Don’t Heap Insult Upon Your Personal Injury

It happensmore often than you think. On-the-job personal injuries, whether minoror major, can occur at any time, when you least expect it, and they can renderyou incapable of working. The consequences can, in many instances, be utterlydevastating. Financial hardship as well as physical and emotional suffering canwreak havoc on the lives of employees and their families. For some unfortunateindividuals, employment-relatedinjuries may even result in chronic health conditions, pain,suffering and untimely death.

Identifying The Usual On-The-JobInjury Suspects

Rather thanrun the risk of inaccurately self-diagnosing yourself or altogether dismissinginjuries that seem inconsequential, it is wise to first seek out solidbackground information. One crucial point to remember -- if your health iscompromised in any manner as a result of the job commitment that you take on,then chances are that you have sustained a legitimate on-the-job injury. Typicalon-the-job-injuries that occur among today’s blue collar workforce include:

·        RepetitiveMotion Conditions (involving the neck, shoulders, upper extremities and knees,etc.)

·        BackInjuries (resulting from lifting heavy objects, stocking store shelves, etc.)24% of all injuries reported

·        Brokenor Crushed Bones

·        DeepWounds and Cuts

·        Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (persistent pain in the hands and wrists)

·        ConstructionAccidents (falling from great heights, being hit/run over by equipment, etc.)

·        ElectricShock Injury

·        WeldingAccidents (cutting, burning, brazing, blindness, etc.)

·        Nailgunand Assorted Tool-Related Accidents

·        MachineAccidents (blindness, severed appendages and limbs, crushed bones, burns, etc.)

·        AsbestosOr Coal Dust Inhalation

·        ExposureTo Radiation Or Chronic Levels Of Chemicals

·        Trippingand Falling (due to poor lighting, environmental conditions such as snow orice, hidden hazards, etc.)

Employees Are Getting Injured, ButThey’re Not Speaking Up

Inthe state of Texas alone, therate of workplace-related injuries and illnesses (among 10,000 full-timeworkers) was 104.4 compared to the national rate of 128 individuals (per10,000). Studies suggest that two-thirds of workplace injuries and illnesses across the entirecountry continue to go unreported. Though the Occupational Safety andHealth Administration (OSHA) was designed to create and enforce health andsafety standards in the workplace as well as prevent unnecessaryemployment-related injuries, illnesses and deaths, for some reason, people are stillnot filing claims.

So, whatgives? All too often, employees simply do not know their rights. Every injuredworker is entitled to immediate medical treatment, temporary financialcompensation while they are away from their place of employment and partialpermanent disability should they suffer long-term complications. Unfortunately,individuals may be also be hesitant to come forward due to such factors as:

·        Supervisor harassment, humiliation and intimidation (in order tokeep injury reports low)

·        The threat of job security due to compromised productivity

·        Language barriers/difficulties

·        Being blamed for causing one’s own injury

Time To Stand Up For YourRights

Whateveryour particular circumstances are, you don’t have to remain silent.  Relying on the expertise of a trustedpersonal injury attorney with a proven track record of success is the mostinformed, sound decision that you can make.