CALL (800) 863-5312 TO SPEAK WITH GLASS INJURY LAWYERS FOR FREE
In 2019, over 2.8 million people were injured at their workplace. While there are many situations that can lead to an employee getting injured at work, a glass injury can cause serious lacerations and result in missed work, hospital bills, and pain and suffering.
The glass injury lawyers at Zinda Law Group have experience representing injury victims and helping them receive the compensation they deserve. Call us today at (800) 863-5312 for a free attorney consultation with skilled glass injury attorneys.
COMMON CAUSES OF GLASS INJURIES
Glass injuries can occur for many reasons, from a careless employee to a machine defect. Some of the most common causes of glass injuries include:
Incorrect Glass Disposal
When broken glass is not cleaned up and put in puncture-resistant containers, employees can be injured by glass pieces that poke through ordinary plastic garbage bags. Employees should always avoid directly handling broken glass and use a dustpan to collect broken shards.
Lack of Personal Protective Equipment
When employees handle glass, they should ensure they are wearing the proper protective equipment. This may include gloves, wrist guards, long sleeves, safety glasses, safety boots, kneepads, and coveralls to help protect skin from sharp edges.
Carelessness
When proper safety procedures are not followed and employees are careless, glass can be broken and go flying. A glass shard traveling through the air may cause puncture wounds and harm unsuspecting nearby workers. Employees may also trip and fall on broken glass shards that are not properly cleaned up.
Defective Products
Before tools are used, they should always be inspected to ensure that the safety guards are in place and power cords and extensions are in good condition. However, when products are defective from the start, they can cause serious injuries, and glass may shatter or go flying.
COMMON GLASS INJURIES
There are several injuries that occur because of a glass injury. While minor injuries may be fixed with stitches, more serious injuries could require surgery and time off work. Some of the most common injuries include:
Cuts and Lacerations
In minor cases, surface-level cuts and lacerations can tear the skin. Cuts and lacerations may need to be stitched up. Depending on where the wounds are located on the body, they may also be susceptible to opening back up. Surface-level cuts should also be monitored to ensure that they do not become infected.
Puncture Wounds
A puncture wound is a deep wound that occurs due to something sharp and pointed, such as a shard or pointed piece of glass. Because the opening on the skin is usually small, the puncture wound may not bleed much. However, a doctor should always examine a deep puncture wound because they can easily become infected.
Tendon & Nerve Damage
A broken piece of glass can slice right through tendons and nerves and cause serious, long-lasting damage. Surgery may be required to repair damaged tendons and nerves. These types of injures should be treated as soon as possible to avoid extensive reconstructive surgery later on.
Severed Limbs
The most serious glass injuries can result in severed limbs. A severed limb requires immediate emergency attention. Depending on the location of the lost limb, rehabilitation may also be needed.
Wound Complications
In some cases, a wound can become infected and cause serious complications, such as a blood infection, gangrene, an amputation, and organ damage.
WHAT TO DO AFTER A GLASS INJURY
The actions you take after a workplace accident are important for your health and safety. It is important in any accident to remain as calm as possible, as well as to observe the following steps.
Seek Medical Attention
The most important thing to do after sustaining a glass injury is to promptly seek medical attention, particularly if the injury is serious. Even if the injury does not seem serious at first, it may still be a good idea to seek medical attention because glass shards can be small and become buried in your skin. If the injury is not properly treated by a medical professional within a reasonable time, a glass injury may worsen or become infected.
Report the Accident
If a glass injury occurs at work, you should notify your supervisor as soon as possible. This will also help document the accident and potentially help prevent future workplace accidents.
File a Workers’ Compensation Claim
Each state sets a time limit on how soon after an accident you need to file a claim. It is better to file a claim as soon as possible after your glass injury if you believe you may qualify for workers’ compensation.
Document the Accident
One of the most important steps is to document the accident. This means keeping and maintaining an organized file that contains important pieces of information relating to the accident and injury such as:
- Photos of your injuries
- Contacts of witnesses who saw the accident
- Pictures of the location of the accident
- Pictures of equipment, tools, or other objects that contributed to your injury
Monitor Your Health
After you leave the hospital or doctor’s office, be sure to watch for any additional signs or symptoms that occur in the days following the accident. Wounds may be especially susceptible to infections and should be closely monitored to avoid further complications.
Document Your Expenses
A workplace injury can be expensive. Hospital costs and missed work can quickly add up. But you shouldn’t have to pay if you were injured in the course of your job. It’s important to keep track of all receipts and paperwork related to your accident. This could include:
- Hospital bills
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Documented time taken off from work
FAQS
Am I Eligible to Receive Workers’ Compensation?
In general, workers’ compensation provides workers with medical and income benefits after a work-related injury or illness. If your employer carries workers’ compensation, you do not need to prove that your glass injuries were caused by your employer or another worker. However, in most states, you will be unable to file a lawsuit against your employer if you collect workers’ compensation.
Workers’ compensation is regulated on the state level, and it will determine the amount and time of your compensation coverage. If an employer does not have workers’ compensation, or if the compensation offered does not adequately cover your medical bills and time off of work, an experienced glass injury attorney may be able to discuss your options.
What Rights Do I have as an Employee?
Although glass injuries can truly be accidents, they can also reveal unsafe working conditions. As a worker, you should know about your worksite rights. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, was created to ensure that all employees have safe and healthy working conditions. OSHA is responsible for monitoring and enforcing these workplace safety standards. Under OSHA, some of your worksite rights include:
- Receive workplace safety and health training in a language you understand
- Work on safe machines
- Receive required personal protective equipment
- Report an injury or illness, and get copies of your medical records
- Request an OSHA inspection
- Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses
- See the results of tests taken to find workplace hazards
If you feel unsafe at your workplace or believe your employer has violated any safety requirements, you can report these violations to the Safety Violations Hotline at 1-800-452-9595 or filling out an online complaint form. These reports can be done anonymously in both English and Spanish.
What Compensation May I Seek After a Glass Injury?
If workers’ compensation applies, your recovery is generally limited to medical expenses and lost wages. If workers’ compensation does not bar a lawsuit, however, and you sue your employer, you may be able to recover hospital bills, medical expenses, time taken off work because of your injuries, rehabilitation costs, and pain and suffering. The circumstances of each case are unique, and some states place caps on the amount you may be able to recover. A glass injury lawyer may help you receive the compensation you deserve.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
If you were injured in a glass accident and want to file a lawsuit, you need to be aware of the time limits, or statutes of limitations, that are in place. Each state sets its own statute of limitations, so it will depend on how much time you have to file a claim for your injuries. It is best to contact a lawyer as soon as possible to help you navigate the filing timeline and help you receive the compensation you deserve.
CONTACT A ZINDA LAW GROUP GLASS INJURY LAWYER
At Zinda Law Group, our personal injury attorneys have helped many victims seek the compensation they deserve after suffering from a glass injury.
We believe an accident victim should never have to worry about being able to afford legal representation. That is why we offer 100% free consultations, and why you pay nothing unless we win your case. That’s our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.
If you have been injured in a glass accident, call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 to receive your free consultation with one of our experienced glass injury attorneys.
