Common Office Worker Injuries In West Palm Beach

Many people in South Florida mistakenly assume that workers’ compensation coverage is largely designed to provide compensation for injuries sustained by employees in high-risk jobs, such as in the construction industry or in warehousing or trucking. While the Florida workers’ compensation system does allow injured employees in those industries to seek compensation when they get hurt on the job, it is also essential to understand that the workers’ compensation system is much broader and covers most employees who get hurt at work — regardless of the type of industry they work in. Accordingly, most office employees who get hurt on the job can be eligible to seek workers’ compensation benefits after an accident like a slip and fall, or as a result of a repetitive motion injury caused by typing.

What are some of the most common office worker injuries, and what should an injured office worker do in order to seek financial compensation? Our West Palm Beach workers’ compensation attorneys can provide you with additional information now, and we can speak with you about your specific circumstances as soon as you get in touch with us.

Top Injuries in an Office Setting

 According to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, “an office environment presents a unique set of potential injuries from other lines of work” since this environment largely involves work that is “100 percent indoors, in a seated position and usually talking on a phone, [or] writing or typing on a computer.” Many of the top types of office worker injuries arise out of these tasks, such as “back and neck pains, vision strains, pain in the hands and wrists,” and related injuries. At the same time, office workers can also be involved in minor accidents resulting from “objects left out to trip over, furniture that is not well-maintained, [and] faulty electrical cords.”

What are the top types of injuries cited? The Albert Einstein College of Medicine identifies the following as the top kinds of office worker injuries:

• Falls, often due to trips and falls, or slips and falls, or inadequate lighting;
• Lifting injuries caused by lifting heavy objects;
• Struck-by injuries caused by falling objects or bumping into stationary objects; and
• Injuries arising out of ergonomics issues, such as a workstation and tools that are not the right size or height for the office worker’s body.

Filing a Florida Workers’ Compensation Claim 

To seek initial workers’ compensation benefits, the first step is to report your office injury to your employer. Even office workers who are working remotely, or working from home, can be eligible for coverage. After reporting, you will need to see a doctor who has been approved by your employer or insurer.

Workers’ compensation in Florida covers medical bills connected to your work injury, as well as wage replacement benefits for a portion of your lost salary. If your injury causes a disability, you may be eligible for additional disability benefits.

Contact a West Palm Beach Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today 

Were you injured in an office or a general white-collar work setting? You are certainly not alone, and it is critical to know that many workers’ compensation claims are filed successfully by office workers who are injured on the job by a wide range of accidents and incidents. If you recently suffered a work-related injury in your office, or even while doing office-related work at home, you could be eligible to obtain workers’ compensation coverage under Florida law. An experienced West Palm Beach workers’ compensation lawyer at the Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A. can learn more about your circumstances and provide you with more information about seeking benefits.

 Sources:

einsteinmed.edu/administration/environmental-health-safety/accident-injury-reduction-campagin/top-injuries.aspx

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0440/0440.html