Workplace injuries arise all too often. Although some injuries that occur on the job are unavoidable, many of them are the direct result of an employer’s negligent actions. There are various causes of workplace injuries that leave employees with costly medical bills, lost wages, the inability to work, and a diminished quality of life.
A 2017 Workplace Safety Index was released by the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety and reveals the leading 10 causes of workplace injuries in the United States. The top 10 most common workplace injuries include:
The leading cause of a workplace injury is overexertion involving outside sources and includes injuries that stem from pulling, pushing, lifting, holding, throwing, or carrying objects. This cause alone has cost companies $13.79 billion and accounted for 23 percent of the total injury burden in the United States.
Same level falls took the second spot with $10.62 billion in direct costs for businesses and 17.7 percent of total injury burden. Lower level falls ranked third at $5.50 billion and 9.2 percent of the burden, and struck by object or equipment holds the fourth place ranking at $4.43 billion and 7.4 percent.
Bodily reactions and other exertions came in fifth at $3.89 billion and 6.5 percent. About 64 percent of the total cost burden was caused by these five injuries while the remaining five injury causes accounted for 19.5 percent of the total direct cost of workplace injuries. All 10 of these work-related injuries cost a total of $59.87 billion and 83.4 percent of the total cost burden.
Getting hurt on the job and suffering from a severe injury, as a result, can be incredibly distressing. If you have suffered from any type of work injury that was caused by the negligence of your employer or a third party, you need to contact our Chicago workplace injury attorneys at Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. right away. They may help you obtain workers’ compensation benefits and file a personal injury claim on your behalf so that you can move forward with your life.
Call us today at (312) 236-2900.