Work Related Accidents

Work related accidents can cause injuries for employees in Texas and elsewhere. Serious personal injuries such as brain injuries, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, etc are types of injuries that can occur at the work place and change an employee's ability to make a living. Work related accidents can also cause less serious personal injuries, such as sprains and bruises. Even these minor injuries can cause financial difficulty for employees by causing a loss of work. Unfortunately, no employee is immune to the possibility of a work related accidents and injuries, as injuries occur across a wide range of industries and job types.

Common Causes of Work Related Injuries

In Texas, the most common types of work related injuries result from transportation, typically involving trucking accidents or other large vehicles. For oil field, mining and other remote work environments, transportation accidents often occur, not in cars and trucks, but due to travel with airplanes and helicopters. Employee contact with large equipment or construction objects causes falls or other trauma. Finally, burn injuries due to fire, electricity, welding accidents or explosives are common in the workplace. Serious personal injuries such as brain injury, spinal cord injury or paralysis are common work related injuries.

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Employer Responsibility and OSHA

It is the employer's responsibility to ensure that proper steps are taken to make the workplace safe for the employees. If the employers do not take the proper precautions to ensure a quality workplace, all workers are potentially exposed to work related injuries.

The United States Office for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has strict guidelines to insure worker safety and well being. The guidelines specifically state that no laborer shall be required in the performance of his or her job to work in surroundings or working conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to his or her health or safety. OSHA regulations relate directly to type of injuries that are suffered by employees. Employees that become injured due to an improper workplace or failure of the employer to follow proper guidelines may be entitled to compensation.

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Statistics on Work Related Injuries and Accidents

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reported work place injuries affect 1 of every 20 full time employees or about 5 cases per every 100 full time employees. The highest rates of injuries occur in the goods producing industries with an average rate of almost 7 cases per 100 full-time employees. The highest number of cases occur in certain types of manufacturing for construction goods and in warehousing of heavy consumer goods, such as bottle water and soft drinks. The lowest rate of workplace accidents are in the financial and insurance component of the service industry, with only about 1 accident per 100 full time employees.

In 2003, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 2.3 million work related accidents caused serious injuries. A serious injury is one that requires time away from work. Serious injuries could include an injury that requires the employee to be completely off work, or require a job transfer or a change in work requirements. The more serious injuries where employees are completely off of work include traumatic brain injury, paralysis, burns, amputations or other injuries requiring surgical care. Serious injuries are common in construction accidents and oil field accidents. Such work environments are common in Texas.

If a person is injured in a work related accident, then that person and his or her family may be entitled to compensation from the certain individuals or companies for causing the accident. Many work related accidents are subject to Workman's Compensation insurance policies, arbitration agreements and other obstacles to recovery. Your lawyers needs to carefully evaluate these work related claims to ensure your legal rights are protected.

In all on the job accidents, if you are injured on a work site you need attorneys who can guide you through what can be a complicated process. Determining if there is Worker's Compensation Coverage, was the injury or death caused by a third party's negligence, is a general or sub-contractor responsible - not knowing and protecting your rights can cost you and your loved ones. Since there may be applicable notice requirements, contact our office immediately if you have been injured working at, visiting or passing by a work site.

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