Common Workplace Accidents in New Jersey

Victim of a New Jersey workplace injury in a wheel chair

Workplaces can be dangerous. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that 1.16 million cases of non-fatal occupational injury and illness occurred in the U.S. in a recent year, and 4,405 fatal workplace injuries.

If you suffer a job-related injury or illness in New Jersey – or if you lose a loved one to a workplace accident – you have legal rights and options. You may be able to file a claim for medical and disability benefits through the state’s workers’ compensation program. In some cases, you may be able to file a third-party liability claim.

It is important to contact a workers’ compensation lawyer from Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., without delay in order to make sure those rights are fully protected. We provide free initial case reviews. Call us today at (800) LAW-2000 toll free or submit our online form.

What are the Most Common Workplace Injuries in New Jersey and Their Causes?

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Most Common Types of Injuries

These are the most frequent physical injuries that result from workplace accidents:

  • Sprains, Strains, and Tears: These are the most common type of workplace injury, often resulting from overexertion.
  • Soreness and Pain: General pain and soreness, particularly in the back and other joints, are frequently reported.
  • Cuts, Lacerations, and Punctures: Common in many industries, especially those involving manual labor and sharp tools.
  • Fractures: Broken bones, often resulting from falls or contact with objects.

Most Common Causes of Injuries in the Workplace

According to OSHA, the most common types of New Jersey workplace accidents are:

  • Contact with objects and equipment, including falling objects
  • Falls, including falls to a lower level, falls from a ladder and falls from scaffolding
  • Highway transportation accidents, such as collisions and overturned vehicles
  • Assaults and violent acts
  • Fires and explosions
  • Exposure to harmful substances or environments
  • Contact with electric currents (shock or electrocution)
  • Exposure to toxic substances and chemicals
  • Being caught in running equipment or machinery
  • Motor vehicle and forklift accidents.

Every year, the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety compiles what it calls a “Workplace Safety Index.” The index ranks the leading causes of workplace injuries based on workers’ compensation insurance costs.

In its most recent index, Liberty Mutual rated the following as the seven most common causes of workplace injuries in the country (during a year in which $58.78 billion in workers’ injuries costs were reported):

  • Overexertion involving outside sources
  • Falls on the same level (28)
  • Struck by object
  • Falls to lower level
  • Other exertions
  • Roadway incidents
  • Slip or trip

Although any line of work can be dangerous, the BLS reports that jobs with the highest rate of workplace accidents resulting in days away from work are laborers, nursing aides, orderlies, attendants, janitors, cleaners, heavy truck and tractor-trailer truck drivers and police / sheriff’s patrol officers.

What Compensation Can I Recover for Workplace Accidents?

If you are injured at work, you are typically entitled to the following workers’ compensation benefits:

  • Medical Care: Covers 100% of all reasonable and necessary medical treatment for your injury, including doctor’s visits, surgery, physical therapy, and prescriptions.
  • Lost Wage Benefits: Replaces a portion of the income you lose while unable to work. This can be:
    • Temporary Disability: Paid while you are temporarily recovering and either can’t work at all or can only work in a limited “light-duty” capacity.
    • Permanent Disability: Compensation for a lasting impairment from your injury that affects your ability to work in the future.
  • Vocational Rehabilitation: Provides job retraining and placement assistance if your injury prevents you from returning to your old job.
  • Death Benefits: If an accident is fatal, this provides financial support and funeral expenses to the worker’s surviving dependents.

How to Avoid Accidents in the Workplace?

Preventing accidents is a shared responsibility between employees and management. Here are the most important safety practices you can follow to avoid injuries:

  • Attend Safety Trainings: Ensure you have proper training on job-specific safety procedures and emergency protocols.
  • Stay Alert and Aware: Pay attention to your surroundings, avoid distractions, and never work when tired or impaired.
  • Maintain a Clean and Organized Workspace: Keep walkways clear of clutter and clean up spills immediately to prevent slips, trips, and falls, which are among the most common accidents.
  • Use the Right Equipment: Always use the correct tools and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the task. Inspect your gear regularly and report any damage.
  • Practice Safe Lifting: To avoid strains and back injuries, lift with your legs, not your back, and get help with heavy or awkward loads.
  • Follow All Safety Rules: Never take shortcuts. Safety procedures are in place for a reason and are essential for protecting you and your colleagues.
  • Report Hazards Immediately: If you see an unsafe condition—like a broken tool, a spill, or a blocked exit—report it to a supervisor right away.

Problems with Identifying Work Related Injuries in New Jersey

In order to obtain New Jersey workers’ compensation benefits, of course, a worker must establish that his or her injury is job-related. Unfortunately, establishing this fact can be problematic for many different reasons.

Two reasons that often arise in workers’ compensation cases are:

Failure to report the injury

Failure to report the injuryAs soon as possible, a worker should report his or her injury to his employer. When you report it right away, it helps to establish the connection between the job and the injury. If you wait, it leaves the door open to a challenge by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer. Additionally, under New Jersey law, you must give notice of the injury to your employer within 90 days, or else your claim for workers’ compensation benefits can be barred.

Failure to get medical attention

Failure to get medical attentionIn addition to protecting your health, getting medical treatment helps to establish a record of your injury. If you wait a week after a workplace accident to get medical care and treatment, it may create doubt that your condition arose from an incident at work.

Preexisting condition

Preexisting conditionIf you have a preexisting condition, a worker’s compensation insurer may claim that your injury is not work-related. For instance, let’s say you have a preexisting back injury and then strain your back while lifting an object at work. The insurer may allege that you are not entitled to benefits. If this occurs, you will need to provide medical evidence showing that your job duties made your condition worse.

A Lawyer Can Help with your New Jersey Workplace Accident Claim

If you have been injured or lost a family member because of a workplace accident or illness, contact Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. today. We can help you to secure workers’ compensation benefits to cover your losses and needs. We can also help you decide whether other parties should be held accountable for your injury or illness through a third-party lawsuit.

The experienced, skilled and dedicated New Jersey workplace accident attorneys of Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., have secured appropriate compensation for thousands of injured employees and their families throughout New Jersey.

Contact us at (800) LAW-2000 toll free or through our online form for a free initial consultation. We will come to your home or hospital room if that is more convenient for you. We do not charge a fee until there is a recovery for you and your family.

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