Every year, thousands of American workers suffer serious injuries while at work. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), approximately 5,190 American workers lost their lives in on-the-job accidents in 2016 alone. The vast majority of workplace injuries are non-fatal, but they can come with monumental financial implications, including chronic pain or disabilities that impact one’s ability to continue working and earning an income. 

Fortunately, with the help of a quality legal team, people that suffer injuries or contract illnesses while at work can receive benefits in the form of workers’ compensation. Below, we discuss some common workplace injuries, some of the nation’s most dangerous fields, and facts about workers’ compensation in the state of Illinois. 

The Most Common Workplace Injuries

According to research compiled by the Insurance Information Institute, the vast majority of workplace injuries fall under a small number of categories. Most notably, on the job injuries often occur from vehicular collisions, falls, and exposure to harmful substances. These three types of injuries are also some of the most common forms of workplace fatalities. In fact, 40% of all 2016 workplace fatalities occurred in vehicular collisions. An additional 849 workers died from falls in 2016, as well as another 579 that were fatally injured through contact with harmful substances. 

To this day, elder abuse continues to be one of the greatest medical catastrophes throughout the United States. According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), as many as one in every 10 people in the U.S. over the age of 65 face some type of elder abuse, while roughly five million elderly Americans are abused each year. 

Elder abuse is defined as any form of physical, sexual, or emotional harm conducted against an elderly person. The most common perpetrators of elder abuse include assisted-living facility workers, medical personnel, and family members. Despite the extensive research conducted on the impacts of elder abuse, we still have a limited understanding of the long-term impacts of emotional abuse against an elderly person. 

Emotional abuse is defined as abuse coming in the form of verbal attacks, harassment, or threats of future physical attacks. While emotional abuse does not come with the easily noticeable symptoms of physical abuse, such as skin lacerations or bruising, substantial changes in behavior can be a sign that this type of abuse has occurred. If you believe that an elderly family member is facing abuse, it may be time to seek out legal representation. 

After recent studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), medical experts found that elderly Americans are at an increased risk of depression when compared to other age demographics. For many older people, depression symptoms may be a sign of something more: elder abuse. According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), roughly one in every ten Americans over the age of sixty have faced some form of elder abuse. 

Elder abuse can range from physical harm, financial exploitation, or emotional abuse, to even sexual misconduct. If your elderly loved one lives in an assisted-living facility, they may be facing an increased risk of suffering nursing home abuse. Maintaining a strong relationship with your elderly loved one can help you identify common symptoms of elder abuse. 

Preventing Elder Abuse

Every eleven seconds, an elderly American is hospitalized due to a fall injury, according to the National Council on Aging (NCOA). Fall injuries are now the sole leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries among Americans over the age of sixty five. Throughout American hospitals, an average of 2.8 million people are treated after suffering severe injuries due to falls on an annual basis. Equally concerning is the fact that fall injuries alone account for an average of more than 27,000 deaths each year. 

While fall injuries are concerning for all Americans, elderly men and women are among those who face a higher risk of suffering severe injuries due to falling. Recent studies concluded that falls account for roughly 87% of all bone fractures among those over the age of sixty five. If you or a loved one suffer a fall injury, contacting a competent personal injury attorney can be critical in receiving the help and legal guidance you deserve. 

Most Common Fall Injuries 

When families elect to place their elderly loved ones in the care of medical professionals at a nursing home facility, they are putting their trust in the hands of the caretakers, doctors, and staff at the facility. Unfortunately, elder abuse is far more common nationwide than most Americans would like to assume. According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), as many as five million elderly Americans face some form of abuse each year. 

The NCOA defines elder abuse as any form of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse inflicted upon an older adult. Elder abuse continues to be a problem throughout the United States, in large part due to the fact that many of the cases go unnoticed by family members and are never taken to the proper authorities. In fact, one study estimated that less than 10% of all nursing home abuse cases are reported to police. If a member of your family has been abused by medical personnel, contacting a knowledgeable elderly abuse attorney can help your family find the answers and justice you deserve. 

Is the Problem Poised to Get Worse?