Common Bone Fracture Injuries in the Workplace

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Bone fractures can be caused by various types of accidents in the workplace, and place you under extra financial burdens quickly with the expenses involved with medical treatment. For this reason, it is imperative to understand your right to workers’ compensation.

What is a fracture?

Whether referred to as a fracture or a broken bone, it is an injury that occurs when the bone is subjected to a force that breaks it. Usually some sort of traumatic event precipitates a bone fracture, such as a physical blow to a body part or a fall.

Common on-the-job accidents causing bone fractures

Fractures can occur in a wide range of professions. Some of the most common accidents that lead to broken bones include:

• Slips and falls: As one of the most common accidents in the workplace, a high percentage of slip and falls result in a bone fracture.
• Vehicle accidents: Delivery drivers and transportation workers who get into accidents can suffer broken bones.
• Impacts from falling objects:The danger of falling objects is common on construction sites. Even a relatively small object, such as a hammer, dropped from dozens or hundreds of feet in the air, can cause bone fractures.
• Heavy equipment: Defective machinery or human errors made in or around heavy or fast-moving machinery in the workplace can lead to a broken bone .

Types of bone fractures

The severity of a bone fracture generally depends on the extent of the damage done to the surrounding tissue and bone and the actual location of the break. The various types of bone fractures are commonly categorized as follows.

• Displaced fracture: This type of fracture occurs when a bone breaks into two or more parts and relocates such that the two separated parts are unaligned.
• Non-displaced fracture: With this type of fracture the bones crack partially or completely through, yet remained aligned with each other.
• Open fracture: This fracture happens when the bone pushes through the skin, leaving the victim vulnerable to bone infection.
• Comminuted fracture: With this fracture, the bone shatters into multiple pieces.
• Closed fracture: This type of fracture happens when the bone breaks but does not cause an open wound or penetrate the skin.

Pursuing workers’ compensation for bone fractures

Workers’ compensation provides employees with financial protection and support if they sustain an on-the-job injury. This support is provided regardless of who was at fault for the accident and injury. The financial support includes payment of medical bills, and death benefits if the employee died from the injury or illness. It also includes partial coverage for lost wages during the time of the worker’s recovery. An employer that fails to provide workers’ comp may be subject to lawsuits, fines, or criminal charges

Medical evidence is the most important element to have in cases involved fractured bones. This evidence is available from x-rays or MRIs of the broken bone(s). Having this evidence increases the opportunity to obtain a fair workers’ compensation settlement. The victim, with the help of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney, needs to provide proof the injury occurred in the workplace. Eyewitnesses to the accident, among other forms of evidence, may provide this proof.

If you were injured on the job in the state of Delaware, our team of skilled workers’ compensation attorneys at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman can help ensure your claim for benefits is approved. We can help you appeal any previously denied claim as well. We serve areas throughout the state from our offices in Newark, Seaford, and Wilmington. To schedule a free, initial consultation, call us today at 302-888-2900 or drop us a message through our contact form.