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When you show up to work each day, you don’t think that today is the day you will suffer an injury on the job. Unfortunately, accidents happen.

For every 100 full-time workers in North Carolina in the year 2019, for example, 2.3 suffered work-related injuries or illnesses.

While this is less than in many other states across the nation, the fact remains that tens of thousands of workers in North Carolina sustain injuries at work each year. Any type of injury can occur, but some happen more frequently than others.

Here’s a look at 10 of the most common workplace injuries in North Carolina.

Slip and Falls

Slip and falls, or trip and falls, are common injuries both in and out of the workplace. People injure themselves by slipping on or tripping over objects on a daily basis.

Healthcare workers, restaurant workers, and grocery store employees are especially susceptible to tripping or slipping.

Overexertion

Many workers have jobs that involve a lot of physical exertion, such as pushing and lifting. Move beyond your normal range of motion, and you might end up with an overexertion injury.

Common examples include strains, sprains, and tears.

Falling from Heights

Falling from a higher elevation is a terrifying experience. It can also result in significant injuries, such as broken bones, or worse head and spinal injuries.

Construction site workers are especially prone to falls from heights if they work with scaffolding or ladders or climb out on ledges.

Bodily Reaction

Bodily reaction injuries occur when you try to avoid a mishap, and you are injured by the action you take to avoid injury.

A typical example is when you slip and try to prevent a fall, but you are injured when you catch yourself.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Workers whose job duties require them to operate a car or other type of motor vehicle are much more likely to have a compensation claim involving a motor vehicle accident.

Even the best drivers cannot always prevent an accident from happening.

Depending on the circumstances of the accident, you could have a workers’ compensation claim plus a third-party liability claim against the other driver.

Hit by an Object

Not all fall injuries involve a person falling. In some cases, injuries occur when an object falls.

These are potentially dangerous events because the falling object often lands on the person’s head. Even a fall from only a few inches could cause a brain injury.

Falling Into an Object

Workers can also fall into objects rather than objects falling on them. An example would be if an employee was pushed into an object when falling or landing on machinery equipment, shelving units, etc.

These accidents can also occur when an employee is distracted and walks into an object, such as a door, glass window, chair, or even another person.

Falling into an object injuries can range from mild sprains and contusions to more severe injuries. They also often involve the head, neck, knee, or foot.

Repetitive Stress Injuries

Workers who perform the same tasks regularly, such as typing or working on a machine assembly line, are the ones who are most at risk for repetitive stress injuries.

For example, someone who types on a computer all day is more likely to have carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis.

Machinery Accidents

Anyone who works with machinery and equipment could become entangled in the machine, resulting in potentially catastrophic injuries.

Someone could have an article of clothing, or a body part or even their hair become tangled in a machine, causing injury.

Workers should have proper safety equipment and receive a briefing on all safety precautions.

Regardless of how the injury occurred, there is a good chance North Carolina workers’ compensation benefits will cover it.

Workplace Violence

Sadly, workplace violence also makes it on the top 10 list for the most common work-related injuries in North Carolina.

You could have a physical altercation with another employee, or a former disgruntled employee may come back to exact their revenge. In many cases, injuries can be catastrophic or even fatal.

Certain factors increase the likelihood of workplace violence, such as working where alcohol is served or where money is exchanged with members of the public.

Higher-risk employees include public service workers, delivery drivers, and healthcare employees.

Contact a North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

If you sustained injuries in the workplace, you need to speak with one of our Board Certified North Carolina workers’ compensation lawyers at Mehta & McConnell, PLLC.

With our expertise in workers’ compensation claims, you can rest assured that we can help you navigate the confusing aspects of workers’ compensation benefits.

Contact our office today to schedule an initial consultation and learn more about how we can assist you.

Author Photo

Jason McConnell

Jason McConnell is the managing attorney of Mehta & McConnell Injury Lawyers, a Charlotte, North Carolina Workers’ Compensation law firm. In his free time he enjoys playing golf, cooking, traveling and following the UNC Tar Heels and Carolina Panthers.

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