Study Finds More Than a Quarter of Workers Hurt on the Job

According to a study done by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2006, there were over 4 million non-fatal workplace illnesses or injuries. Findlaw.com conducted a study in mid-2008 of 1,000 workers to find out how workplace injuries are affecting American workers. The study found that 28 percent of American adults reported that they had been injured on the job at some point in time. Among men surveyed, more than one-third (36%) reported a work-related injury.

Of those respondents who reported that they were inured on the job, 43 percent said they missed more than a week of work as a result of the injury. Thirty-one percent said they were off work for more than a month.

Of those injured on the job, 43 percent said they missed more than one week of work as a result of their injury. And 31 percent said they were off the job for more than a month.

According to the survey, of those who reported a work injury, only 53 percent filed a workers’ compensation claim as a result of their injuries.

One has to wonder why only about half of injured workers made workers’ compensation claims for their injuries. One suspects that many people avoid the workers’ compensation system because it can be extremely complex, or for fear that reporting a claim will jeopardize their jobs. An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can help an injured worker navigate the Minnesota workers’ compensation system.

If you are injured on the job, here are some things you should do:

• Report your injury to a supervisor and ask him or her to fill out a First Report of Injury.
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Your employer may ask you to see one of their doctors for an initial examination, but you have the right to see your own doctor if you wish.
• Tell your doctor you were hurt at work, explain your symptoms, and ask him or her to provide you with work restrictions, if appropriate. Provide those work restrictions to your employer. Follow your doctor's recommendations for treatment.
• Contact a lawyer.
  

To schedule a free consultation with Meuser & Associates, experienced Minnesota workers’ compensation lawyers, call us at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email.

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