If you have tripped or fallen in the workplace, you may have faced significant injuries, yet you still may worry about making a claim. It is important to remember that as long as you have suffered measurable damages as a result of an injury that occurred while fulfilling work duties, no workers’ compensation claim is too small.
Many victims of workplace injuries are quick to blame themselves, and they use this as an excuse to not take action. You should take the time to understand how the law is in place to protect you, and remember that workers’ compensation does not take into account who was at fault. It only measures the damages that occurred and provides monetary compensation for medical bills and lost wages.
Slips and falls in the workplace are some of the most common forms of injuries
According to 2015 data on U.S. workplace injuries, falls that did not involve height were the second most common type of workplace injury. Slips and trips that did not involve falls were also mentioned as the seventh most common type of workplace injury.
What commonly causes slips, trips and falls in the workplace?
Often, hazards that are left in walkways and on stairs present and danger for trips and falls. Something as simple as leaving boxes unattended on stairs can lead to serious falls that can cause a worker to need to take significant time off work.
Will my job be at risk if I file for workers’ compensation?
Many injured workers mistakenly believe that they will be at risk of being fired or demoted if they file a workers’ compensation claim. This is completely untrue, however. All workers are automatically protected from retaliation as soon as they file a workers’ compensation claim, regardless of whether their claim is successful. This means that if you do suffer retaliation as a result of making a claim, you have the right to take legal action against your employer.
It is important that you take the necessary steps to gain back any damages that you suffered after a work injury, no matter how minor they were. In order to do this, you should start by understanding the law in New York.