Arkansas is home to many businesses and industries, which means millions of potential workers who could be injured on the job. While some injuries and accidents are more common than others, any occupational injury or illness should be covered by Workers’ Compensation.
Some of the most common workplace injuries are to the lower leg, wrist, hand, foot, ankle, finger, shoulder, low back, knee, and even multiple body parts. Employees who suffer these injuries because of slipping or tripping accidents, falling objects, vehicle collisions, or other accidents at work can get Workers’ Compensation in Arkansas.
Call (479) 316-0438 today for a free case evaluation from our Arkansas Workers’ Compensation lawyers.
What Are the 10 Most Common Workplace Injuries?
If you suffered one of the following injuries at work, talk to an attorney today to see how you may be eligible for Workers’ Compensation.
10. Lower Leg Injuries
Working with heavy machinery and other equipment with moving parts can easily lead to leg injuries. If your pant leg gets caught, you could end up having your leg pulled into a machine, suffering crushing, cutting, or amputation injuries. Your leg could also be crushed or pinned by vehicles or construction materials.
9. Wrist Injuries
Wrist injuries are extremely common in multiple industries. Workers’ Compensation may be available for office workers with repetitive stress injuries from typing, truck drivers with repetitive stress injuries from holding the steering wheel, or other workers who suffer injuries during a fall, heavy lifting, or in a mechanical accident.
8. Hand Injuries
Like your wrists, your hands are a delicate system of bones, vulnerable to repetitive stress injuries. On top of this, your hands are often the closest part of you to moving parts of machines and power tools. Construction workers, machinists, and others who put their hands near moving parts are always at risk for debilitating or permanent injuries from broken bones, deep cuts, or amputation.
7. Foot Injuries
Foot injuries could come from a variety of causes. First, heavy machinery and moving parts are always dangerous to work around. If your shoelaces get caught, your whole foot could be pulled into the machine. Foot injuries could also come from the repeated stress of walking or running, or from simple injuries like dropping a heavy object on your foot or getting it run over by a vehicle.
6. Ankle Injuries
Carrying and lifting is one of the greatest causes of ankle injuries. The risk of twisting or spraining an ankle can be severely increased while carrying a heavy object. You might be unable to see, and misstep, causing severe injury. Again, there is also potential risk of ankle injury from moving machinery and vehicles.
5. Finger Injuries
If you work with power tools or heavy machinery, keeping all of your fingers attached could be a real day-to-day concern. Especially for people who rely on their hands and dexterity for work, injuring or losing a finger can mean months of recovery or an inability to return to work.
4. Shoulder Injuries
Lifting and carrying can also cause shoulder injuries. Whether injuries are caused by improper technique or simple repetitive stress, shoulder injuries from carrying and lifting can be instantaneous or grow over time. Strains and rotator cuff injuries are common shoulder injuries. In some cases, falling or pushing your body too hard could even mean dislocating your shoulder.
3. Low Back Injuries
About 20% of all workplace injuries nationwide are back injuries. Low back injuries, in particular, are common and occur when lifting heavy objects. Injuries to your lumbar and sacral spine can have serious long-term effects. It can be impossible to get comfortable or relieve the pain for some injuries. Treatment may require extensive rehabilitation, back braces, chiropractic appointments, surgery, or long-term painkiller prescriptions.
2. Knee Injuries
Physical labor is often tough on the knees. Walking, lifting, carrying, kneeling, and climbing all put strain on your joints. After years of work, or after taking a bad slip or fall, your knees could face serious injury.
1. Multiple Body Part Injuries
Many injuries are not focused on one body part or one area. Especially for on-the-job vehicle accidents, falls, fires, or illness, you could face injuries and complications in multiple body parts and body systems. Prolonged exposure to fumes, chemicals, and hazardous materials may cause cancer and other illnesses. If you or a loved one has suffered a fall from a height, it is important to see whether you have a case with an experienced Fayetteville Workers’ Compensation lawyer for workers who fall from heights.
What Are the Top Workplace Accidents in Arkansas?
Certain accidents are especially common across workplaces, particularly slip and falls.
Slips, Trips, and Falls
Slips, trips, and falls occur frequently in office environments and crowded construction work sites. They are a top cause of wrist, ankle, finger, and hand injuries, which are some of the most common injuries workers sustain.
Exposure to Hazardous Substances
Exposure to hazardous substances on construction sites and in manufacturing plants may cause severe burns and other painful skin reactions.
Struck by a Falling Object
Falling objects on active work sites can strike and hurt workers. Traumatic brain injuries are possible even if you are wearing the proper protective headgear.
Overexertion
Overexertion can be serious, potentially leading to falls and other incidents. Overexertion may end in TBIs, spinal cord injuries, or several injuries, requiring Workers’ Compensation.
Vehicle Accidents
Vehicle accidents are also very common, especially among employees who drive commercial trucks or other vehicles while working. Any injury is possible in a vehicle accident, from a shoulder injury to a traumatic brain injury.
FAQs About Work Injuries in Arkansas
When Should You Report a Work Injury?
Report a work injury to your employer immediately. Your employer then has 10 days from your report to inform their Workers’ Compensation insurance carrier to begin the case, so the sooner you report, the better.
What if You Sustain a Repetitive Motion Injury from Work?
Workers sustain repetitive motion injuries over time, not in one clear accident. You may still get Workers’ Compensation for repetitive motion injuries that stop you from working with our attorneys’ help.
What Work Injuries Are Covered by Workers’ Comp in Arkansas?
Workers’ Compensation should cover any injuries you sustained while working and did not intentionally cause. This includes injuries sustained while working from home as a remote employee and while on the clock and driving a commercial truck for a trucking company.
Do You Need Witness Statements to Prove a Work Injury?
Witness statements help us prove you didn’t intentionally injure yourself and that you were harmed while working. Tell us if any of your peers were present during the incident, and we can interview them.
Do You Need Medical Records to Prove a Work Injury?
We need all medical records related to your work injuries, such as X-rays, MRIs, physician notes, surgical reports, and prescription medications, including any emergency room records. We can request and compile them for you and provide them to the insurance carrier.
How Much Compensation Can You Get for a Work Injury?
How much you get for a work injury depends on how your disability is classified. There are temporary total disability, permanent partial disability, and permanent total disability benefits in Arkansas, all of which use your average weekly wage for calculations.
What’s the Deadline for Seeking Compensation for a Work Injury?
You have two years from sustaining a work injury to seek Workers’ Compensation benefits in Arkansas. There can be negative consequences of delaying a claim, however, so you should prioritize yours immediately after an accident.
Arkansas Workplace Injury Attorney
Call (479) 316-0438 today for a free case assessment from our Benton, AR Workers’ Compensation lawyers.