If you have suffered an injury at work, you may be wondering if you are eligible to file a worker’s compensation claim. The answer is that it depends on the circumstances of your injury. Here we describe seven typical injuries workers suffer at their workspace, regardless of the type of occupation. Before we do that, you need to know the conditions for filing the claim. Read on!
Contents
How can you know that your injury qualified for workers’ comp?
When you suffer an injury at work, it is essential to take immediate action. This involves seeking emergency medical attention and documenting all steps. You should inform your employer and ask them to file all the necessary paperwork.
The point of your immediate action is to make a logical connection between your impairment i.e. medical condition and your job, thus you’ll prove that it happened during your working hours, in your workplace, and wasn’t caused by your personal negligence. Making a clear connection can become a bit more complicated when the medical condition happens years after the person was exposed to a certain hazard at work, or outside of your usual workspace.
There are three factors that determine the ease of making the connection between the medical condition and the occupational risk:
- Exposure to safety hazards
- Type of occupation
- Whether your illness is present in the general occupation
Read Also:- GM Law Firm LLC Helps You Say Goodbye To Harassment From Debt Collectors
Workers’ compensation laws differ from state to state. Some states expressly forbid individuals from seeking workers’ compensation for particular diseases. Many states include certain professions, such as emergency response jobs, among those that are inherently hazardous and offer special terms for these employees.
What are the most typical injuries covered by workers’ comp?
There is a wide variety of injuries that are covered by workers’ compensation. National Safety Council and OSHA list the following as the most common:
- Bruises, scrapes, and cuts – these typically happen when a worker falls or collides with a smaller object, sharp corner, or bumps into another person at the workplace
- Fractures – these can happen as a result of a fall, collision, or lifting something too heavy
- Sprains and strains – these usually occur when you overexert yourself, such as lifting something heavy
- Dislocations – these often result from falls or collisions with solid objects or other people
- Back injuries – these can happen when you lift something heavy or twist your body awkwardly
- Head injuries – these can occur if you fall and hit your head, or if something falls and hits you on the head
- Burns – these can happen if you come into contact with chemicals or hot surfaces
- Repetitive stress or strain – these can occur when you perform the same motion over and over, such as typing on a keyboard
These are only some of the most common examples. If you have suffered any type of injury at work, you should report it to your supervisor, or insurance company, and talk with the attorney if you’re afraid that it might be declined.
An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer will be able to review your case and help you determine the best course of action. They can also help you file a claim and represent you in court if necessary.
