On-the-job injuries are a fact of life in many professions. Fortunately, many workplace injuries are covered by workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that provides wage replacement and medical benefits to employees who are injured on the job in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee’s right to file a lawsuit against his or her employer for negligence. A typical workers’ compensation insurance policy covers the cost of medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages caused by work-related injuries. Workers’ compensation also provides benefits to the families of employees who die from work-related accidents. In this article, we examine several injuries that are typically covered by workers’ compensation. 

  • Lacerations: Lacerations are tears or cuts in the skin or flesh. Lacerations are common in machine shops, manufacturing, food production, and restaurants. 
  • Sprains/Strains: Sprains are torn or stretched ligaments, and strains are torn or stretched tendons and muscles. Sprains and strains are often the result of falling, pulling, and twisting. 
  • Burns: Burns are tissue injuries caused by chemicals, heat, electricity, steam, radiation, and sunlight. Burns are common in manufacturing, food production, and restaurants. Burn injuries are a risk any time heat sources, acids, or bases are a component of the manufacturing process. Employees can also suffer internal burns by inhaling smoke or chemical fumes. 
  • Contusions: Contusions, also called bruises, are marks on the skin caused by blood trapped beneath the surface. Employees often suffer contusions when they drop objects or collide with things in the workplace. 
  • Eye Injuries: Eye injuries in the workplace are often caused by exposure to chemical, radiological, environmental, and mechanical irritants.
  • Fractures: Fractures are bone breaks of any degree due to overuse or forced trauma. Fractures are common in manual labor jobs and occupations involving exposure to heavy equipment and machines. 
  • Cumulative Trauma: The degradation of a body part, muscle, joint, or tendon, also known as cumulative trauma, can occur when a task is repeated over a long period of time. Cumulative trauma is common among long-time manual laborers. 

How an Attorney Can Help

Following a workplace injury, it’s often necessary to contact an attorney for assistance. In addition to ensuring that you file all required forms in a timely manner, an experienced attorney can help you gather evidence to support your case, negotiate on your behalf, and draft a settlement agreement. 

Contact a Workers’ Compensation Attorney 

If you have suffered a physical injury in the workplace, you may be entitled to valuable compensation. At Foote, Mielke, Chavez & O’Neil, LLC, our dedicated and knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorneys are passionate about workplace justice. When you come to us for assistance, we will do everything in our power to ensure that you get the financial compensation you deserve for your workplace injuries. Please contact one of our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys today to schedule a consultation. 

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