Common Workplace Injuries in Gwinnett County

The types of workplace injuries in Gwinnett County vary widely. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the most common workplace injuries in the U.S. in 2014 were musculoskeletal injuries. These often include sprains, strains, and tears.

Other common workplace injuries include:

  • Broken bones
  • Herniated discs
  • Lacerations (cuts) and bruises
  • Repetitive motion injuries (carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.)
  • Illnesses
  • And more

If you suffered a workplace injury, you are likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. These payments cover your medical costs as well as a percentage of your usual salary while you are out of work. Work with John Morrison and his team to get the benefits you deserve.

What causes workplace accidents?

The injuries vary widely, and so do the causes of the accidents that lead to these injuries. Below are some of the common causes or contributing factors of workplace accidents.

Overexertion causes a lot of workplace injuries too. The BLS reports 384,260 overexertion or bodily reaction injuries in 2014, which equates to 33 percent of all workplace injuries in the U.S. Falls, slips or trips comprised an additional 27 percent of all workplace injuries.

Work-related Illnesses

Worker’s compensation benefits pay employees if they are diagnosed with an occupational illness, but this can be harder to prove than workplace injuries.

An illness is typically considered work-related when the nature of your job increases your risk of the disease, or the disease has been aggravated by exposures in the workplace.

A common example is a construction worker who contracted emphysema or lung cancer from inhaling dangerous substances, including asbestos. Other illnesses related to workplace exposures may include mesothelioma or other cancers. These illnesses can even cause death.

So if you suffered an illness you believe is related to your employment, then you must establish its connection to your exposures at work or in the course of your employment.

Workplace Fatalities and Their Causes

Over 4,600 employees were killed in workplace accidents in 2014, reports the BLS.

Among those killed, many were in the construction industry. The BLS reports the leading causes of workplace fatalities in the construction industry as:

  • Falls
  • Electrocutions
  • Being struck by an object
  • Being caught between objects

These four causes led to more than 58 percent of all workplace deaths in the construction industry in 2014. Workers’ compensation insurance covers benefits for the surviving spouse, children, or other dependents in most cases.

Get Help at the Law Offices of John Morrison in Gwinnett County

Many workers miss days or weeks of work, or are permanently disabled after a workplace injury, which can lead to financial losses and greatly affect their future earning capacity. If you were injured on the job in Gwinnett County, contact the Law Offices of John Morrison at (770) 951-8900 to learn how we can help.