In a traditional office, you may think some of the more common injuries are slip and fall accidents. The incidents typically occur due to wet floors or poor upkeep of floors. While slip and fall injuries may seem more common, you could find yourself injured in a number of different ways in a traditional office.
Slip and fall injuries are not the only type to qualify you for workers’ comp. Check out some of the more common office injuries that could lead to a workers’ compensation claim. If you have suffered from any of the injuries, then legal support could help you navigate the claims to help you receive workers’ comp.
Furniture Injuries
Office furniture plays an important part in running an office. Employees will often spend multiple hours a day sitting in chairs and using office desks. Companies have the responsibility to ensure the office furniture remains up to date and in proper condition for employees and customers.
You could suffer office furniture injuries in multiple ways. First, you may suffer an injury out of nowhere. An office chair could break and collapse. A desk leg could snap and cause the desk to collapse on you. Other furniture elements like cubicle walls could also break. In any of those cases, you could suffer bone breaks, lacerations, or head injuries.
You could also suffer from long-term office furniture injuries. For example, you could have spinal injuries due to using poor-quality furniture for months or years. The height of a desk could result in chronic neck, arm, or back injuries. Statements from doctors or physical therapists could confirm your injury status. Tests like MRIs or CAT scans could show long-term damage.
No matter which way you injure yourself, the company could be liable for the workers’ comp. A lawyer could help you document the condition of the furniture, the last time the furniture was replaced, and any times you filed complaints about furniture condition. A lawyer could also document how your injury impacts your ability to work and the need for time away from the job.
Break Room Injuries
When you spend your breaks on company property, the company still needs to protect you from bodily harm. A break room has many danger areas you should be aware of. For example, break room appliances could be a source of possible injuries. You may suffer from burns due to a coffee pot, toaster, or microwave.
Along with accidental spills and injuries, malfunctioning break room equipment could also lead to injuries. An old appliance could cause unexpected injuries like electric shocks. Improperly balanced equipment could fall over.
When injuries occur on work property, a lawyer can help you seek compensation for work time missed due to the injuries. A lawyer could showcase the faulty equipment as part of your evidence in a case. The only way your break is not covered is if you willingly leave work property for your lunch break.
Equipment-Based Injuries
The break room appliances are not the only machines that could result in a workplace injury. A traditional office may use equipment like printers, fax machines, copiers, computers, and elevators. Malfunctions in those machines could result in injury. You could suffer electric shocks, jammed fingers, or injured legs if a piece of equipment falls over.
The injuries could impact your ability to work in the office. Office cameras and witness statements can showcase how the injury occurred and if the equipment had any similar problems in the past. A lawyer will seek as many details as possible to prove your case and hold a company liable for your injuries and recovery.
Employee-Based Injuries
In some cases, the injuries you suffer could be caused by another employee. An employee could cause the injuries by accident or through intentional harm. In an accident-based case, the employee represents the company you work for and a lawyer may seek compensation directly from the company's insurance company.
An accidental injury from another employee goes beyond a basic slip and fall. For example, an employee may trip and spill burning hot coffee on you. A person may carry items into an office and accidentally drop them on you. Even if the other person got injured, their injuries should not impact your case.
If you suffered from intentional harm, then a lawyer may seek charges against both the employee and the company. The compensation charges directed towards the company may include unsafe working conditions if the assault was work-related. This includes examples like a disgruntled employee.
A lawyer can represent your personal needs and keep them separate from any other injured parties to ensure you get proper representation in a workers’ comp case and possible settlement with an insurance company.
For more information on workers’ compensation and injury cases, reach out to us at the
Law Offices of David A. Helfand, P.A.
Our experienced team has spent years working on personal injury and workers’ comp settlement claims. No matter how you were injured in your office, we will help you forge a path to proper compensation.
