What Injuries Are Covered Under Workers’ Comp
If you are injured on the job, you most likely are covered by workers’ compensation. This state-mandated insurance gives workers the protection they need when an injury happens, including wage recovery, medical coverage and other benefits. However, there are some injuries that are not covered. As a worker, it is beneficial to know what injuries workers’ compensation covers.
What Are Workplace Injuries and Illnesses?
A workers’ compensation injury or illness is one that is related to on-the-job activities or conditions. It can also be one that occurs when the employee is doing a required task or at a job-related location. Some examples are a waitress who works in a restaurant that permits smoking and develops lung cancer, a lineman who falls after repairing a downed wire, tripping at a work-sponsored outing or an employee injured by malfunctioning equipment.
Common Workplace Injuries
Approximately 2.4 million workers are injured on the job each year. The most common workplace injuries are:
- Slips, trips and falls: This is one of the most common workplace injuries and accounts for roughly 30 percent of those that happen in the workplace. They range from an employee slipping on an icy or slick surface to tripping over an electric wire to falling off a ladder. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration offers advice on how to stay safe in the work environment.
- Crashes: Being injured by a motor vehicle is a frequent occurrence, particularly in warehouses. Other injuries include:
- Trapped by an overturned vehicle
- Hit by a vehicle, including a forklift
- Big rig accidents
- Falling debris
- Being hit by another worker
- Rollovers
- Equipment-related injury: Falling equipment that is not stabilized is one of the leading reasons for a workers’ compensation injury. So is striking a piece of equipment. Other causes of equipment-related injuries are:
- Being crushed by equipment
- Being trapped in or by equipment
- Excessive vibration
- Electrocutions
- Amputations
- Explosions and fires: Severe burns result from this type of injury.
Most Common Injuries
The following is a list of the most common workers’ compensation injuries:
- Overuse: Overuse injuries include those related to repetitive work such as carpal tunnel and shoulder injuries.
- Fractures: Broken bones of all kinds are seen in the workplace. Some heal quickly but others such as femur fractures can take longer and require surgical intervention.
- Lacerations and contusions: These types of workers’ compensation injuries are common but can still cause significant pain, and in some cases, disfigurement.
- Spinal cord injuries: One of the major types of injuries, spinal cord damage can lead to paralysis and total disability.
- Traumatic brain injuries: A serious injury, traumatic brain injuries can alter the person’s ability to handle the job in the future. Some TBIs transform the person’s ability to use their cognitive skills to work at any job in the future.
- Crush injuries: These injuries are often difficult to treat since organs and bones might be beyond repair. Crush injuries to the extremities often result in an amputation.
- Amputation: Losing an extremity can alter the employee’s ability to work at their current job. For some people, retraining them for other types of work may be necessary.
- Burns: Burn injuries are difficult to treat and can cause overwhelming infection. In addition, a burn can lead to disfigurement.
Help in a Workers’ Comp Injury
Some injuries are mild, and filing for and receiving compensation is less challenging. Others are more complex, and the help of an experienced legal advocate is advised. Your workers’ comp attorney can investigate the accident and ensure that the benefits are adequate. If a problem surfaces in terms of receiving workers’ comp benefits, your lawyer can intercede on your behalf. In addition, if benefits are denied, your legal advocate can work on an appeal and accompany you to the hearing.
Myrtle Beach Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Turn to the attorneys at the Morris Law Accident Injury Lawyers when you have been injured by a work-related injury. Call us at (843) 232-0944, or contact us online to schedule a free case review. We will be at your side throughout the process and help you obtain the benefits you deserve.
