It’s natural to assume that many types of workplace injuries occur only in high-risk professions such as construction or factory work. But that’s far from the truth. Every worker in South Carolina is vulnerable to suffering a job-related injury that can have life-altering consequences.
Some types of injuries in the workplace are obvious, such as a shattered limb. Others, such as those caused by repetitive trauma, are more subtle. Either way, most employees who sustain many types of workplace injuries in South Carolina are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. In fact, workers’ comp coverage may be essential to preserve a family’s quality of life, both in the present and in the future.
Let the experienced workplace attorneys at Land Parker Welch LLC assist you with your workers’ compensation claim and get you the money you deserve. Our firm has more than 120 years of combined experience. We also help families who have tragically lost a loved one in a workplace accident.
Call us or use our online contact form for workplace injuries.
Common Types of Injuries in the Workplace
Over 3 million workers suffered injuries on the job in 2010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. More than half of those cases were serious enough to require workers to miss work, transfer jobs or work under restriction. Tragically, 4,574 of those injuries were fatal.
While no worker is immune from injuries at work, some industries do have higher accident rates than others. Statistics show that professions involving construction, manufacturing, and health care (such as nursing) consistently report the largest number of injuries. However, manufacturing jobs – such as those in factories, plants and mills – currently show signs of being the most dangerous, as manufacturing was the only industry in 2010 to report increases in types of workplace injuries and illnesses.
Job injuries can take many forms, ranging from violently catastrophic to seemingly unnoticeable.
The most common types of injuries in the workplace include:
- Overexertion: Overexertion is the No. 1 cause of workplace injuries and typically occurs from carrying, lifting, pushing and pulling heavy objects. Overexertion often results in musculoskeletal disorders such as sprains and strains, particularly in the back. Businesses pay billions of dollars in direct workers’ comp costs for overexertion injuries each year, according to Liberty Mutual’s 2010 Workplace Safety Index.
- Falls: Falls are a leading cause of workplace injuries, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Falls can be deadly regardless of whether a worker falls from a great height (such as from a roof or scaffolding) or on a slippery flat floor. Injuries from falls frequently include broken bones, brain injuries and neck injuries.
- Struck-by events: Serious injuries can happen when a worker is hit unexpectedly by a moving object, such as a piece of heavy equipment or machinery. Struck-by accidents are listed as one of the “Big Four” hazards on construction sites and accounted for 8% of all construction deaths in 2010, according to OSHA.
- Crush injuries: Like struck-by accidents, crush injuries generally occur on construction sites or in places that use heavy machinery, such as warehouses. These types of workplace injuries can be especially debilitating and may even result in amputation of the affected limb.
- Bodily reaction: Ranked as the third most costly type of job-related injury listed in the 2010 Workplace Safety Index, bodily reaction injuries result from activities such as bending, climbing, reaching, standing, sitting, or slipping or tripping without falling.
- Highway accidents: Car accidents are a leading cause of workplace death, and not just to truck drivers. Even a pizza delivery driver may be eligible for workers’ comp benefits in South Carolina as long as he or she was performing work duties when the accident occurred.
- Repetitive motion injuries: Unlike the other injuries listed above, repetitive motion injuries occur over time. The most well-known example of a repetitive motion injury is carpal tunnel syndrome, a painful condition of the hands and wrists caused by damage from overuse. Typists, painters, and people who work at checkout counters frequently suffer from repetitive motion injuries and can receive workers’ compensation payments to cover any medical costs associated with treatment and physical therapy.
- Work-related illnesses: One of the most notorious examples of workplace illness is mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Exposure to asbestos – a material frequently found in old building insulation, ceiling and floor tiles, and other materials – is the only known cause of mesothelioma. It is commonly discovered in people who have had occupational exposure to asbestos in construction, manufacturing, and shipyard work.
If you are suffering as a result of a job-related injury or illness in Manning, Summerton or Kingstree, South Carolina workers’ compensation benefits can help you cover the cost of medical bills, hospitalizations, lost earnings and other disabilities that are a result of the accident.
Although it may seem overwhelming to consider filing a workers’ comp claim while you are dealing with your injuries, it is important to do so as soon as possible. You should report your injuries to your employer within 90 days or you may risk receiving some of the benefits you are eligible for. However, South Carolina law does permit you to file a workers’ comp claim up to two years after the date of the injury or death.
Learn more Tips on Getting Workers’ Compensation Benefits in South Carolina
Don’t Wait – Call a South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today
The Manning job accident attorneys at Land Parker Welch LLC are dedicated to providing professional and ethical service to clients with workers’ compensation claims. Our law firm will provide sensitive representation that will get you the benefits you need as you recuperate from your injuries.
Our firm prides itself on treating its clients like family. When you call Land Parker Welch LLC you won’t be talking to an automated service. You’ll get to speak directly with a workplace accident lawyer who has extensive knowledge of South Carolina’s workers’ compensation and is committed to your case from start to finish.
If your workers’ compensation claim was denied, or if you need help filing a claim, we can assist you in types of workplace injuries.
When you’re ready to take legal action and get the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve, contact the Manning job accident lawyers at Land Parker Welch LLC. We offer free consultations, so you have nothing to lose by calling us.
Our experienced injury lawyers are here to help. Call us or use our online contact form for help with types of injuries in the workplace and free consultation.
