Getting hurt at work is an event that all worker’s hope to avoid. Unfortunately, the potential for injury at work is unavoidable. While certain occupations and industries present a greater potential for moderate to serious injury at work, the risk exists whether you work in a hospital, manufacturing plant, or at a desk job. If you have experienced a serious injury, such as a broken or fractured bone, there is a strong likelihood that you will need time off from work to recover from your injuries. However, you may have questions about how you will pay for your medical bills and balance your or your family budget while you recover.
At Lerner, Steinberg & Associates, our Workers’ Compensation lawyers are dedicated to fighting for injured workers. If you have experienced difficulties in making a Workers’ Compensation claim after getting hurt at work or developing an occupational illness, we may be able to help you secure Workers’ Compensation benefits in Pennsylvania. Our attorneys can make an initial filing on your behalf or appeal an unfavorable Workers’ Compensation decision. To schedule a free and confidential initial consultation with our Workers’ Compensation legal team, please call 1-(215) 355-6400 today.
Common Types of Broken Bone Injuries at Work
If you suffer a broken or fractured bone at work, the exact nature of the injury may be determined by the unique factors or circumstances of your work. At a minimum, the types of duties and industry you are engaged in may make certain types of accidents more likely than others.
For instance, workers in the construction industry face unique set or risks. These workers may work from roofs, ladders, scaffolding and other elevated places where falls are possible. Falls from these heights can often result in broken bones in the lower extremities. However, working from a roof or ladder also means that gear and equipment can be dropped. As object fall, they accelerate rapidly. This means that a dropped hammer, nail gun, or other equipment can inflict extremely serious injuries. In at least some cases, skull fractures, concussions, and other traumatic brain injuries can occur. If the falling object misses the individual’s skull, the potential for other injuries like a shattered shoulder or broken arm is also possible.
Broken Bone Injuries in Healthcare Jobs
While people who work from great heights or with dangerous machinery face an increased injury risk, people who work in a healthcare or office setting can also face injury risks. Unfortunately, assumptions and preconceptions regarding the general safety of this types of positions can frustrate attempts to address potential workplace safety issues.
For instance, workers in a health care setting face unique risks. In fact, a 2011 OSHA study found that hospital workers faced a greater injury rate per 10,000 workers than construction workers and manufacturing workers. The unique injury risks doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers face include the patients they treat. In some cases, medical and healthcare employees can suffer overexertion injuries such as strains, sprains, stress fractures, and broken bones when helping a patient go about their activities of daily living. Violent acts by patients or co-workers also contribute to a significant number of injuries.
Office Workers Can Also Suffer Broken Bone Injuries
While many people consider an office job to be a place where injuries do not happen. The statistics simply do not reflect this assumption. According to one 2014 study released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 3 million office workplace injuries occur annually. In the office, one of the foremost causes of injury is the slip and fall or trip and fall. While the mechanism of injury is incredibly simple, extremely serious injuries can occur. In fact, due to their prevalence, slip and falls are one of the leading causes of both traumatic brain injuries and broken bone injuries. Furthermore, as individuals age, both their risk of a slip and fall occurring and producing serious injury increases.
Our Philadelphia and Delaware County Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Can Help
If you have suffered a broken bone at work, Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Compensation system should ordinarily provide you with a relatively straightforward path to wage benefits, medical benefits, and potentially specific loss benefits. If an employer has attempted to blame you for your injury, denied or ignored your claim, or filed a Workers’ Compensation appeal the lawyers of Lerner, Steinberg & Associates may be able to help. To schedule a confidential, no-charge initial consultation please call our law offices at 1-(215) 355-6400.
