What Does a Typical Workplace Injury Look Like?

The good news for anyone working in Los Angeles and other areas of California is those workplace injuries, in general, are happening less often than they used to. The most recent federal estimates of on-the-job injury statistics state that there were 466,000 non-fatal workplace injuries in California in 2016, 5,000 fewer than in the previous year. It’s not the lowest overall figure but still shows a significant decrease when compared to the highest recorded figures – 694,000 non-fatal injuries across private and government workplaces, which occurred in 2002. Workplace injuries across the United States were also down by around 48,500 over the same 2015/2016 period.

The average Californian workplace injury victim

We all know that there’s no such thing as an average workplace injury victim – all kinds of injuries and illnesses can occur as the result of a range of circumstances. A top-level executive could sustain an orthopedic injury after slipping or falling, just as someone in a manual role could. However, the federal statistics have created some image of the average workplace injury victim in California, and here’s what he looks like:

• The most likely person to be hurt in a workplace accident is a male, aged between 45 and 54
• This average victim will have worked for the company for over 5 years
• The riskiest industries are construction, agriculture, mining, and logging
• The most common cause of on the job injuries is overexertion, followed by “contact with object, equipment”
• The injuries you’re statistically most likely to sustain may affect the head, arms, and trunk, involving sprains, strains, and tears

Orthopedic injuries in the workplace

When you hear the phrase “orthopedic injuries”, what comes to mind? Maybe you think of arms and legs in plaster after a fall, or maybe a car accident. It’s true, these are examples of orthopedic injuries that are commonly sustained, but they’re far from being the only ones.

Your risk of picking up an orthopedic injury at work will vary depending on the industry you work in, as well as the specifics of your role. However, no matter what your job is, if you were injured at work, you could be eligible for workers compensation. Maybe your injury has happened because of a one-off accident, or perhaps it’s the result of repetition during years in the job. Either way, you should not accept your employer, or their insurance provider, trying to reduce your claim.

If you’re experiencing any of the following, a Los Angeles orthopedic injury attorney could help secure the compensation you deserve:

• Carpal tunnel
• Plantar fasciitis
• Achilles tendonitis
• Torn meniscus
• Bunions
• Rotator cuff tendonitis or tears
• Chronic pain in the neck, back, shoulders or knees
• ACL injuries

Workplace injuries can happen at any time, and there’s never really a good time for an injury to hamper your ability to work and earn, never mind trying to cover the additional expense of medical treatment and care. Therefore, workers compensation exists.

To discuss your case with a Los Angeles orthopedic injury lawyer, call us today on 818-609-7005.