Tag Archives: workplace injury

Kansas woman appeals denial of workers’ compensation claim

Workplace injuries can result in the injured person being unable to continue working for a period of time, and thus also suffer a possible loss of pay. A person in Kansas thus affected can petition for workers’ compensation benefits.

In the case of one woman who claims she suffered shoulder and neck injuries at her workplace, the legal process took an unexpected turn. An administrative law judge determined she had not proved that the neck injury was indeed a workplace injury; the judge did, however, decide that the woman was eligible to be compensated for the shoulder injury, which resulted in a 16 percent permanent partial impairment.

The Kansas Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board later affirmed this decision. The woman believes the decision to be erroneous, and has appealed the verdict to the Kansas Court of Appeals, which was scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case in late March in Leavenworth. The woman also argues that the Board incorrectly computed her average weekly wage.

In order to recover workers’ compensation benefits an injured worker does not have to prove any negligence or fault on behalf of the employer. It is, however, necessary that the injury should have occurred while the employee was in the course and scope of their employment. While worker’s compensation wage loss benefits are less than 100% of the lost wages, they do provide significant relief. Medical and disability benefits are also recoverable. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help an injured worker fight for all the benefits to which they are legally entitled.

Source: LeavenworthTimes.com, “Court of Appeals to hear arguments in Leavenworth,”, March 12, 2014

Firefighter injured battling fire in a house in Kansas

In Kansas, work-related injuries have become quite common. For people whose jobs are risky, such as firefighters, construction workers or workmen engaged in mining industries, incidents of workplace injury are often reported.

Sometimes, a workplace injury leads to major accidents. Injuries and accidents mean huge expenses, loss of a valuable resource and, often, huge medical bills. Who is responsible for workers’ injuries? Who is going to pay all these expenses? These are the questions that the injured victim and the family of the injured person often ask.

In a recent incident in Kansas, a firefighter injured himself after falling down the stairs while battling an early morning house fire. At around 2:15 a.m., the fire was reported and the crew of firefighters rushed to the home. However, there was nobody inside the house. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. It caused $60,000 worth of damage.

Organizations should try to provide a safe working environment for the employees. An injury to an employee results in huge loss of resources. Loss of resources is a huge loss of money. Sometimes, employers neglect the safety of the workers in this risky business. According to a U.S. report, every day, 12 people go to work and never return. The family and friends suffer a huge emotional loss as well as financial loss.

If people find themselves in a similar situation, they can claim compensation if the injury occurred in the workplace Workers compensation provides wage benefits and medical benefits to people who have been injured in the workplace. This compensation can help employees as they get back on their feet following a workplace accident.

Source: The Kansas City Star, “Firefighter injured battling Kansas City, Kan., house fire,” Mar. 7, 2014

Industrial accident leaves worker with hand injuries in Kansas

An employee can suffer many kinds of injuries on the job. Sometimes the injury is due to a defective power tool, or other times it may be from the malfunctioning or misuse of a forklift or crane. The severity and costliness of the injuries vary, too. Some injuries result in lifelong debilitation, while others require simple, short-term treatment. Yet, regardless of how severe the injuries are considered to be, there are options available to employees who are injured on the job.

Kansas residents may have heard about a recent accident that occurred while an employee was performing his day-to-day tasks at his place of employment. The 21-year-old man was performing his duties as an industrial worker at a print and packaging company. The accident occurred when the man’s shirt was caught in a rotating roller, which resulted in his hand being pulled into the roller. According to a police sergeant, the industrial accident caused him to suffer a severe injury in his hand. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Treatment for a workplace injury in many cases can be costly. Even the transportation costs to hospitals are costs that need to be considered. Thankfully, the workers’ compensation system exits, which allows anyone injured on the job to pursue compensation for the injuries they have suffered. Regardless of whether the injury was caused by the employee himself, a negligent employer or a manufacturer’s defective product, workers’ compensation is an option worth considering — but there are other options for workers to consider as well. This is why it is important for employees to know all of the available options in order to ensure that their rights are protected.

Source: The Wichita Eagle, “Man injures hand in industrial accident,” Stan Finger, Jan. 4, 2014

Industrial accident results in fatal injuries for worker

Kansas residents know that some work environments are, unfortunately, more hazardous than others. Accidents can occur at any type of job, but some occupations put employees at an increased risk of danger than others. Industrial and construction jobs are examples of these types of high-risk work environments, and it is vital that employees in these types of professions, as well as loved ones of these workers, are aware of their legal rights in regards to work-related injuries and deaths.

Tragically, an industrial worker was killed recently at a plant on the east coast. Police pronounced the man dead on the scene after a steel beam weighing 12,000 pounds fell onto the man. The victim’s family was able to identify him following the accident. According to reports from a preliminary investigation, the fatal injury appeared to be caused by a work accident, with no foul play involved. This was the second accident in the area involving an industrial worker within just five days.

The frequency of accidents in these types of professions makes it vital for workers and their families to be aware of the options available should injury or death occur. Even in cases when the employer was not at fault, victims can pursue benefits in the form of workers’ compensation should a workplace injury occur.

This remedy is often sought by injured workers. By filing a workers’ compensation claim, the victim or their families may seek the vital financial resources they need during a troubled time in their lives. Knowing one’s legal rights can help victims pursue the best option available.

Source: boston.com, “Man killed in industrial accident in East Boston,” Derek J. Anderson, Dec. 9, 2013

Report shows decrease in workplace injuries, increase in severity

According to a recent report, the rate in which non-fatal work injuries and illnesses occur across the U.S. has declined. The severity of these injuries, however, has increased.

In 2011, 117 cases per 10,000 full-time workers had to stay home from work as a result of a workplace injury or illness. This number decreased in 2012, as only 112 cases per 10,000 spent days away from work. Though this shows a decrease in the amount of serious workplace injuries — serious, in this case, defined as an injury that requires days away from work — other numbers show an increase in the severity of these injuries.

In the report, severity is measured by the average days a worker is required to spend away from work. The severity of injuries appears to be trending upwards, as a median of eight days was reported in 2011, while that number increased to nine in 2012.

Severe workplace injuries can have devastating effects for an employee. They may require days — if not weeks, months or years — away for work, which oftentimes results in lost wages. Lost wages can have an enormous impact on the injured worker’s pocketbook, making it difficult to cover necessary expenses and the medical costs associated with workplace injuries.

Thankfully, employees injured as the result of a workplace accident have a chance to receive help covering medical costs and lost wages. Workers’ compensation allows workers in such situations to apply for compensation. This compensation provides workers with an exclusive remedy — but first, these employees must file a claim and follow guidelines which determine eligibility.

Source: Tire Business, “U.S. workplace injury rate declines but severity up,” Nov. 27, 2013