A construction accident lawyer reveals what you should know

Employees who work for newer construction companies file the most construction accident workers’ comp claims, according to a new study conducted by AmTrust Financial Services Inc., an insurance company that handles claims filed by injured construction workers.

In a recent article published by Business Insurance, the insurance company’s contractor risk report found that employees who work for construction contractors that have been in business for less than four years make up 75 percent of all workers’ compensation claims paid to injured construction workers.

What construction workers are the most at risk?

AmTrust Financial Services’ report was based on an in-depth analysis of 26,000 workers’ compensation claims filed within the past 10 years, according to Business Insurance. The report also identified which workers are most at risk and what types of injuries they sustained the most. Researchers concluded that the following workers are most at risk of sustaining an injury in a construction accident:

• Construction workers with less than one year of experience made up 33 percent of all workers’ compensation claims.
• Construction workers with one to two years of experience made up 16 percent of all claims.
• Plumbers file 28 percent of all workers’ compensation claims.
• Electricians file 19 percent of workers’ compensation claims.
• August was the month in which the most claims were filed (construction work is often seasonal and takes place during the warmer months)

These are just some of the workers who face the highest risk of sustaining an injury or illness that requires medical care, time off from work, and other treatment often associated with workers’ compensation claims. Even so, all construction workers face a high risk of sustaining a serious workplace injury. That’s why workplace safety is so important on job sites.

Construction accident statistics

Certain types of construction accidents often result in workers’ compensation claims. According to the AmTrust Financial Services’ report, the most common injury claims among construction workers involve:

• Slip, trip, or fall accidents – Specifically, lost workdays due to slip and fall injuries were 67 percent greater than the median for all injuries, at 21 days away from work.
• Lifting strains – The most common construction accident injury at 11 missed workdays.
• Burn injuries – The second-highest median days out from work at 19 missed workdays.

Many other injuries frequently result in days away from work to rest, recover and receive medical care. When this happens, it’s critical that injured construction workers get the support they need and deserve to fully recover. That’s why it’s important to fully understand your legal rights.

Talk to a construction accident attorney today

Construction accidents might seem like straightforward workers’ compensation claims. Unfortunately, these claims can quickly turn into complex legal cases. Don’t be surprised if your injury claim is rejected by your employer’s insurance for any number of reasons. That’s because insurance companies will look for any excuse to reduce or deny your claim, whether they say you have a pre-existing medical condition or that you got hurt outside of work.

At the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl, we know how to handle complex legal cases. We have years of experience handling injury claims for construction workers throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. As your attorney, we can get straight to work on your case, including helping you pursue a third-party claim for damages, if applicable.

Discover what we can do you and contact us right away to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer. We understand how the legal system works when it comes to construction accidents and can work with you to build the strongest possible legal case. Schedule an appointment today. We have three offices conveniently located in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and we handle construction claims in both states.

An experienced workers’ comp lawyer explains

Nurses, doctors, surgeons, occupational therapists, medical technicians, and other healthcare professionals working in hospitals face a significantly higher risk of sustaining an injury or illness on the job compared to other professions, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the federal agency responsible for enforcing workplace safety and health standards nationwide.

According to the most recent OSHA workplace injury and illness statistics, hospitals nationwide reported 221,400 work-related injuries and illnesses in 2019. Such work-related illnesses and injuries amounted to 5.5 incidents for every 100 full-time hospital employees. That incident rate is almost twice as much as the injury and illness rate for all private industries nationwide, making hospitals “one of the most hazardous places to work,” according to OSHA.

Many work-related injuries and illnesses are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. However, obtaining these benefits can often be challenging. This is why it’s important for sick or injured hospital professionals to better understand the issue and their legal rights.

Common hospital worker injuries

Injuries sustained in hospitals by employees working there can cover a wide range. Common injuries among nursing aides, orderlies, medical assistants, paramedics, and other hospital professionals include:

• Broken bones due to slip and fall accidents, being crushed by an object, falling from a height or blunt force trauma.
• Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) due to hazardous or dangerous working conditions. MSDs often involve injuries to the muscles, nerves, joints or tendons due to repetitive work involving muscle strains and sprains, as well as carpal tunnel syndrome. This is why an MSD is often referred to as a repetitive motion injury, overuse injury, or repetitive stress injury.
• Back injuries, especially lower back injuries, due to overuse or as a result of a single incident. Such injuries can range from chronic lower back pain to a herniated disc, which is also known as a bulging disc.
• Head injuries, including concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). These injuries are often sustained in slip and fall accidents or due to physical assaults by patients, co-workers, or the general public.
• Strained or sprained muscles, either due to overuse over time or a single, direct blow to the muscle. Either way, hospital workers and other healthcare professionals face a high risk of sustaining such injuries.
• Cuts and lacerations, including deep skin cuts to subcutaneous tissue, the innermost layer of skin. These types of cuts often require stitches, staples, or sometimes even surgery.

These are just some of the injuries hospital professionals regularly sustain on the job. There are many other types of injuries that can be just as serious and which require immediate medical attention.

Common hospital worker illnesses

Unlike many other professions, hospital workers face a high risk of contracting an illness on the job. Common illnesses sustained by hospital professionals include:

• Healthcare-acquired infection (HAI), which is an infection acquired in a hospital or another healthcare setting, including an acute care hospital, skilled nursing care facility or emergency room. Infections include pneumonia, gastrointestinal illness, urinary tract infections and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), otherwise known as a staph infection.
• Sepsis, which is an illness in response to a severe infection. If not treated immediately, sepsis can be life-threatening.
• Airborne diseases such as measles, influenza (flu), and whooping cough (Pertussis). Hospital workers often contract such diseases due to coming into close contact with infected patients.
• Viruses such as the coronavirus, which can cause diseases such as COVID-19, due to exposure to patients and other people in the hospital with such diseases.

These are just some of the illnesses hospital professionals face every day on the job. This is why it’s important that hospitals take precautions to prevent worker illnesses or injuries.

Keeping hospitals safe and clean

There are many preventative steps hospitals can take in an effort to prevent workers from sustaining a serious injury or illness on the job, including:

• Maintaining sanitary conditions in the hospital.
• Hospitals providing workers with safety equipment and proper safety training.
• Providing employees with ergonomic equipment designed to prevent repetitive stress injuries.
• Providing workers with break times during their shift, especially if the job is physically demanding.
• Hiring security personnel to protect hospital workers from harm.

These are just some of the steps hospitals can and should take to protect workers’ health and safety. Unfortunately, some hospitals do not take all of these preventative measures, resulting in a serious workplace injury or illness. When that happens, it’s important that hospital workers understand their legal rights.

A workers’ comp attorney can help

If you sustain an injury or illness while working in a hospital, you may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits and other benefits designed to help with your medical care and recovery. Unfortunately, obtaining workers’ comp benefits can sometimes be very difficult. This is why it’s important to talk with an attorney right away if you get hurt or sick while working in a hospital.

At the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl, we have years of experience helping hospital workers and other employees throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. As a result, we’re familiar with the state and federal rules and regulations that apply to healthcare workers and workplace safety. As your attorney, we can thoroughly investigate your claim and serve as a strong legal advocate, every step of the way.

Learn more about how we can help you and contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer. We have three office locations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and handle workplace injury claims in both states.