Common Injuries in Connecticut Workplaces

Connecticut workers’ compensation claims are filed for many different types of injuries. Year after year, these injuries leave millions of workers unable to do their jobs on a short-term or long-term basis.

The experienced and fast-working personal injury lawyers at our law firm can help you maximize your claim. If you’ve been injured on the job, don’t hesitate to schedule a free case consultation with Gould Injury Law today.

The following are common job-related injuries in Connecticut that result in workers’ compensation claims.

Sprains, strains, and tears

Sprains and strains are injuries that occur when muscles and connective tissue are stretched or torn. Sprains usually affect the ankles or knees, while strains can cause pain in the back, shoulders, and hamstrings.

Sprains and strains can occur in almost any type of industry and may be caused by:

• Heavy lifting
• Slip, trip, and falls
• Repetitive motion
• Twisting while lifting
• Pushing or pulling heavy objects

These types of injuries typically require medical attention. In some cases, surgery may be required to repair the tear. A doctor may place work restrictions on the injured employee to give the sprain or strain time to heal, and the employer is required to accommodate those restrictions.

Machinery accidents

Many accidents occur each year as a result of faulty machinery or improper use. These types of accidents are more common in factories and on construction sites, but can also occur in restaurants, offices, and other places of employment across Connecticut. It is the responsibility of the employer to properly train employees on how to safely operate any machinery that they are tasked to use.

Machine accidents are often severe and can result in broken bones, cuts, burns, or the severing of a limb. If you were injured while using a machine on the job, you can likely file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. The fast-acting lawyers at Gould Injury Law can help you maximize your workers’ compensation claim.

Transportation accidents

Transportation accidents typically affect delivery drivers, police officers, semi-truck drivers, and people who have to travel often for work. The more miles you put in behind the wheel, the greater chance that you’ll be involved in a motor vehicle accident.

Connecticut employers should have safe driving protocols in place to ensure their employees don’t cause an accident, but even when these protocols are followed, employees can still be victims of another’s negligent driving.

If you were injured while on the clock or while traveling for work, you may have a workers’ compensation claim.

Repetitive motion injuries

A repetitive strain injury is caused by performing the same motion over and over again. Employees working in a factory or an office setting often experience injuries in this category.

Common types of repetitive strain injuries include:

• Carpal tunnel
• Tennis elbow
• Bursitis
• Tendonitis

Unlike other types of injuries that happen suddenly, repetitive strain injuries slowly develop over time. If you suspect that you have a repetitive strain injury, it’s important to report your symptoms to your employer and seek medical attention. Your doctor will typically note the “date of injury” as the date that your repetitive strain injury was diagnosed.

It can be more complicated to recover workers’ compensation benefits for these types of injuries. However, our skilled and fast personal injury lawyers have extended experience in handling these types of claims. We have the knowledge and resources needed to help you recover maximum compensation.

Electrocution

Electrocution is often portrayed as something comical in movies, making your hair stand straight up with no ill effects. Real-life electrocution, though, can be extremely painful and cause severe injury or death. The severity of the injury can depend on the voltage, current, duration of the exposure, and other factors.

Electrocution can result in:

• Burns
• Organ damage
• Nerve damage
• Cardiac arrest
• Seizures
• Paralysis
• Brain injury

The victim can incur additional injuries as a result of being thrown by the force of electricity. The majority of electrocution accidents are preventable. Employers in Connecticut must ensure that employees are properly trained in how to handle machinery, aware of the importance of avoiding contact with live electrical power sources, and provided with proper safety equipment.

Traumatic brain injuries

A concussion or other traumatic brain injury (TBI) could result from a slip-and-fall, a falling object, or a person running into something. These types of injuries could occur in any workplace. Examples include retail stores where a heavy item may fall off a shelf, factories where workers use heavy machinery, or construction sites where tools may fall from various heights.

Common types of brain injuries include:

• Concussions
• Hematomas
• Skull fractures
• Contusions

A traumatic brain injury may leave workers unable to return to work for days or weeks. Some injuries are so severe that people are no longer able to perform the same tasks they did before. The Connecticut workers’ compensation lawyers at Gould Injury Law can act fast to help you file a claim and recover short- or long-term disability and other damages for your TBI.

After being injured on the job, you may be wondering whether you need to hire a lawyer or if you can handle the workers’ compensation claim on your own. You may feel that you can just file a claim and be paid the full amount that you’re entitled to. Unfortunately, it’s not always that simple.

Workers’ compensation is a complex system. Sometimes, claims are delayed or denied with little to no explanation as to why. When you have a trusted Connecticut workers’ compensation lawyer from Gould Injury Law on your side, though, you can have peace of mind knowing that we are working to get you the highest amount possible from your claim.

The following are some of the many ways a personal injury lawyer can work on your behalf after a workplace accident:

• Investigating the cause of the accident
• Filling out and filing all necessary paperwork
• Negotiating with insurance companies
• Appealing denied claims
• Proving the extent of your injuries

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a workplace accident, you need a skilled lawyer on your side advocating for your legal rights. Our attorneys are knowledgeable in Connecticut workers’ compensation law and will act fast to get you the medical care and financial compensation you need.

Regardless of how you were injured on the job, you may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Contact us to find out what you could get.

At Gould Injury Law, we pride ourselves on obtaining fast and satisfying results for our clients. Call 888-WIN-FAST or fill out the online evaluation form to schedule your free consultation.