Did you know that every seven seconds, someone gets hurt in the workplace? As a Memphis workers compensation lawyer I know that too often, these injuries are avoidable. The pain an employee suffers is preventable.

According to the National Safety Council, one injury every seven seconds adds up to…

  • 510 injuries per hour
  • 12,600 injuries per day
  • 88,500 injuries per week
  • 4,600,000 injuries per year

Learn how to prevent these top injuries.

Some injuries and accidents are more common than others. 84% of nonfatal injuries stem from three causes: overexertion, slip and falls, and contact with equipment and objects.

Overexertion

  • Involves lifting or lowering and repetitive motions
  • Causes 33.54% of all injuries

Top prevention tips: The NSC recommends taking short breaks and trying not to bend, reach, or twist while you lift.

Slips, Trips, and Falls

  • Includes slipping and tripping without falling, falling on a single level or to a lower level, or jumping
  • Causes 25.8% of injuries

Top prevention tips: Keep surfaces tidy, and make sure a ladder is on even, steady ground.

Contact With Objects and Equipment

  • Most common related injuries are cuts, lacerations, and punctures
  • Causes 26% of injuries

Top prevention tips: Use proper PPE, be mindful of your surroundings—including any moving equipment nearby—and keep heavy objects as close to the floor as possible.

Workers’ compensation is a vital resource for injured workers.

Accidents happen, and when they do, an employee should not have to worry about medical costs or lost wages. Workers’ compensation is an insurance that alleviates such stress. It can include wage replacement and medical care for injury-related expenses.

Here are other things to keep in mind about workers’ compensation.

  • Most employers are required to provide it to cover injuries employees might sustain at work.
  • Benefits are typically provided no matter who was technically responsible for the injury.
  • It’s an alternative to a suit of the company for liability.

There are various forms of support for injured workers. However, there are key distinctions between workers’ comp and disability benefits (SSDI). The latter is for employees who can’t fulfill the responsibilities of their job because of injuries that happened outside of work. Workers’ compensation is exclusively for injuries sustained on the job.

An experienced Memphis workers compensation lawyer can save you time and headaches in the long run.

Right now, employees have to work through a crisis we’ve never experienced before. Inevitably, this climate brings more stress and new safety concerns. With many workers laid off, those still on the job are stretched very thin, which can create a more dangerous environment.

If you or your loved one gets injured, you’ll want an experienced Memphis workers compensation lawyer on your side. These laws are complicated, which is the last thing you should have to deal with while trying to recover. While there are attorney fees, they’re quite small in comparison to the return you’ll get back.

Call (901) 327-2100 to speak with a Memphis workers compensation lawyer about your free case evaluation.