CALL (888) 671-5127 TO SPEAK WITH A PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY FOR FREE
You may be able to file a lawsuit against your employer if an OSHA violation caused your injury while at work. Because it’s fairly common for workers to be injured while on the job, it’s important to know what may constitute an OSHA violation by your employer and what you should do after being injured at work.
HOW COMMON ARE WORKPLACE INJURIES
In total, there were 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by private industry employers in 2018. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the private industry sectors with the most injuries in 2017-2018 were:
- Manufacturing with 35,000 injuries.
- Health care and Social Assistance with 32,700 injuries.
- Retail Trade with 8,800 injuries.
- Transportation and Warehousing with 8,300 injuries.
- Accommodation and Food Services with 7,600 injuries.
HOW COMMON ARE WORKPLACE FATALITIES
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2018 there was a total of 5,250 workers who died while on the job, which amounted to more than 14 deaths per day. Out of the 5,250 deaths that occurred in 2018, 40% involved transportation incidents.
TOP OSHA VIOLATIONS IN 2018
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) currently has jurisdiction over 7 million worksites. According to OSHA, the most frequently cited OSHA standards are:
- Fall protection
- Hazard communication
- Scaffolding
- Respiratory protection
- Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout)
- Ladders
- Powered industrial trucks
- Fall protection-training requirements
- Machinery and machine guarding
- Eye and face protection
WHAT TO DO AFTER A WORKPLACE INJURY
After being injured at work, you should take the following steps:
1. REPORT THE INJURY
No matter how minor your injuries may seem, you should report the accident to your employer immediately after the accident.
2. TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS AND NOTES TO DOCUMENT THE ACCIDENT
If you happen to have a camera or smartphone nearby, you should take pictures of the area in which the accident occurred, including the dangerous condition that caused the injury.
3. SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
Unless absolutely certain that you’re not injured, you should seek medical attention immediately after an accident, either at your local emergency room, or by seeing your physician. While injuries may not feel serious initially, they often have the potential to develop into something much worse when left untreated. Remember that medical records may also help prove that your injuries were caused by the accident at work, so be sure to keep an organized record of any documented injuries.
4. REQUEST AND FILE THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK WITH YOUR EMPLOYER
You should gather any injured employee forms to take to the doctor. These forms allow your doctor to authorize your return to work or may be used to note any temporary restrictions you may have. In addition to a verbal report to your employer, you should also file a written incident report detailing how the accident occurred.
5. CONTACT A PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY
A personal injury attorney may not only help with gathering your claim documentation, but may also help you establish liability and seek and negotiate fair compensation for your injuries. At Zinda Law Group, our experienced personal injury attorneys have the knowledge and resources necessary to help you build the strongest case possible and to seek the compensation you may be entitled to.
TALK TO ZINDA LAW GROUP
At Zinda Law Group, our personal injury attorneys have the experience and knowledge that has helped injured victims seek compensation after suffering an injury while at work.
Our firm also believes that an injured victim should never have to worry about their ability to afford excellent legal representation. That is why we offer free case evaluations, and why you will pay nothing unless we win your work injury case. That is our No Win No Fee Guarantee.
To speak with an injury lawyer about your accident, call us at (888) 671-5127 for a free consultation.
Meetings with attorneys by appointment only.
