Common Types of Workplace Accidents
Leading California Work Accident Attorneys
The Jin Law Firm P.C. focuses on representing victims of workplace accidents that are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Workplace safety is paramount, and the state of California requires employers to provide employees with workers’ compensation benefits. Employers may purchase this insurance through licensed insurers or from the State Compensation Insurance Fund. If you suffer a work-related injury or accident, the insurance company will then pay for your medical treatment, lost wages, job training and temporary or permanent impairments.
Several different workplace accidents can occur; however, the two most common are construction accidents and chemical exposure.
Construction Accidents
Fortunately for California construction workers, most work-related injuries are covered under the Los Angeles, California workers’ compensation system. However, there are some unusually rare circumstances where workers’ compensation laws do not apply. Still, injured workers may be able to recover damages by filing a third-party personal injury lawsuit.
You may not know that more than one in five workers’ deaths is in the construction industry. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) highlights four specific hazards that make up more than half of these deaths:
- Falls
- Being struck by an object
- Electrocutions
- Getting caught in or between machinery or equipment
Astudy from 2011 showed that construction workers have higher rates of injury, which also results in premature death. Over the average 45-year construction career, a worker has more than a 75 percent chance of developing a disabling injury or a one in 200 chance of being killed on the job.
The following are common non-fatal accidents that occur on construction sites:
- Amputations
- Broken bones
- Eye injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Respiratory disease
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
If you are injured on the job in a construction accident, you may experience a lengthy recovery and costly medical bills. Let our experienced team of attorneys help you get the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve.
Chemical Exposure Accidents
An employee that is exposed to toxic chemicals in the workplace may experience detrimental health effects. If you are the victim of a work-related chemical injury, you are covered by California’s workers’ compensation insurance. Even if you develop symptoms and health issues after exposure, you may still be entitled to wage loss benefits, medical coverage and other types of compensation.
If you worked in the following positions or trades, you might have been exposed to toxic chemicals:
- Carpenter
- Construction
- Electrician
- Factory worker
- Transporter of chemical substances
- Painter
- Plumber
- Railroad worker
- Welder
- Other
Employees in the fields mentioned above are exposed to the following illnesses and diseases:
- Anemia
- Asthma
- Hodgkin’s disease
- Lung cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Parkinson’s disease
- Silicosis
Being exposed to the following chemicals can also affect your long-term health:
- Beryllium
- Carbon monoxide
- Chlorine dioxide
- Creosote
- Hydrochloric acid
- Industrial alcohol
- Isocyanates
- Manganese
- Pesticides
- Photoresists
- Polychlorinated biphenyl
- Silica
- Sodium dioxide
- Sulfur dioxide
- Sulfuric acid
Employers are responsible for protecting their employees, so if you develop any of the diseases, illnesses or symptoms mentioned above due to job-related chemical exposure, you may be entitled to benefits.
Contact Us Today
With more than 40 years of combined experience, our team of knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorneys focuses on representing employees in work-related accidents. The Jin Law Firm treats all clients equally, and we offer superior legal representation to clients in the greater Los Angeles, California, area. Contact us today to schedule your appointment with one of our experienced team members.