Some types of workplace injuries occur much more frequently than others. Indeed, injuries like slips and falls may be particularly common in healthcare settings and offices, while falls from heights and struck-by accidents tend to occur with more frequency on construction sites. Yet there are many other kinds of work injuries that can happen on the job, and it is critical for any injured worker to know that she or he may be able to seek workers’ compensation benefits even if the accident or injury was an uncommon one. Sometimes these types of injuries are known colloquially as “freak accidents,” or surprising and unexpected injuries. Yet as an article in EHS Today underscores, even accidents at work that seem out of the ordinary are preventable.
What do you need to know about uncommon or unexpected workplace injuries and workers’ compensation benefits in West Palm Beach?
Workers’ Compensation is Not Limited to Common Injuries on the Job
The first and most important thing to know when it comes to unexpected or “freak” accidents on the job is that workers’ compensation benefits are not limited to commonly occurring injuries. While workers’ compensation benefits certainly can provide compensation for what the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) identifies as the “fatal four” on construction sites, for example, injuries that only occur once or twice a year, or even more rarely, can also be compensable.
To be sure, whether you have suffered an injury common to your industry or you are the first person at your place of employment to get hurt in a particular type of accident, you should begin working with a West Palm Beach workers’ compensation lawyer to seek medical benefits, lost wages, and other compensation through Florida workers’ compensation.
No Such Thing as “Freak” Accidents
It is also important to remember that there is not really any such thing as a “freak” accident when an accident occurs because of another party’s negligence or wrongdoing. As the EHS Today article explains, when it comes to certain types of accidents at work—especially those that result in death—the term “freak accident” is used to suggest that something entirely unknowable and unexpected occurred. Yet, as the article highlights, “calling it ‘freak’ means that it has never happened before and will never happen again, so there is no need to change anything.” The data surrounding seemingly odd or unexpected workplace accidents suggests precisely the opposite, which is that “most workplace deaths can be prevented if proper safety measures are implemented.”
Although you cannot hold your employer accountable for negligent behavior that results in an apparently unexpected workplace injury, it is possible to obtain workers’ compensation benefits.
Contact Our West Palm Beach Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
Do you need assistance filing a workers’ compensation claim in South Florida? Our experienced and dedicated South Florida workers’ compensation attorneys are here to help you with your case. Do not hesitate to get in touch with our firm to learn more about how we can assist you. Contact the Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A. today to get started on your claim.
Resource:
ehstoday.com/safety/article/21916268/workers-memorial-day-there-are-no-freak-workplace-accidents
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