A workplace injury can create a major financial burden. According to OSHA, these are the five most common workplace injuries.
Workers who are injured on the job in St. Louis are generally eligible to file workers’ compensation claims. With the help of an experienced St. Louis work injury attorney, you can work to get the full amount of compensation you deserve after a work injury.
However, you may be wondering what types of injuries are the most common for workers’ compensation claims in St. Louis and Missouri. Let’s take a look at the 5 most common workplace injuries according to OSHA.
1. Strains & Sprains
A serious strain or sprain, such as a strained or sprained ankle, can impair your ability to walk, carry objects, and much more. A major strain or sprain to the back, ankle, neck, or another part of the body could take between 4-6 weeks or longer to heal, and prevent you from resuming your normal duties.
2. Cuts & Punctures
Lacerations, cuts, and punctures can range in severity from minor to life-threatening. In some cases, blood loss or tissue damage can even lead to the loss of a limb.
3. Contusions
Contusions can happen to soft tissue (bruises) or to bones. Bone contusions are essentially a type of bone injury similar to a fracture, though the bone does not actually break. Depending on the area where the contusion occurred, this can cause significant pain and discomfort, interfere with work, and even require treatment with physical therapy, in some cases.
4. Inflammatory Injuries
Inflammatory injuries and conditions like tendinitis and bursitis can cause significant impediments to your ability to move, work with your hands, kneel, and perform other common actions required in many jobs. You may need time off, rehabilitation, prescription medication, or even surgery for conditions like bursitis and tendinitis.
5. Fractures
Broken and fractured bones are another common type of injury on the job. They can be caused by a slip and fall, dropping a heavy object, a limb being crushed by a piece of equipment and a lot of other causes. Major fractures generally require extensive surgery and rehabilitation, making it all the more important that you work with an experienced attorney to get compensation.
Even a Seemingly-Minor Injury Can Cause You a Lot of Pain and Interfere With Work
You may not think a small cut, a minor case of tendonitis, or a bruise may qualify you for workers’ compensation. However, even small injuries can stop you from performing your duties, and incur high medical bills.
Make sure you always report any injury you experience on the job, and work with an experienced St. Louis workers’ compensation attorney to get the money you deserve after being injured at work.