Work-Related Injury Lawyer

In 2019, there were approximately 2.8 million nonfatal and 5,333 fatal work injuries and illnesses reported by private industry employers, according to the BLS.

Employees can suffer different kinds of injuries while working. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 3 million people suffered from workplace injuries and illnesses in 2019. Many of the injuries were due to overexertion, being caught in machinery, slip-and-fall accidents, burns, and repetitive motion injuries.

If you have suffered a workplace injury and are uncertain of your rights, seek knowledgeable legal counsel.

Have you been injured at work?
Call (816) 399-3706.
Free Kansas City Workers Compensation Consultation!

James Hoffmann has practiced workers’ compensation law for over 20 years, possessing the negotiating skills, trial experience, medical knowledge, and insurance acumen to confidently pursue total compensation for every client.

Types of Work Injuries

Employees can sustain various types of injuries while on the job. In Mr. Hoffmann’s 20-plus years as a work injury lawyer, he has represented clients who have suffered work-related injuries. Some of the common injuries include:

• Back Injuries
• Neck Injuries
• Knee Injuries
• Hand and Wrist Injuries
• Shoulder Injuries
• Burns & Electrocutions
• Occupational Diseases

We explain the workers’ comp process to clients and can get involved at any state: initial application, resubmitting claims to insurance companies or appealing a case to an administrative law judge or a higher court. Mr. Hoffmann has a broad knowledge of all types of work-related injuries and what your claim for disability or permanent injury is probably worth.

Back Injuries

Back injuries are among some of the most common and can be some of the most painful and debilitating medical problems a person will ever experience. Common work-related back injuries include:

• Herniated, bulging, or slipped discs
• Back spasms
• Chronic back pain
• Spinal cord damage
• Lumbar disc and cervical disc fractures
• Pinched nerves

Some people may develop back problems over time through repetitive stress. Other injuries may result from an accident, such as a slip or fall, a vehicle accident, or a lifting incident. The back injury may vary in severity. Some may be minor, while others are more serious situations involving long-term medical treatment or disability.

Neck Injuries

Neck injuries in the workplace can involve sudden pain while performing your duties on the job or maybe a gradual build-up of pain over a period of time. Some neck injuries can be minor and will resolve themselves, with little medical treatment, within months. Others are permanent and may require continual medical attention, such as physical therapy.

Have you been injured at work?
Call (816) 399-3706.
Free Kansas City Workers Compensation Consultation!

Neck injuries can cause referred pain in the head in the form of headaches. Pain can also radiate into your back, shoulders, arms, and fingers. Once you can receive treatment, make sure your healthcare professional is aware of all these issues. In more severe neck injury cases, surgery may be required. Neck injuries are some of the most severe work-related injuries. You may be eligible for workers ‘ compensation even if you have a pre-existing neck condition.

Knee Injuries

Knee injuries are common work-related injuries. The knees provide flexibility and stability to the body. The knees contain bones, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, and tendons to perform these functions. Any of these parts can be affected by a knee injury. The full extent of the injury to the knees may not be fully apparent until well after the accident has occurred.

Common knee injuries that can occur in the workplace are:

• Cartilage injuries, such as Chondromalacia
• Ligament Strains
• Tendon tears
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome
• Knee muscle injuries
• Broken or fractured kneecaps

You are entitled to Missouri workers’ compensation benefits if you injured your knee while on the job. You should be compensated for medical expenses, knee surgery, rehabilitation, and lost wages.

Hand and Wrist Injuries

Following back injuries, hand, and wrist injuries are American workers’ most common work-related injuries. Several work-related tasks can cause them. Employees who perform a range of activities repeatedly while using the same arm are at risk of developing hand or wrist injuries.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common work-related wrist injuries. It is pain, tingling, or other problems with your hand because of pressure on the median nerve in your wrist. This nerve controls movement and feeling in your thumb and first three fingers. Any pressure on this nerve can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. In a work environment, it can be caused by working with bent wrists, a high rate of repetition using the hands, or a lack of time to rest for jobs requiring forceful hand movements. People who work with computers often complain of wrist injuries due to typing for long periods.

Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries typically occur from repetitive arm movements or heavy lifting. Employees required to do throwing or overhead work are especially at risk.

Some of the common types of shoulder injuries that occur in the workplace are:

• Range of motion impairment
• Peripheral nerve issues
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Dislocated shoulders
• Frozen shoulder
• Severe shoulder pain

Some shoulder injuries are minor, requiring a short healing process with physical therapy, while others are more serious and require surgery or even long-term treatment.

Burns & Electrocutions

Many electrocution accidents occur in the workplace, accounting for approximately 1,000 deaths in the U.S. annually. Power lines, faulty wiring, and appliances that malfunction are at the top of the list for causes, and construction workers, engineers, utility employees, and electricians are at the most risk at work for electrocution accidents.

These injuries can cause burns, nerve damage, seizures, internal organ damage, and possibly death.

Occupational Diseases

An occupational disease is a condition or illness that directly results from work or occupational activity. It is estimated that 860,000 illnesses and 60,300 deaths occur yearly from workplace exposures in the United States.

Occupational diseases include any chronic disease caused by environmental factors or activities in the workplace. There are many different types, each having a different cause. Some of the more common ones include:

• Mesothelioma
• Asbestosis
• Lung Disease
• Heart Disease
• Skin Disease
• Central Nervous System Disease
• Other Occupational Cancers

These conditions may result from exposure to agents such as asbestos, radiation, pesticides, gas, and other dangerous solvents.

When a Work Injury Occurs

If you have been injured at work, the first thing you need to do is report the incident to your employer. Tell them how you were injured and where and when the injury occurred. They will submit the injury to their workers’ compensation insurance company, and it is up to them to decide whether or not they will approve medical treatment. In many cases, they will deny your benefits or make it extremely difficult for you to obtain them.

You may have suffered a legitimate work-related injury and followed the proper steps, yet your claim is still not handled properly. It is essential to seek the help of an experienced Workers’ Compensation Lawyer.