Work Injuries

The 5 Most Common Workplace Injuries That Lead to Workers’ Comp Claims in Missouri

July 1, 2020 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

A workplace injury can create a major financial burden. According to OSHA, these are the five most common workplace injuries.

Workers who are injured on the job in St. Louis are generally eligible to file workers’ compensation claims. With the help of an experienced St. Louis work injury attorney, you can work to get the full amount of compensation you deserve after a work injury.

However, you may be wondering what types of injuries are the most common for workers’ compensation claims in St. Louis and Missouri. Let’s take a look at the 5 most common workplace injuries according to OSHA.

1. Strains & Sprains

A serious strain or sprain, such as a strained or sprained ankle, can impair your ability to walk, carry objects, and much more. A major strain or sprain to the back, ankle, neck, or another part of the body could take between 4-6 weeks or longer to heal, and prevent you from resuming your normal duties.

2. Cuts & Punctures

Lacerations, cuts, and punctures can range in severity from minor to life-threatening. In some cases, blood loss or tissue damage can even lead to the loss of a limb.

3. Contusions

Contusions can happen to soft tissue (bruises) or to bones. Bone contusions are essentially a type of bone injury similar to a fracture, though the bone does not actually break. Depending on the area where the contusion occurred, this can cause significant pain and discomfort, interfere with work, and even require treatment with physical therapy, in some cases.

4. Inflammatory Injuries

Inflammatory injuries and conditions like tendinitis and bursitis can cause significant impediments to your ability to move, work with your hands, kneel, and perform other common actions required in many jobs. You may need time off, rehabilitation, prescription medication, or even surgery for conditions like bursitis and tendinitis.

5. Fractures

Broken and fractured bones are another common type of injury on the job. They can be caused by a slip and fall, dropping a heavy object, a limb being crushed by a piece of equipment and a lot of other causes. Major fractures generally require extensive surgery and rehabilitation, making it all the more important that you work with an experienced attorney to get compensation.

Even a Seemingly-Minor Injury Can Cause You a Lot of Pain and Interfere With Work

You may not think a small cut, a minor case of tendonitis, or a bruise may qualify you for workers’ compensation. However, even small injuries can stop you from performing your duties, and incur high medical bills.

Make sure you always report any injury you experience on the job, and work with an experienced St. Louis workers’ compensation attorney to get the money you deserve after being injured at work.

Speak With a Workers Comp Attorney

Give us a call 24/7 for a FREE Case Evaluation

Call (314) 361-4300

Should I Report “Minor” Work Injuries to My Employer?

October 11, 2019 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

When it comes to work-related injuries, it’s important to always report your injuries, no matter how small they may seem.

When you hear about work injury claims, you may imagine life-altering injuries or conditions that render a person unable to sustain themselves. While these claims are not an easy thing to go through, they aren’t reserved only for extreme cases.

When it comes to work-related injuries, it’s important to always report your injuries, no matter how small they may seem. If you worry that your report will not be seen well by your employer or if you question its utility yourself, here are the pro arguments.

Your Employer Should Pay the Medical Expenses

Whether it’s a small or a serious injury, your medical expenses should generally be covered by your employer’s insurance company if the accident happens while you were performing work duties. Worker’s compensation exists to protect you from financial struggles due to work injuries. It also makes your employer responsible when it comes to workplace safety and protecting their staff, so knowing and demanding your rights is the best thing to do.

You May Get Complication in the Future

You might not think your injury is worth filing a report for if you get a puncture or a backache, let’s say. However, if your minor injury aggravates (gets infected or turns out to be something more serious), not filing a report can affect your workers’ comp claim.

Covering Time off Work

Whether it’s at the time of the injury or later (due to complications), taking time off work for treating your minor injury should generally be covered by worker’s compensation. If you don’t report your injury, your employer might ask you to still go to work, which can aggravate your medical problem.

File a Report Immediately

Filing a report right after (or as soon as possible) the incident occurred makes your employer acknowledge the injury and thus you can prove that they are aware of it. If you don’t file an official report (preferably a written one), your employer can deny ever knowing about it or even it happening at your workplace.

You Will Make Your Workplace Safer for Everybody

If you think that a minor injury is not worth pursuing, imagine that you just got fortunate. Many times, small work-related injuries are a symptom of poor risk management from your employer. If you don’t file a report on your small injury, the risks are still going to be there and the next time someone might not be as fortunate. Filing a report is the responsible thing to do and it should not get you in trouble.

If you believe that filing a work injury report makes your employer treats you differently, get in contact with a St. Louis work injury lawyer 24/7 at (314) 361-4300.

What You Can Do to Avoid Work Injuries This Fall Season

November 3, 2018 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

The following are some excellent guidelines for avoiding work injuries this fall season.

It may surprise you that work injuries fluctuate depending on the season. Each time of year comes with its own set of safety tips. The following are some excellent guidelines for avoiding work injuries this fall season.

