What Are The Most Common Causes Of Workplace Injuries In SW Florida?
Brian O Sutter
Workers’ Compensation
Workers in Ft Myers, Florida expect to go to work every day, come home every evening, and collect their paycheck every week. What they don’t expect is to become injured in a workplace accident. 3.4 workers out of every 100 in the United States file a worker’s compensation claim each year, making workplace injuries anything but a rarity. While most workplace injuries in the Ft Myers region occur in industries like construction, manufacturing, and trucking, no occupation is excluded. Even those who work in offices and sit for most of the day can suffer a workplace injury at any time.The most common causes of workplace injuries are varied, showing just how possible workplace injuries are in any occupation. Some of these common causes include:
• Overexertion – The single most common cause of workplace injuries in the United States is overexertion. A general cause of injury, one can experience overexertion if they sprain a foot or a wrist while working on the construction site, or one can experience overexertion if they pull a muscle in their neck while sitting in front of a computer screen all day at the office. Back, neck, and shoulder overexertion can be costly injuries, with the need for prolonged physical therapy and medical care as well as the most missed days from work.
• Slip and fall accidents– Slip and fall accidents are the second leading cause of workplace injuries. Like overexertion, a slip and fall injury can happen anywhere and there is no industry not at risk. A slip and fall injury may occur on a factory floor just as easily as it could occur at a restaurant. The injuries sustained in a slip and fall accident can vary widely. A person who suffers just a few scrapes and bruises may not require much worker’s compensation at all, while another individual who fell and suffered a broken bone or traumatic brain injury could be out of work for weeks or months.
• Equipment related accidents – Being stuck in, struck by, or compressed by equipment is another leading cause of serious workplace injuries. Dangerous machinery injuries are most commonly found in manufacturing and construction industries but may be found in any occupation that works with large or heavy machinery.
• Auto accidents – Auto accidents are not rare, so it’s not difficult to see how auto accidents are a common cause of workplace injuries. Truck driving, ride share drivers, delivery drivers, or any professional who drives as a part of their job is at risk of auto accident injuries during any given day. Auto accident injuries may lead to minor injuries with short-term workers compensation needs, or more serious injuries leading to temporary or permanent disability.
• Repetitive motion – Repetitive motion might take weeks, months, or years, but repeating the same motions day in and day out can lead to various injuries. The most common is carpal tunnel syndrome, an injury that occurs mainly in those who spend much of their day typing on a keyboard. Repetitive motion injuries often require surgery or prolonged physical therapy to correct, making these challenging injuries that often require a not insignificant length of time away from work.
Whether the cause of your workplace injury is on the most common list or not, an injury on the job may entitle you to worker’s compensation benefits. While working through the claims process, a skilled personal injury lawyer can be the help you need to get you the compensation you deserve. To learn more about worker’s compensation law, contact us at AllInjuriesLawFirm.com today.