Some major types of work-related injuries and their Workers’ Compensation Benefits

The injuries caused by workplace accidents can have a selection of short-term and long-term effects. Because of the potential for significant financial and non-financial losses, all employees injured during a job need to confirm they have a transparent understanding of their legal rights.

But determining the benefits are quite challenging when the loss is extensive. A skilled workers’ compensation attorney and an expert medical record reviewer combination can surely win the case for the injured worker.

How many categories of work related injuries are there?

Types of work related injuries typically fall into four main categories:

• Traumatic Injuries: Injuries resulting from a sudden accident, like a fall or collision.
• Repetitive Stress Injuries: Injuries from repeated movements, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Occupational Illnesses: Long-term health issues caused by exposure to harmful substances (e.g., asbestos).
• Psychological Injuries: Mental health issues, including stress or trauma, resulting from work conditions.

Let’s see them in detail:

1. Slips, trips, and falls

Slips, trips, and falls account for one out of every four workplace injuries. Despite being viewed as “minor” accidents, workplace slips, trips, and falls routinely cause serious injuries. The common cause of falls is wet floors. Most of the employees who are injured in workplace accidents can collect workers’ compensation benefits.

Unless the injured intentionally hurt themselves or intoxicated when fell. This accident will presumably be covered under the employer’s workers’ compensation policy. Workers’ compensation insurance covers all workplace accidents, and thus the reason for the accident is irrelevant to the claim for compensation.

The most common injuries caused by slip and fall are:

• Fractures of bones
• Sprains and strains
• Abrasions and lacerations
• Contusions and bruises

The Most-common effects of slip, trip, and fall injuries are:

• Temporary and permanent disabilities
• Acute and chronic pain
• Lost wages and out-of-pocket expenses
• Reduced quality of life
• Depression & other mental state issues

2. Struck by, or against, objects

Object injury occurred as doing Job for the employer, then that employee eligible for work-related injury compensationn. The good thing about workers’ compensation is, it covers almost every job-related injury, and it does not matter whose fault the accident was.

Many types of accidents can be caused by an object collision at work. Some of these are:

• Sprain and strains
• Fractured limbs or broken bones
• Damage to the head and brain
• Fracture to the elbow and shoulder
• Hip, knee, and foot injuries

3. Transportation incidents

The transportation industry ranks #1 in workplace fatalities across the nation. Almost 40 percent of fatal workplace accidents each year occur in the transportation industry. Licensed commercial drivers are frequently forced by unreasonable deadlines to make deliveries.

A driver who is on the job when a motor vehicle collision occurs may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits regardless of who was at fault in the accident. A personal injury lawsuit may also be warranted in these cases.

4. Machinery accidents

Heavy machinery accidents often cause severe and life-threatening injuries, requiring extensive treatment.

There is a high risk of injury for employees who perform jobs that require the use of heavy machinery. A worker who is injured at the workplace in a machinery accident can seek employee compensation benefits.

Amputation injury is damage to the body part sustained in industrial or machinery accidents. Workers have lost extremities such as hands, fingers, or arms in industrial accidents. Such incidents require intensive attention and they have life-changing implications.

Losing a finger or limb can change the whole life of a person. The loss can cause a person unable to function and care for their loved ones. Since most employees who are injured at work have people who rely on them, an entire family would be affected by the accident and not just the employee.

5. Exposure to harmful substances and environments

Chemical exposure occurs when the workers are exposed to dangerous chemicals like asbestos, lead, benzene, pesticides, cadmium, beryllium, mercury, silica, paint, solvents, and acids while they performing their duties. Injuries due to exposure to certain harmful chemicals can include rashes, throat and lung injuries, burns, and even more dangerous consequences like neurological damages.

The most common work-related skin diseases include:

• Skin infections
• Skin injuries
• Irritant contact dermatitis
• Allergic contact dermatitis
• Skin cancers
• Other miscellaneous skin diseases

6. Fires or explosions

Workplace fires or explosions, with substantial disfigurement, can cause devastating respiratory and burn injuries. The duration of recovery can be very long. Exposure to fires and explosions can result in loss of hearing or sight, inhalation issues, lung damage, shock wave injuries, brain injuries, respiratory or cardiac arrest, and wrongful death.

To get reasonable work related injury compensation, your medical records should be intact. When your attorney, with the help of medical record review companies, collate the evidence to prove your work injury, the outcome of your claim would be in your favor.

What are the four types of workers compensation benefits?

The four major types of workers compensation benefits include:

1. Medical Benefits: Coverage for medical treatment related to the work injury or illness.

2. Wage Replacement Benefits: Payments to replace lost wages due to the injury.

3. Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits: Assistance with retraining or job placement if the worker cannot return to their previous role.

4. Other Benefits: Includes death benefits for dependents of a worker who dies due to a work-related injury or illness.

In addition to the cost of medical treatment, the injuries described above lead to workers’ compensation claims for temporary and total disability benefits.

Many job injuries will stop the injured worker from working at all. Some job injuries can require an injured worker with certain disabilities or constraints to be returned to the job.

The injured worker will obtain involuntary disability insurance before he can return to work if the work limitations prohibit the injured worker from performing the work that the employer is willing to provide.

Lingering pain and permanent impairment can be caused by certain injuries, including back injuries. An injured worker is entitled to permanent medical insurance if an injury is likely to be permanent.

Final Thoughts

Workers’ comp attorneys support injured workers to receive all the benefits they have all the right to receive. Workers’ compensation attorneys work with medical record review companies in analyzing the medical records of the injured worker. This will act as a tool in fighting with the insurance claims providers who want to settle claims for less than they are worth when an accident creates a lifelong disability.