Have you ever been in a situation at work where you’ve been injured? If so, you should know about the work injury lawyers Milwaukee, WI workers trust at Hickey & Turim. Say you are walking into your office and you slip on the newly mopped floor in your office’s lobby. You hit your head and decide you need to go to the emergency room to see if you have a concussion. The doctor determines that you have a mild concussion and you aren’t allowed to look at a computer screen for the next two days. Your entire job revolves around looking at a computer, so this means you will need to take two days off of work. In this situation, would you qualify to receive workers compensation? If so, what exactly does that look like? In this post, we’ll explain what injuries are covered by workers compensation.
Types of Workplace Injuries You Should Know About
If you’ve been hurt at work, it may be in your best interest to call a team of work injury lawyers Milwaukee, WI residents trust with their cases. Work-related injuries are not only physically painful, but they cause financial strain, and it can be difficult to get the worker’s compensation you may deserve. Calling a team of Milwaukee work injury lawyers may be your best chance for recovering damages.
There are many different injuries that can occur at work. Here are some injuries that cause workers to seek the help of work injury lawyers Milwaukee, WI residents rely on:
Repetitive Motion Injuries
Repetitive motion injuries are injuries that result due to repeating the same motion over and over again. This is a common injury for workers who type on a computer keyboard without ergonomic support, but there are other occupations and activities that deal with repetitive motion injuries.
Any work injury lawyers Milwaukee, WI has to offer may tell you that it is the employer’s job to anticipate repetitive motion injuries and do their best to prevent them with a proper workplace environment, protection, and policies.
Falls
Injuries from falling are most common among construction or factory employees, but even if you’re in the safest occupation, you may experience a fall that puts you out of work. Falls can be complex because you have to look at the cause of the fall and determine who was at fault. Was it the employee who provided defective scaffoldings and ladders? Or the manufacturer who produced the defective equipment? Or even the worker for not testing and maintaining the equipment as needed?
Falling at work and sustaining an injury may seem like a simple case, but it can be complicated. It may be in your best interest to hire work injury lawyers in Milwaukee, WI to take on your case if you were hurt at work.
Chronic Exposure
You may think of exposure as having to do with cold temperature and extreme weather. While cold and heat exposure can cause injuries and health problems, there is a more common type of exposure you should know about. Exposure to toxic substances and chemicals.
Any work injury lawyers Milwaukee, WI workers trust may remind you that one of the most common exposure injuries is mesothelioma, caused by asbestos. Asbestos is a known problem now, but it’s not the only toxic substances workers face. Remember, your employer must provide proper safety equipment, precautions, and instructions anytime they have employees working with toxic substances.
Accidents Happen – Does It Matter Why and How?
The phrase “accidents happen” is commonly used to justify the reality that millions of Americans are impacted by accidents every single day. Yes, accidents happen. The reality that accidents happen is inevitable because not all human error can be eradicated. But the “how” and the “why” associated with accidents remains important. Because even though some accidents will inevitably occur, understanding how and why accidents occur can help employers, workers, doctors, teachers, and parents ensure that accidents happen as infrequently as possible. Understanding why and how accidents occur can also help lawmakers and employers mitigate the severity of those accidents that do occur in the workplace and in vulnerable spaces like hospitals, roads, and playgrounds.
If you have been injured while at work, you may understandably be feeling frustrated and isolated. You may have had to take time off work to heal and/or may feel different from your uninjured coworkers. Please understand that you are not alone. By working with experienced Milwaukee, Wisconsin work injury lawyers in order to better understand how and why your injuries occurred, you may be able to help prevent others from suffering similar injuries in the future. You may also be able to better understand the kinds of compensation you are entitled to when you and a member of the legal team at Hickey & Turim, SC work together to explore your legal options.
How Workplace Injuries Most Commonly Occur
It is important to understand that workers’ compensation is generally a no-fault system. As a result, most injuries are covered by insurance regardless of what (or who) caused an accident that led to injury. Recovering compensation if you are not entitled to workers’ compensation benefits can be a bit trickier in regards to fault. But even in these circumstances, experienced Milwaukee, WI work injury lawyers may be able to help.
Why is it important to discuss fault when exploring how work injuries occur? It has been widely cited that approximately four out of every five work injuries occur as a result of poor decision-making as opposed to unsafe working conditions. Please note that even if your poor judgment contributed to your injuries, you are likely still entitled to compensation.
Inadequate training, encouraging workers to take shortcuts and failing to mitigate distractions are all ways in which employers may contribute to a situation in which workers make unsafe decisions. Most workplace accidents may occur as a result of poor decision-making as opposed to unsafe working conditions, but this does not mean that employers shouldn’t be held accountable for setting the stage for unsafe decisions to be made by workers. This is only part of the reason why speaking with Milwaukee, WI work injury lawyers may be beneficial for you and your co-workers in the wake of an accident.
Legal Guidance Is Available
If you have been injured in a common or uncommon workplace accident, please consider speaking with our firm of experienced Milwaukee, WI work injury lawyers today. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. In addition, working with an attorney can help you get answers to any questions that may be on your mind, including (if applicable) “why” and “how” your injury occurred in the first place. We look forward to speaking with you.
What Is Covered By Workers Compensation
Good work injury lawyers in Milwaukee, WI know that most companies offer workers compensation. This means that your employer has insurance that helps you recover any lost wages or hospital bills that were caused as a result of a work-related injury. A work-related injury is anything that happens when you are doing something on behalf of your company. That means that anything that happens on company property would be eligible for workers compensation.
So, in our story above, because the fall took place in the lobby of your building while you were on your way to work, you would be entitled to workers compensation. Now, if you and your team went out for lunch to celebrate a coworker’s birthday and you slipped and fell on your way to the restaurant, that would not be covered by workers compensation because it was not a work sponsored event.
Work-related injuries apply to anything that is company owned or related, so don’t hesitate to reach out to work injury lawyers for Milwaukee, WI if you have questions.. For example, if you are in a company car on the way to meet a client and you get into a car accident, then you would be eligible for workers compensation. Also, if your company is sponsoring a holiday party at a restaurant and you are injured there, that would also qualify for workers compensation.
Physical injuries aren’t the only type of injuries covered by workers compensation. Mental disorders such as anxiety or depression caused as a result of the job can also be covered. Also, if you have a preexisting condition that was worsened by your employment you would be eligible.
Are You Covered By Workers Compensation?
Generally, workers compensation only applies to full-time employees of the company. This means that any independent contractors, part-time employees, seasonal workers, domestic workers, or undocumented workers would not qualify to receive workers compensation. If you are concerned about whether or not you qualify, reach out to your human resources department or good work injury lawyers serving Milwaukee, WI.
Asking for workers compensation can sometimes feel awkward or uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t have to be. You need to know first, if you are eligible to receive workers compensation, and second, what type of injuries qualify for workers compensation. Milwaukee, WI work injury lawyers can be a big help during this time, since you should never have to worry about paying your medical bills or missing work and wages for an injury that occurs on company property.
If you’ve been hurt at work, you may be entitled to some compensation to help pay for your medical bills and replace your paycheck while you’re out of work. Remember, work injury cases can be tricky, and it may be in your best interest to hire a lawyer to help you navigate your case and the legal system. Call the work injury lawyers Milwaukee, WI residents trust with their cases at Hickey and Turim, S.C. for help with your case today.
