If you have suffered an injury at work or on the job, you may be entitled to receive additional benefits through workers compensation. In North Carolina, this may include time lost from work, disability (full or partial), and medical bills.
Continuing my discussion of the top 10 most common causes of on-the-job injuries , falling to a lower level is the fourth most frequent type of workplace accident . Unlike a same-level slip, trip or fall that I wrote about in my last post, a fall to a lower level occurs when an employee falls from an elevated surface. This could be from a ladder, stairs or scaffolding. Even if this type of accident occurs from only a short distance, the force of gravity accelerates one’s body downward thus potentially causing a violent impact. A fall to a lower level can result in severe injuries and even death.
Employees working on construction sites or roofers may be the first type of job site to come to mind with falls from heights but this type of on-the-job accident is not limited to men and women performing manual labor. Those working at a bank may encounter stairs often and climbing a ladder may be a daily task for a retail associate. This type of workplace accident can happen no matter the job. Just a few of the factors that may contribute to a fall to a lower level include: improper training in the use of a ladder, fall protection not properly in place on scaffolding or work surfaces that have not been made skid or slip resistant.
This type of workplace accident may result in very serious injuries. While you focus on your health and recovery, allow an experienced worker’s compensation lawyer to focus on the law, your rights and navigating your worker’s comp claim .
As I’ve been discussing on my blog, on-the-job injuries and accidents unfortunately happen all too frequently. Same-level slips, trips and falls are the third most common cause of workplace injuries and accidents. This is not falling from a height such as slipping while standing on a ladder, but rather a slip or trip on a same-level walking surface. This could be due any number of factors – such as a wet or oily walkway; a weather hazard; spills on the floor; an object in your path; lack of proper training; loose mats and rugs; or flooring that is in disrepair.
This type of on-the-job accident can happen in any industry, be it retail, the service industry sector, construction, manufacturing or others. In the workplace, warnings need to be provided where a slip or fall hazard has been identified; appropriate cleaning, maintenance procedures and employee training should be implemented and practiced to maintain safe walking surfaces; where individuals may encounter slippery contaminants on the floor, mats and runners should be used; loose boards, holes or protruding nails on the floor need to be addressed and repaired. These are just some of the factors that may contribute to a same-level slip, trip or fall while one is working.
If you have been injured on the job due to slipping, tripping or falling—no matter the cause—seeking legal guidance quickly is in your best interest to secure a compensable workers’ comp claim. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney will help you understand your rights and North Carolina’s workers’ comp law .
Overexertion injuries rank in the number two spot of the top 10 on-the-job injuries and accidents. If you have suffered an injury in the workplace due to overexertion, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Lifting, pushing, pulling, holding and carrying are common causes of overexertion injuries. Hurting one’s back is the most common overexertion injury. [For more on back injuries, read my earlier post. http://www.ncworkerscomp.com/blog/i-hurt-my-back-is-it-covered-under-workers-comp/]
In addition to back injuries, overexertion injuries may include muscle strains; neck injuries; joint, tendon and connective tissue injuries; or heat exhaustion. The injuries can range from minor sprains to a major, debilitating injury. Those who work in construction or in a trade that involves manual labor may be more susceptible to overexertion injuries in the workplace, but this type of on-the-job injury also happens to those working in office settings.
Working too long without a break, being improperly trained or being required by your supervisor to perform job-related tasks that you are not physically capable of handling may all lead to overexertion injuries in the workplace. These are just a few of the factors that may have contributed to the on-the-job injury.
Regardless of the cause, if the injury occurred while you were working you may have a compensable workers’ comp claim. Discussing your situation with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney is the best way to understand North Carolina’s workers’ comp law and your rights.
A State Department of Transportation Dump Truck, pulling a large trailer carrying a steam roller, lost control on a mountain road, crossed the center-line and struck Kelly Crabtree’s van head-on...
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"Thank you John, and all the staff at The Law Offices of John M. McCabe, P.A., for all your help over the years since my accident and for your friendship! I am truly grateful!"
At The Law Offices of John M. McCabe, P.A., we have extensive experience in representing injured workers. We will work hard to protect you from the insurance company's tricks and traps.
