Most Common Types Of Workers' Comp Injuries

One can never tell what may happen in the next minute and accidents do not come announced. Most accidents take place in the workplace and these accidents can cause significant injuries to workers.

Chicago has laws that provide injured workers, compensation for their injuries. This is known as workers' comp and provides a wage replacement and other medical benefits to employees. This compensation is not just limited to work-related injuries but is also applicable to occupational illnesses. The compensation will take care of medical expenses and other financial benefits. 

Common Types Of Workplace Injuries In Chicago

Chicago is populous and there are many workers within the area. Every year many workers experience common injuries and some might even sustain severe injuries with permanent disabilities. Here are all the different types of injuries included in comp claims. 

Lacerations

Lacerations are cuts and tears to the skin. This type of injury is not specific to a certain industry and is most common in the food production sector or manufacturing. There are multiple instances that can cause lacerations, for instance, workers may try to rush and finish their work as soon as possible without being as careful as they should be. 

If you want to avoid such non-fatal injuries it is best to work with complete concentration and use the right gear. It is essential for business owners to train their employees. It promotes a culture of safety and decreases instances of job-related accidents.

Sprains and Strains

Sprains and strains are also counted as job-related injuries. If you tear or stretch your ligaments then that is called a sprain. If you stretch and tear your muscles and tendons then that will be a strain. Strains and sprains can be caused by falling or pulling. Such injuries are also common workplace injuries and can happen if the workers do not lift the heavy material properly. If you want to avoid sprains and strains then you must introduce and implement U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Lifting guidelines and ergonomic guidelines. 

Contusions

If there is blood trapped under the surface of your skin then that is called a contusion. These injuries cause bruises and marks to appear on your skin and are caused by the crushing of small blood vessels right under the skin. This does not tear the skin and stays within. The cause of these injuries is improper lifting and negligence. As a business owner, it is your responsibility to conduct regular training programs where you can review the environmental and ergonomics awareness your employees already have and expand on them. This can help prevent such injuries significantly. They should know the right way to have contact with objects to prevent workplace accidents resulting in contusions. 

Construction workers or other employees must always weigh an object before lifting it so they are well aware of the impact of these objects. 

Causes Of Workplace Injuries

There are many sorts of injuries that have different causes. Fatal occupational injuries can have multiple causes such as: 

Collisions With Equipment

If equipment or a piece of machinery comes to lose it can strike a worker and this accident can cause severe injuries such as broken bones and this is most common on construction sites. Heavy equipment can also cause the demise of the worker. 

Falls

Falling is very common in the construction industry and amounts to many construction worker deaths. This is because most of these workers have to climb heights and if they fall from said heights they may suffer a bodily injury that could leave them disabled. 

Auto Accidents

Driving also contributes to many fatal and nonfatal workplace injuries. These injuries may take place on-site or off-site which makes it difficult to determine if the injury qualifies for compensation claims. The injured need to prove that they sustained the energy when the vehicle was used for work. It is best to take help from a car accident lawyer to get the best possible outcome for your compensation.

Repetitive Motions 

There are many jobs that require workers to perform repetitive motions. These motions can be very damaging to your body if you only use a certain part of it consistently. For instance, writing or even data entry jobs require the workers to type for long periods of time and this can cause medical problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome and neck injuries. This also makes them liable for compensation benefits. 

What To Do After A Workplace Injury

Have you experienced workplace injury? Then you need to take the right steps and file a compensation claim. Here is what you need to do to kickstart the claims process: 

Step #1 Report

It is best to report the injury within the first 10 days of the accident. You need to inform your employer right away then either one of you can file the claim. 

Step #2 Get Medical Care 

The next thing to do is immediately seek medical attention. You can choose the doctor on your own and inform them that the accident actually happened on the job. It is also a good idea to get a second opinion if your employer wants you to get one. 

Step #3 Contact A Lawyer 

You may not be familiar with the claim process and need the help of an expert. There are workers' compensation attorneys out there who can help you with the process of filing a compensation claim and ensure that your claim is error-free. 

Step #4 Keep Track of All Expenses

You may have to spend a lot of money on medical care and when you do, asked a loved one to keep track of all the expenses, that include receipts, prescriptions, and other documents. These documents play a very important role in the claim investigation. 

How Can a Workers' Comp Attorney Help Me?

Did you get injured while you were on the job? No need to suffer in silence and get the compensation you deserve. 

Many contract employers are not familiar with the compensation process and rules, this often leads them to get the shorter end of the bargain. However, if you take help from the right expert you will get all the compensation you and your loved ones deserve. 

The right attorney can sort out all the legalities of your compensation claim and you can get through the process without any hassles. With experienced professionals on your side, you do not have to worry about your claim being rejected or losing the compensation you deserve. 

Contact Ktenas Injury Lawyers today and we will help you navigate through the process of employer-reported workplace injuries. We have the most seasoned lawyers on the panel. They will listen to your case first and then help you follow the most effective path to get you the right help. 

We stand by you through thick and thin to ensure that there is nothing you have to compromise on when it comes to compensation for your job injuries. Give us a call today and our personal injury attorneys will offer a free consultation to get you started on the right path.