Common Examples of Workers’ Compensation Cases

Work injuries are not uncommon, which is why most states has robust protections for those who sustain on-the-job injuries. But what are some of the more common examples of workers’ compensation claims in Nevada?

Common Work Injury Causes

When we examine information available from the National Safety Council, we can see that the leading cause of work injury cases has changed over the last few years, namely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The top three causes of work injury claims across the country account for more than 75% of all non-fatal illnesses or injuries that involve time away from work.

The current top three work injury causes include:

1. Exposure to harmful substances or environments

Exposure to harmful substances or environments includes a range of types of exposures. This includes exposure to:

• Electricity
• Extreme temperatures (high or low)
• Radiation
• Loud noises
• Contagious or infectious diseases
• Oxygen deficiency
• Traumatic or stressful events

2. Overexertion and bodily reaction

When a person is overexerted or reacts in a certain way to external stimuli, this can result in significant injuries. This includes:

• Non-impact injuries. This typically results from excessive physical effort directed to an outside source, including pushing, holding, throwing, carrying, or lifting.
• Repetitive motion injuries. This includes repetitive micro tasks that place strain or stress on a certain part or multiple parts of the body.

3. Slips, trips, and falls

Slip, trip, and fall incidents can occur in a wide variety of ways. This can include a worker slipping and tripping without falling, typically when a worker is able to catch themselves. This can also include following onto the same level, such as a slip, trip, or fall where a person does not catch themselves. A slip, trip, or fall can also lead to a person falling from one level to a lower level, which often results in significant traumatic injuries. This can include falls from ladders, roofs, scaffolding, or some other type of structure.

Other Types of Workplace Injury Causes

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, contact with objects and equipment was the third leading cause of workplace injury or illness involving time away from work. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• A moving object striking an employee
• An employee striking against some other type of object or equipment
• An employee getting squeezed, compressed, or crushed between different types of equipment or one fixed object and one moving object
• An employee getting caught or crushed underneath a collapsing structure or equipment
• An employee becoming injured as a result of vibration

Other common causes of workplace injuries include mishaps with tools or equipment, vehicle accidents, violence and other injuries caused by people or animals, explosion and burn injuries, and more.

Reach Out to an Attorney Today

If you or somebody you care about has sustained a work injury in Nevada but are struggling to recover your rightful compensation, we encourage you to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. These claims can be challenging, particularly if the employer or the insurance carrier decides to delay or deny the claim altogether. When you have a work injury lawyer by your side, you will have an advocate ready to handle every aspect of your claim on your behalf.