Injured at Work? Unfortunately, You Are Not Alone

JOEL ZAND, FindLaw.com

A troubling statistic could affect you, your family, friends, and colleagues. On the job injuries appear to occur at an alarming rate.

A recent FindLaw survey¹ revealed some troubling statistics: roughly 28-percent of Americans said that they were injured while on the job at work.The number of men surveyed who reported job-related injuries increased to 36-percent.

A Look at the Numbers

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (‘BLS’) compiles annual data on the number of occupational injuries and illnesses, as well as on-the-job fatalities. These numbers are a roadmap to what workers should pay closer attention, and tasks that can be especially hazardous.

According to the BLS, in 2006 more workers were injured when they had contact with an object or piece of equipment at work than any other job-related injury.

Out of more than 1.18 million workers injured that year, approximately 28% (335,460) reported that they were hurt after being struck by, caught in, or struck against an object or piece of equipment.

The second-highest even for on-the-job injuries, roughly 24% (284,910), was attributed to employees overexerting themselves.

Perhaps the most alarming figure, however, is that out of all on-the-job fatalities in 2006 more workers died from car accidents, 43%, than from any other activity.

Injuries outside of work not only affect family and friends, but also affect employers. According to the National Safety Council, a 95-year-old non-profit organization chartered by Congress, nearly all of workers’ unintentional fatalities (10 out of 11), and more than 70 percent of disabling injuries, occur when employees are off-the-job.

Dangerous Jobs

Some jobs are more hazardous to your health than others. Miners, fisherman, and loggers are high on the list.

One surprise is that U.S. soldiers fighting in combat overseas are not included in the BLS’s injury and fatality figures.²

Your Legal Rights and Remedies

If you’ve been hurt at work, you may have legal rights under state and federal law. Many state workers’ compensation programs give employees an exclusive remedy for on-the-job injuries.

You may also have other, perhaps even more powerful legal remedies if your on-the-job injury is the fault of an employer or a third-party like the landlord of your office building.

Perhaps the most important thing you can do to protect your legal rights after being injured at work is to call an experienced attorney who can explain all the legal options that you may have available.

Visit FindLaw’s Injury and Accident Center and Employee Rights Center to learn more.