Workplace Injuries That Could Require Surgery

Each day millions of Americans go to work without a second thought. This is part of your routine, and you never expect to have a life-altering injury while at the workplace. However, this is far too common.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), 48,060 injuries required time off from work in 2016, with 697 resulting death. A workplace should be safe, and there are laws in place that aim to do just that. The vast majority of workplace accidents can be avoided if procedures are followed, and your employer maintains a safe work environment. However, problems arise far too often when employers do not.

How common are workplace injuries?

It is said that a worker is injured on the job every seven seconds, which is equal to far too many injuries. Among the most common type of workplace injuries that require surgery are:

• Fractures
• Back and/or spinal cord injury
• Head trauma and/or traumatic brain injury
• Soft tissue injury
• Severe burn injury
• Internal organ damage

These are all very grave injuries that should be treated immediately. Medical treatment can be costly and time-consuming, and you may need more than one surgical procedure to fix your injuries. You will be out of work for days, weeks, months, and in some cases, permanently. This is often due to no fault of your own, and you should not be left to foot the bill due to someone else’s negligence.

How to avoid workplace injuries

A few common workplace accidents keep in mind, especially as they can often be avoided. These accidents include:

• Slips, trips, and falls
• Faulty machinery
• Fires and explosions
• Overexertion injuries
• Transportation injuries
• Harmful substances

Some of these can be avoided or mitigated, but accidents can still happen even with the highest care. Much of these injuries can be avoided with proper training and maintenance. Your employer should also provide the appropriate gear and equipment.

The employer must ensure spills of any kind are cleaned up immediately. If there is possible exposure to chemicals or other hazardous waste, the employer must provide the proper equipment to dispose of or care for these materials.

Disability and workplace injuries

A workplace injury can leave you disabled to some extent when the damage is severe enough. There are three potential types of disability you may fall under:

• Permanent total disability: Workers who have lost their earning potential and will not recover from workplace injury.
• Temporary total disability: Workers who will make a full or partial recovery but are currently unable to work.
• Permanent partial disability: Workers who can return to work but cannot complete the same tasks as they could have before.

Being disabled due to your employer’s or coworkers’ negligence can be disheartening and traumatic. You do not need to fight the insurance company alone.

What to do if involved in a workplace accident?

You should report the injury to a supervisor or manager and seek medical attention. Document as much as feasibly possible about the accident and the surrounding area. You will then need to contact a Mississippi workplace injury attorney. You may be eligible to recover compensation for your medical bills, time off from work, and future medical expenses.

Did you suffer a workplace accident injury? The workers’ compensation attorneys at Merkel & Cocke, P.A. know how challenging it is to pay the bills when you are unable to work due to an injury suffered on the job. Call our office at 662-627-9641, or complete the contact form on our website to schedule a consultation today. We operate offices in Jackson, Clarksdale, Greenville, and Oxford, for your convenience.