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Gary W. Starnes Attorney at Law
736 Georgia Avenue
Suite 404 Dome Bldg.
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone (800)281-2403
Fax (423) 266-7193
Email: gstarnes@volstate.net
Injury Lawyer
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Common Workplace Injuries
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If you have suffered a workplace injury, you are not alone. Over a million workers suffer non-fatal work injuries in the United States every year. Because workplace injuries are common, legal structures are in place to ensure that you receive appropriate care and compensation for your injury so you can rest, recover, and get back to productive work. Sometimes, though, the law can be confusing, and your employer may be less than cooperative in helping you get your benefits, and you need help to protect your rights to workers' compensation.
If you have been hurt in a workplace injury and want help ensuring you get the full compensation that you are entitled to receive, Gary Starnes can help. Please contact our injury attorney today for a free case evaluation.
Who Suffers Injuries?
Although every occupation carries with it some level of risk, which is why workers' compensation is available for most professions, there are some occupations that are much more dangerous than others. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the five professions with the highest injury rates are:
- Nursing Aides, orderlies, and attendants
- Longshoremen and other freight, stock, and material movers
- Emergency medical technicians and paramedics
- Construction laborers
- Truck drivers
Persons in these professions are most likely to suffer serious, but non-fatal, injuries requiring time off from work. Among nursing aides and longshoremen, nearly one out of every twenty suffers a workplace injury requiring days off from work every year.
Types of Common Workplace Injuries
Most workplace injuries are of the kind you expect: strains, sprains, and tears from working too hard or performing repetitive motions while at work. These types of injuries account for about 40% of all workplace injuries. Other common types of injuries include:
- Bruises and contusions
- Cuts or lacerations
- Fractures
- Heat or chemical burns
- Punctures
Most of these injuries affect the shoulder or back, with the arms and legs being affected about equally and accounting for most other injuries. The causes of injuries are specific to the profession in which you work. Nurses suffer strains in their back as a result of lifting and repositioning their patients, while freight workers suffer injuries from freight containers, vehicles, machinery, and other dangers of their environment. Construction workers suffer a high number of falls, but also suffer injuries from construction materials, hand tools, and construction vehicles. Truck drivers suffer injuries from vehicle accidents, but also from shipping containers, and routine falls.
Don't Stay Adrift
This may be the first time you have suffered a workplace injury, but you are not the only person to have suffered a workplace injury. You may feel you are in uncharted waters, but they are familiar to Injury Lawyer, Gary Starnes, who has been representing injured workers in Tennessee and Georgia since 1986. He can help you chart a course that protects your rights and steers you toward compensation for your injury.
Please call or email Gary Starnes, attorney at law, for a consultation today in Chattanooga, Tennessee.