Brush Up on Your Training

A change in season is an excellent time to break out of any bad habits you’ve developed. If you’ve been at your job for a long time, there may be a couple of unsafe actions that you regularly take. You can eliminate them by brushing up on your training and making an effort to change the way you work. Not only will doing so make you safer, but you’ll set a standard around your workplace.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

One of the most dangerous things you can do at work is not paying attention. The reason is that hazards are everywhere, and you need to see them if you want to avoid them. Doing things like listening to loud music and looking at your phone takes your focus off of your surroundings. The result could be a fall, walking too close to a machine, or any other work-related accident. Instead, keep your eyes and ears open until you’re in a safe environment.

Following Driving Safety Guidelines

One change that always comes with the fall season is an increase in rainfall. The result is slicker roads that are harder to navigate on. If you are in the driving industry, you can avoid this danger by following the most important driving safety guidelines. They include not driving intoxicated, resisting distractions, driving under the speed limit, checking your brake functionality, and making sure your tires are up to date. These tips go for any person that drives to work too, though an injury sustained on a commute will not be eligible for workers’ compensation.

Beware of Weather

As we mentioned above, rain can make driving significantly less safe. The same is true for all types of weather and employees that work outside. The conditions to watch out for are rain, snow, lightning, and extreme heat, all of which are present during Fall. You can adjust your habits according to which weather hazard is present.

Inform Supervisors of Safety Issues

The end of the year is coming, and companies often take this time to review what they’re doing right and what they’re doing wrong. One error that your supervisors might not know about is unsafe conditions in the workplace. If these hazards are present at your job, now is the time to alert somebody. If you do, you might find that the mistake has been fixed by the start of next year.

With temperatures cooling down and the holidays coming up, Fall is one of the best times of the year. Still, this season brings a few unique hazards that you should watch out for when at work. We hope this list has inspired you to make some crucial changes to your habits and keep yourself safe. That being said, if you sustain an injury, it is best to discuss your options with a St. Louis work injury attorney. Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 361-4300 for a FREE case evaluation.

What If I’m Injured on My First Day of Work?

December 28, 2017 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

You should be eligible for workers compensation benefits, even if it’s on your first day.

One of the reasons that accidents are called “accidents” is because they can happen at any time. When you start in a new position or with a new company, you might get hurt at work the first day. In fact, if you aren’t sure what you are doing, then it might actually increase the chances that you are hurt on your first day. If you have been injured while at work, you might be worried that there is a waiting period to collect workers’ compensation benefits.

Eligibility for Workers Comp Benefits

In most instances, if you are hurt even on the first day of work or during a probationary period, you will still be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation is an insurance policy that companies in Missouri are required to carry in case an employee is injured while at work or performing work-related duties. So, regardless of whether it was your first or 400th day at work, you are eligible for workers’ compensation.

Because workers’ compensation is not based on fault or negligence, it makes no difference whether or not you were responsible for your own injuries. In exchange for employers taking out workers’ compensation coverage, employees are not allowed to sue their employer if they are hurt while working. It’s a trade-off, you are covered regardless of whether you were to blame, but you are not eligible to collect non-economic damages the way that you are when you file a personal injury suit.

Exceptions to Your Eligibility

An exception to your eligibility would be if you were doing something that was not work-related when you were injured. Although there is no negligence ascribed, you do have to be performing a duty that’s under the scope of your employment in order to collect. If you tripped and fell in the lunchroom on your first day, you would not be eligible for benefits. But if your job was to lift heavy things, and on the first day you hurt your back lifting a heavy package, then you would be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

Your Employment Status Might also Be a Factor

Although your probation period and length of time with a company doesn’t matter, the type of employee you are does. If you were hired as an independent contractor and were hurt on your first day, then you might not be eligible to collect workers’ compensation. Also, if you work in industries that are typically excluded – like seasonal workers, babysitters, or cleaners – then you would probably not have workers’ compensation coverage.

Put Our Experience to Work for You

At the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann, our attorneys will work with you, regardless of where you are in the process. Attorney James M. Hoffmann has spent a majority of his more than 20-year legal career dedicated to protecting the rights of injured workers.

If you are injured while at work in Missouri, regardless of whether it was your first or not, and you were performing under the scope of your work duties, then you should be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. If you are having a hard time collecting, then it is imperative that you hire a St. Louis workers’ compensation lawyer to help you get the compensation you are entitled to.

Call us at (314) 361-4300 or fill out our online case evaluation form.

The Greatest Risks for Construction Workers – St Louis Work Injuries

May 25, 2017 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

Each year, thousands of Missouri construction workers are injured on the job.

Tens of thousands of people are injured each year while working in the construction industry. While this is a massive figure, it probably comes as no surprise due to the nature of the business, it’s pretty high risk. Of course there are plenty of laws in place regarding the health and safety of construction workers in the workplace, but even when these are strictly adhered too, you can’t prepare for every eventuality and accidents do happen.

