When you head to work in the morning, you are probably not thinking about ways that you could end up hurt. After all, you may not even have a job that a person would consider risky. In reality, New York workers of all types face certain risks in the workplace, and it’s always smart to know what to do in case you do get hurt.
If you suffer an injury in the workplace, you have the right pursue appropriate compensation through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance coverage. It is in your interests to know what to expect from this process and how to secure what you need for a full and fair recovery. Common workplace injuries can affect virtually anyone, and you may find yourself in need of financial and medical support.
Who is at risk?
There are some types of jobs that may come with more risks than others. For example, a person who works in a warehouse loading boxes may face a higher risk of an injury than a person who works at a desk all day. According to the National Safety Council, the most common types of work-related accidents can happen in many different types of jobs. You may want to be aware of your risk of suffering the following types of injuries:
- Overexertion – This includes injuries related to lifting heavy objects, which is common in manual labor. This also includes injuries related to repetitive motion, such as typing or doing the same things again and again.
- Falls – Injuries due to slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall are common workplace injuries. These falls can happen because of slippery floors, uneven surfaces, broken ladders and much more.
- Contact with objects – These are injuries related to contact with a heavy or moving object, such as being struck by a vehicle on a jobsite. It can also include injuries due to compression or crushing accidents from falling objects.
If you suffered harm in your workplace because of these or other reasons, you may have grounds for a workers’ compensation claim, no matter what type of job you have. At this point, it is smart to find out how your employer’s procedure works and what steps you may need to take.
Even with a valid workers’ comp claim, it is not always easy for an injured worker to get the type of support he or she needs. Working with an experienced attorney can be a smart way to ensure that you maximize your claim and get the help you need without any unnecessary delays.