive as part of your job, like delivery drivers or workers who are performing duties at the request of their employer should be covered by workers’ compensation.

If you’ve suffered injuries in a work-related car accident that wasn’t your fault, in addition to making a workers’ comp claim, you may also need to pursue damages against the other driver to ensure full compensation.

For example, even if you totaled your car running an errand for your company, workers comp won’t pay for damages to your vehicle.

Workers injured in vehicle accidents while on the job often need the expertise of a personal injury attorney to receive full compensation for their injuries.

Even if you were responsible for the accident, you would still be eligible for workers’ compensation if you were injured and unable to work.

Your employer’s liability insurance should also step in to defend and protect you against any damage claims made by occupants from the other parties involved in the accident.

Protect Yourself At Work

There is no shortage of ways you can be injured at work, and this list is just the tip of the iceberg of possibilities.

But, like they say, knowing is half the battle.

Watch out for slippery surfaces, falling objects, be careful when lifting or carrying anything heavy, and be extra safe when you are driving for your job.

Proper training, clear signage, and access to safety equipment are also vital in preventing workplace accidents.

Your company should also be performing regular risk assessments.

You can’t always avoid accidents, but you can do your best to avoid unnecessary mishaps.

If you’ve been injured at work, the first thing you need to do is seek medical attention.

Then you need to tell your employer so the compensation progress can begin.

In certain situations, especially with vehicle accidents, you may also need to contact a personal injury attorney to make sure you receive full compensation.

If you’ve recently been injured at work and you’d like to discuss your case with a personal injury attorney, click the button below.

Ready to Talk to a Lawyer Who Has Your Back?

Schedule a Free Consult

Our Recent Personal Injury Articles

View All Articles
Contact The Brown Firm

Get the Answers and Compensation You Deserve

You’ll notice the difference when you contact The Brown Firm! Our local dedicated attorneys want to help you recover and rebuild.

Schedule your free consultation by calling (800) 529-1441 or completing our simple online form.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

If you or a loved one were injured and need help, our skilled personal injury lawyers will be at your side every step of the way.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.