Summer is always a time for increased work-related injuries. More people are generally employed during the summer, especially in industries prone to accidents, such as construction and others involving potentially hazardous outdoor activities.
With the restrictions related to COVID effectively lifted, most people are not just back at work but their pent-up demand for goods, services, and experiences is putting a lot of pressure on those who provide them. With the ramped-up efforts to meet growing demand comes longer hours, a faster pace, and sometimes cutting corners on safety. Regardless of the cause of an on-the-job injury, workers’ compensation should provide compensation. Many summertime work injuries are not long-term or permanent. But workers’ compensation does not just provide coverage for long-term or permanent injuries. It provides medical care for an on-the-job injury (medical expenses) and lost wages for the time missed from work (which may be temporary total disability). If the injury is permanent in nature, workers’ compensation also provides for permanent partial or total disability.
Injuries that are more frequently seen during the summer season include:
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Dehydration
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Heatstroke
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Cuts
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Abrasions
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Broken bones
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Falls
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Injuries caused by power tools
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Auto accidents
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Truck accidents
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Heavy equipment accidents
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Construction equipment accidents
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Inhalation or breathing injuries
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Burns
Even though injuries that occur on the job are covered by workers’ compensation (which affords limited recovery), there may be individuals and companies whose responsibility is more extensive. For example, if the injury occurred because some safety devices or safety features of equipment were removed, there may be an enhanced recovery of damages. Likewise, if the injury was the result of the wrongful conduct of other employees or contractors, an injured worker could be entitled to a greater recovery. And, if the injuries were the result of a defective product (whether from a faulty design or inadequate labeling or warnings), then an injured worker may be entitled to greater damages. Some of these other types of claims even allow for the recovery of punitive damages. An injured worker should seek the assistance of an attorney not only with workers’ compensation knowledge and experience, but one who has the knowledge, experience, and resources necessary to thoroughly investigate and screen for other opportunities to see that the injured worker receives full compensation from all those who may be responsible and then the wherewithal to pursue it.
