While most people think of workplace injuries as serious accidents involving falls or electrocutions, the majority of on-the-job injuries occur in the office while working on repetitive tasks. These injuries are referred to as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), and they account for approximately 33% of all workplace injuries. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), MSDs are one of the most common causes of loss of work time. If you have been injured at your workplace, or if you have begun suffering from a musculoskeletal disorder, you should understand your options for receiving workers’ compensation benefits. 

The Most Common Musculoskeletal Disorders

While musculoskeletal disorders do not come with the fatal consequences of a disastrous accident, their chronic nature can have life-changing implications. Even the most common of musculoskeletal disorders can lead to loss of work hours, chronic pain, and costly medical care. Common MSDs include:

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Also referred to as median nerve compression, carpal tunnel syndrome is incredibly common throughout the United States, impacting more than three million Americans each year. These injuries are caused by the repetitive movement of the hand and wrist. The most common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include pain in the hand or arm, numbness in the hand, a tingling sensation, and general hand weakness. 
• Tendinitis: The repetitive motions performed in the workplace can put stress on certain tendons. Tendinitis is caused by the inflammation or irritation of a tendon. The most common forms of tendinitis occur in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, and knees. In the vast majority of cases, tendinitis requires a combination of rest and physical therapy. If untreated, tendinitis can lead to a ruptured tendon, which usually requires surgery to repair. 
• Rotator Cuff Injuries: These injuries can come with chronic pain and lingering health complications. Whether they are caused by lifting heavy objects or another form of shoulder strain, rotator cuff injuries can have a long-term impact on one’s well-being. The most common types of these injuries are rotator cuff tears, which occur when the tendon connecting the muscle to the bone tears. Receiving immediate medical attention is critically important to avoiding chronic shoulder pain. 
• Trigger Finger: This type of injury, which is also referred to as stenosing tenosynovitis, is caused by the repetitive movement of a finger, and it can ultimately result in the stiffening of the finger, as well as the possibility of the finger remaining in a bent position. Common symptoms include finger stiffness, a popping or clicking sound, and the inability to straighten the finger. 
• Lower Back Injuries: Back injuries are alarmingly common in the workplace. These injuries can be caused by the lifting of heavy objects or simply by sitting in a manner that strains the lower back. An injury to the lower back can be chronic and lead to additional injuries moving forward. Much like the injuries above, receiving immediate medical attention can be critically important to a speedy recovery. 

Contact a Will County Workers’ Comp Attorney

No one should have to face the consequences of a workplace injury alone. At Flaherty Law, LLC, we understand the impact that a workplace injury can have on your overall health and your ability to earn an income. Even the most minor injuries can result in loss of work hours, expensive physical therapy, and long-term pain. When you are injured at work, you are eligible to receive benefits that address your medical care and compensate you for temporary or permanent disability. To set up a free consultation with a dedicated Plainfield workers’ compensation lawyer, call our office today at 815-577-7500. 

The pain of losing a loved one can be incredibly traumatic. The tragic loss of a spouse or a family member can be especially difficult when the loss was caused by someone else’s negligence. While finances are often far away from the forefront of one’s thought process after a tragedy in the family, losing a family member, especially a spouse or parent, can have a monumental impact on one’s financial security. If you believe your loved one was fatally injured by the reckless or negligent actions of another party, you should understand your options for pursuing compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. 

The Wrongful Death Act

Here in the state of Illinois, a death in which a party is liable is defined by the state’s Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180). According to Illinois law, wrongful death occurs when the death of a person is caused by neglect or a wrongful act that would normally constitute a personal injury suit if the injuries suffered were not fatal. Common situations involving wrongful death include fatal injury suffered in a car accident, death in a workplace accident, or the negligence of a nursing home employee ultimately leading to the death of a resident.

The Survival Act

While the Wrongful Death Act addresses the damages caused to a victim’s family members, another law, the Survival Act, allows for a victim’s estate to pursue compensation from the person responsible for their death. A lawsuit filed under the Survival Act can seek to recover damages caused by the negligent party to the victim, such as medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering. Any compensation recovered will be paid to the deceased person’s estate, and it will then be distributed to their next of kin according to the terms of their last will and testament.

In the state of Illinois, one in every three households owns a dog. While dogs are known as our loyal friends, they actually can be quite dangerous. In 2016 alone, 31 Americans were killed by dog bites. While the amount of fatal dog attacks remains fairly low, dog bite injuries are quite common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 800,000 Americans are hospitalized for dog bites each year. If you or are a family member are bitten by a dog, it is important to contact medical personnel as quickly as possible. 

The True Impact of a Dog Bite

While the vast majority of dog bite wounds heal within a matter of weeks, some injuries can be incredibly severe and even fatal.

Injuries to Children: Due to their small stature and inability to recognize behavioral cues, small children face increased risk of severe injury in dog attacks. Approximately 42% of all Americans killed by dog bites in 2016 were children nine years of age or younger. Additionally, infants between the ages of three and six days old made up 31% of all fatal dog bite victims. If your young children are in the presence of a dog, it is crucial to keep a watchful eye. 

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.