You might imagine that the average Kansas City workers compensation case is because of incredibly serious workplace accidents, like a fireman getting caught in a burning building or a police officer getting shot on duty.
But actually, the most common workplace accidents – according to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics – are overexertion and what’s called “bodily reaction.” Reaction injuries are a result of a worker slipping or tripping, but not falling. This can cause muscular injuries and strains, as your body tries to compensate for the unusual movement.
6 Common Workplace Accidents We See in Kansas City
Overexertion is typically the number one workplace injury every year, and it’s not hard to see why. These are injuries related to pulling, lifting, holding and carrying, and they are most often seen in laboring and freight jobs, nursing assistants, heavy truck drivers, and janitors. These injuries are also the most expensive, accounting for $3.4 million in benefit costs annually.
The second highest category of workplace accidents are slip (or trip) and falls. These accidents can cause injuries that are somewhat minor, such as sprains and strains, or they can cause more complicated trauma, such as single fractures, multiple fractures and broken bones. The most common body part to be injured is the back, followed by shoulders and knees. So when you see a break room poster that warns you to lift with your legs instead of your back, don’t discount the advice!
The remaining workplace accidents that are most common are:
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Roadway incidents involving vehicles
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Workers who are struck by a piece of equipment or another object
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Machinery accidents
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Workplace violence
About 2.8 million Americans suffer from a workplace injury every year, and the average number of days those workers spent recovering was nine days. If you’ve been injured on the job in Kansas City, you need an experienced workers' compensation lawyer to represent you and make sure you get all the benefits you are entitled to.
Call us today at 816-842-7100 to speak with an experienced Kansas City workers compensation attorney. Or you can contact us online and schedule your free consultation. We take all injury cases on a contingency basis, which means that we don’t get paid unless we win the case for you.
