Hurt At Work? Three Types Of Injuries That Might Be Covered By Workers Compensation

Being injured on the job is never fun. In addition to being embarrassed about your injury and missing out on income, you might also be left struggling with the long-term ramifications of your injury. Fortunately, working with a lawyer can help you to receive a fair settlement so that you can continue to enjoy your standard of living while you recover. Here are three types of workplace injuries typically covered under the umbrella of workers compensation, and why you shouldn't hesitate to talk with an attorney.

1. Injuries That Are Directly Work Related

Injuries that occur as a direct result of your work are typically covered by workers compensation. For example, if you work in a factory and you are in charge of lifting large containers of ingredients into a hopper, you could have a workers compensation claim if you injure your back during the process. As a general rule of thumb, injuries incurred during the course of your daily employment are covered.

Although this rule seems fairly basic, several lawsuits have shown what the courts mean by "in the course of your employment." For example, one lawyer filed a workers compensation lawsuit because he fell off of his bike on the way to a meeting one day. Although the lawyer argued that he was always working "mentally," the courts explained that since he was not at work at the time of the incident, he wasn't eligible for benefits. However, if you are injured and the cause of the injury can be directly tied back to your employer, filing a workers compensation suit might be a plausible option.

2. Repetitive Motion Injuries

Do you have a job that requires you to do repetitive motions all throughout the day? Factory workers, receptionists, writers, and even computer programmers typically find themselves doing the same kinds of movements day in and day out, which can eventually lead to serious injuries.

Over time, the muscles and joints in your body can develop microscopic tears if they are exposed to the same movements time and time again. Eventually, these tears can cause ongoing pain, swelling, tenderness, and even infections—which is why they are important to treat proactively.

Unfortunately, some people live with the pain from a repetitive motion injury because they assume that the damage is simply due to age, when in fact, their daily work activities could be at fault. If you have aches or pains in your body that get worse when you are at work, report it to your employer right away. Repetitive motion injuries often require surgery, and workers compensation benefits could help you to cover your medical bills and time away from work.

3. Stress Injuries

Is your job environment inherently stressful? Maybe you have a micromanager for a boss or a few coworkers that aren't particularly fun to work with. Although stress can seem like just another thing you have to deal with during your workday, stress has actually been tied to some serious health problems including high blood pressure, headaches, obesity, and even diabetes. Because of these potentially fatal side effects, stress injuries tied to a hostile work environment could be grounds for workers compensation lawsuit.

Don't hesitate to hire a workers compensation attorney. People who choose to work with a lawyer collect a larger settlement because lawyers understand your rights and what your employer should cover. In fact, according to the most recent research studies regarding workers compensation, people who hired a lawyer collected an average of $23,500, while people who decided to represent themselves only collected $18,000. Contact a workers compensation lawyer from a firm like Shaw Leslie Law Office today to get the ball rolling on your lawsuit.