Every year, the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission releases an annual report that covers such data as claims filed by industry, awards according to disability and body part, the demographics of claimants, fatalities by industry, and other important information. From these details and facts gathered by workers’ comp agencies in other states, certain patterns emerge, including the most common types of workplace injuries. If you’ve been hurt on the job under any of these scenarios, consult with a workers’ comp lawyer about your rights and filing a claim.
1. Repetitive Motion: While they may not involve a single incident, the types of workplace injuries that occur over time from repetitive motion are still harmful. Typing and sitting in front of a computer for an eight-hour work day can cause muscle strain, neck and back aches, vision problems, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Any of these painful conditions may require long-term medical treatment.
2. Falling Objects: In certain workplace environments, such as warehouses, stockyards, and shipping centers, objects may fall from shelves or pallets if they’re not properly secured; another employee may also drop an item while handling it. An object that strikes any part of the body may cause injuries that require medical attention.
3. Overexertion: If your job requires physical labor, you may suffer from injuries related to overexertion. Examples include, pushing, pulling, lifting, holding a position, carrying objects, and similar activities than can cause exhaustion if you’re not allowed proper rest. Muscle strains, strains, spinal trauma, and other injuries may leave you unable to work for an extended period of time.
4. Accidents Involving Vehicles: Employees that drive a vehicle as part of their job description may be involved in accidents with other motorists, despite driving safely and obeying all traffic laws. Injuries can be severe, especially when the vehicle is a semi or other large commercial truck. Broken bones, spinal trauma, head injuries, contusions, and other wounds may require long-term medical care; more serious injuries may never fully heal, preventing you from returning to the same job.
5. Machine Entanglement: In factories, manufacturing, facilities, warehouses, and similar environments, employees get assistance from equipment to help them with heavier tasks. Unfortunately, this same machinery can cause workplace injuries when fingers or limbs become entangled. Loose items such as clothing, gloves, shoes, and hair can also lead to accidents involving workplace equipment.
6. Falls and Tripping: Falls from one level to another below, on the same level, or from machinery can lead to on-the-job injuries. Tripping over equipment or slipping on slick floors are other work-related accidents that commonly cause injuries to employees.
While these types of workplace injuries may be among the most common, the list is certainly not exclusive. Accidents and non-accident incidents occur frequently despite employer precautions, and the financial impact can be severe. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help you file a claim and will fight for your right to an appropriate monetary award. If you’ve been injured on the job, please contact attorney Michael A. Freedman to discuss the details of your case.
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