Common Types of Injury Resulting From Workplace Accidents

Workplace Injuries Statistics

Due to the amount of time each of us spend at work on a daily basis, it should come as no surprise that sustaining work-related injuries are quite common. However, just how common sustaining a workplace injury is may surprise you. According to the National Safety Council, every 7 seconds, a worker is injured on the job. That means approximately 4.5 million work-related injuries occur each year. With statistics like that, it is important to know what the most common work-related injuries are and what to do if you sustain one of them.

Neck and Back Trauma

Depending on the type of work you do, some injuries may be more common than others. However, one type of injury that extends to almost every line of work imaginable are neck and back injuries. Neck and back trauma can occur if your job requires you to lift heavy objects. Consequently, if you work in the construction, agriculture, or manufacturing industries, which requires workers to lift heavy objects on a frequent and regular basis, you may sustain back or neck injuries due to the repetitiveness of the task or if you try to lift an object that is too heavy for you. Still, you can also experience neck and back trauma if you work in an office and your job requires you to sit at a desk for most, if not all of the day. Depending on your posture, repetitive sitting with your neck and head hunched over a computer screen can cause you to pull or strain muscles in your neck or back.

Falling from Heights Injuries

While you may certainly sustain neck and back trauma if you fall from heights at work, falling from even a relatively low height can cause a litany of other injuries. Falling from heights is particularly common if you work in the construction industry because this type of job requires you to work on scaffolding, roofs, and use ladders. If you fall from any height at work, you may suffer any number of head injuries, spinal cord injuries, knee injuries, broken bones, or even death.

Falling Objects Injuries

Falling objects injuries are also common in many workplaces, particularly in the construction, manufacturing, transportation, and agricultural industries. If you come into contact with debris or another object which falls on you at work, you may suffer a head injury, including a traumatic brain injury, broken bones, lacerations and injuries to internal organs if you are crushed by the falling object.

Machinery Injuries

In manufacturing jobs as well as other jobs that require the use of heavy machinery, injuries frequently occur if the worker either operates the machinery incorrectly or it malfunctions. Regardless of whether the worker incorrectly operates the machine or the machine malfunctions, common machinery injuries include amputations of limbs, lacerations, broken bones, and muscle and nerve damage. You may also suffer internal organ damage if you are crushed by any machinery.

Occupational Exposure Injuries

Some jobs, like those in the hazmat remediation industry or medical field, make workers come into contact with toxic substances such as asbestos or communicable diseases like HIV. Increased exposure to these toxic substances or communicable diseases may cause the worker to develop cancer, asthma, or the communicable disease to which the worker is exposed. Moreover, if a worker works in a setting where it is very noisy due to the repeated use of certain tools or machines, the worker may very well suffer from hearing loss if in the position for an extended period of time.

What to do if You Have Suffered a Work-Related Injury in New Jersey

If you have suffered any of the above injuries while working in New Jersey, you may be compensated for these injuries through your employer's workers' compensation insurance. To initiate and prove a workers' compensation claim, it is prudent to speak with an experienced New Jersey workers' compensation attorney as soon as possible after you sustain a work-related injury.

Contact a Edison Workers' Compensation Lawyer to Discuss Your New Jersey Workplace Injury Case

A workplace injury can be devastating, particularly if it prevents you from returning to work for an extended period of time. Although New Jersey workers' compensation laws are supposed to provide you with reimbursement for medical expenses and replacement pay for missed time at work, it is not always easy to get the workers' comp benefits you deserve. That is why you should speak with a knowledgeable workers' compensation lawyer about your situation and get guidance throughout the claims process. The experienced workers' compensation attorneys at Lombardi & Lombardi, P.C. represent clients in Edison, Brick, Freehold, Point Pleasant Beach, and all across New Jersey. Call 732-906-1500 or fill out our online contact form today to schedule a free consultation about your work injury case. Our main office is located at 10 Parsonage Road, Edison, NJ 08837, and we also have offices in Brick, Freehold, and Point Pleasant Beach, NJ.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.