Industrial Injury Claims
An industrial injury is considered to be a sudden or tangible happening of a traumatic nature with an immediate or prompt result. One of the most common types of industrial injuries is a fall at work. Most injuries cause bumps, bruises, lacerations, etc. Industrial injuries also include musculoskeletal conditions caused by normal bodily movement during the course of employment. These movements can include bending, lifting heavy objects, standing, recurring motions, etc.
A fact that most are unaware of is if you have a pre-qualifying medical condition that is in the area in which the injury occurred, this does not disqualify a worker from receiving worker’s compensation benefits. This also means a worker’s injury may not necessarily be caused by a work-related activity. But, in order to qualify for a claim, the injury does have to occur while the worker is at work, but it does not necessarily need to be caused by particular duties that a worker is paid to perform.
If you work in an industrial occupation, such as utilities, construction, forestry, agriculture, oil and gas, mining, transport, asphalt manufacturing, etc. then the nature of your job inherently puts you at higher risk of injury while on the job. In these industries they view certain accidents are inevitable based on the job duties, the number of employees, etc. However, these industrial injury accidents can be and should be prevented at all costs and if possible.
Not sure what is classified as an industrial industry claim? Here are some of the most common industrial injury claims:
- Equipment rollovers
- Vehicle and forklift overturns
- Falls
- Being struck by heavy equipment, vehicles, etc.
- Defective power tools and equipment
- Being caught in machinery or equipment
- Toxic chemical exposure (carbon monoxide, chlorine, sulfuric acid, methylene chloride, ammonia, hydrochloric acid)
The cause of these accidents can vary and some of the most common types include:
- Poorly maintained equipment
- Unsafe facility design
- Equipment malfunction
- Defective equipment, machinery, and tools
- Poor management and supervision
- Safety violations
- Inattention and distraction
- Reckless use of equipment and tools
- Insufficient lighting
- Lack of proper training
- Inadequate ventilation
- Working at speeds that are unsafe
- Working fatigue
- Excessive overtime
Referring back to the last bullet - excessive overtime can result in a 61% injury rate. When people are on the job for long periods of time fatigue can be the most dangerous and deadly.
Studies show that there are approximately 14 Americans killed each day in work-related accidents. They also show that there are 300,000 non-fatal injuries each year in the industrial sector. The non-fatal injuries can include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken or crushed bones
- Crush injuries
- Burns
- Amputations
- Traumatic eye injuries
- Degloving - sections of the skins are torn from the tissue beneath severing the blood supply.
Each of these cases is extremely complex and requires the involvement of an attorney as soon as you are able to obtain one. You will need to investigate the circumstances and liability for the accident. The Cochran Firm will be sure to look for every possible avenue to get you the compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one was involved in an industrial injury, claim time is of the essence, contact The Cochran Firm today for your free, no-obligation consultation.
Sources:
What is a work related injury?
What is the Difference between and industrial injury and an occupational disease?