The Biggest Risks for Construction Workers

Here are some of the most common risks for construction workers:

Falling objects – Falling objects are one high risk factor. You can’t secure every tool to the worker or to the site. It’s very easy to drop a tool and tools can be both heavy and sharp. When working at a height, tools increase in velocity and when they land, if it happens to be on a workers head, then it can cause some major damage. Anyone hit by a falling object can end up with brain damage or damage to the spine, all of which can be life changing injuries.
Injury by machinery and equipment – Construction workers often use heavy machinery, everything from a nail gun to a fork lift truck can cause some serious injuries.
Collapse – Whether its a building project or a demolition, construction workers are dealing with buildings in a volatile state. During construction and demolition, everything has to be so carefully organized, and sometimes things can get out of control when an unforeseen circumstance arises. A building can collapse on top of workers. Workers may be at the top of a building that collapses, or a trench may give way and the workers fall into it.
Run over and crush injuries – Building sites are noisy, busy places. It can be hard to keep track of whom is where, it is also difficult to watch out for drivers when you’re focusing on a task. Many construction workers suffer injuries from being run over, or becoming crushed between a vehicle and an object.
Falling – Perhaps the most major cause of injury to workers is a fall. Working at height is common and whether it’s from a high scaffolding, or from a lower level step ladder, it can all cause serious injury.
Respiratory problems – It’s not just the injuries sustained in the workplace, even years later you can find that your work has caused you health problems. Respiratory issues are common with construction workers as they often spend a great deal of time working in dusty environments.
Fires or explosions – Most building sites come with a fire risk. There may be bare electrical wiring, gas or other dangerous materials on site. Fires and explosions are not uncommon on construction sites.

Construction work can be a dangerous business. If you are a construction worker and have been injured on the job, you can claim workers compensation for your injuries. If this is something you’d like to pursue but are not sure how to go about it, then contact a St Louis worker injury lawyer who will be able to help and advise you.

Law Office of James M. Hoffmann

Our St Louis Workers’ Compensation Attorneys can provide you with the necessary information to make the right choices so that you can receive the best medical care, benefits and income. When injured, you need answers and money quickly. You have bills to pay, a family to take care of, and a job to go back to. We will strive to resolve your claim quickly.

Call us today at (314) 361-4300 or fill out our online contact form to request a free consultation.

How Temperature Can Play a Role in Work-Related Injuries

March 1, 2017 By James Hoffmann Leave a Comment

Extreme temperatures pose a serious threat to the safety and well-being of workers.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), those who work in extremely cold or hot environments are at high risk of cold or heat stress. While most people think that only outdoor workers are prone to suffering from effects of cold or hot temperatures, even indoor workers who are exposed to extreme temperatures can suffer injuries. In this post, our work injury lawyer will discuss how extreme temperatures increase the risk of worker injury.

Worker injuries caused by extreme cold

Worker who are exposed to extremely cold working conditions are at high risk of suffering cold weather related illnesses and injuries. The factors that increase the injury risk are:

Dampness: When workers are exposed to dampness in the air, rain or submersion in water, their body temperature can come down rapidly. While hypothermia is common at colder temperatures, damp or wet conditions can cause hypothermia even at temperatures above 40 degree.

Wind: The combination of air movement and temperature is referred to as wind chill. The higher the speed of the wind, and the lower the temperature, the greater the risk.

Fatigue and other medical conditions: When a worker who is fatigued or in poor health is made to work in colder conditions, the risk of injury increases. Cold temperatures force the body to work harder in order to maintain body heat, and this extra exhaustion can cause health problems such as poor circulation and heart problems.

Ways to prevent injuries resulting from colder temperatures

OSHA recommends the following safeguards:

wearing multiple layers of weather appropriate clothing
drinking warm liquids
consuming a nutritional diet
avoiding alcoholic beverages
taking frequent breaks to warm up

Worker injuries caused by extreme heat

Extremely hot temperatures are as dangerous as cold temperatures for workers. Working in hot temperatures can cause injuries such as:

Heat stroke
Heat exhaustion
Breakdown of muscle tissue
Death

Each year, more than three dozen workers get killed while working in high temperatures, and 4,000 become ill. According to the CDC, exposure to extreme heat increases the risk for traumatic injuries. Workers who are older, overweight, in poor physical condition or those who take certain medications are at a higher risk of suffering heat-related injuries.

Common conditions associated with working in extreme heat

Heat exhaustion: When the body losses too much salt and water, it can cause heat exhaustion. The worker can become weak, dizzy and ill.

Heat stroke: This is a serious heat related illness, and occurs when the worker’s body is no longer able to regulate its temperature. When the sweating mechanism fails, the worker’s body is no longer able to cool down, and the temperature can increase rapidly. If the condition is not treated promptly, it can cause permanent disability and even death.

Rhabdomyolysis: When a worker works in high temperatures for a long time, it can result in rupture, breakdown, or death of muscle tissue. This can release electrolytes and large proteins into the bloodstream, and cause irregular heartbeat, seizures and kidney damage.

Ways to prevent injuries resulting from colder temperatures

Proper Hydration is Key
Frequent Breaks
Acclimation

If you have suffered a temperature related illness or injury due to your working conditions, you may be entitled to Missouri workers compensation benefits. Get in touch with our experienced workers comp attorneys to learn more about your legal rights. Call (314) 361-4300 and schedule a free consultation.