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Ladders serve numerous purposes, which is why virtually every workplace in the U.S. has a ladder laying around somewhere. They are cheap to buy and easy to store. They are quick to deploy and move along and can help you reach things far more quickly and with less disruption than other methods of getting to height. Yet some employers do not pay attention to their considerable disadvantages compared to scaffolding, mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPS) and other options on worksites that would benefit from an alternative approach. They are not very stable You are literally balanced on two or four small metal feet when you are up a ladder. It would not take much for the ladder to fall over with grave consequences for you. Someone could walk past and knock the base, you could overreach and tip it over or one of the feet could sink into the ground or slip, sending you plummeting. They are not as simple to use as people think Give someone something that looks complicated and they’ll think twice before touching it. An employer is unlikely to tell you just to grab an MEWP unless they have taken the time to train you. It’s an expensive and complicated machine they don’t want you breaking it or causing any damage as a result of your inexperience. Ladders, by contrast, appear to be simple in nature. As a result, an employer may tell you to go up one without having given you any training. While the design is simple, there are several things you need to know to use them safely. If you are injured in a workplace ladder fall, you should be entitled to claim workers’ compensation. Getting help from an experienced legal professional as you pursue a claim can help you to maximize your award and benefit from an approval without undue delay.

If you work as a caregiver, nurse or another hands-on position in a “caring” profession, your employer needs to look after your health. As recent world health events clearly illustrated, when the people who care for others get sick, the whole system suffers. Unfortunately, the nature of your role means you are more likely to get sick or injured than most workers. Here are some of the reasons why: 1. You may deal with sharp medical implements Part of your job may involve giving injections to some of those in your care. It only takes one small error for the needle to end up in your body, leaving you susceptible to serious infections. A jab injury may occur because: You make a bad move due to exhaustion after a long shift Someone walking past you bumps into you A patient (who might not be in control of their reactions or thoughts) grabs you Someone does not discard of a used needle properly A patient has needles in their pockets Even if you don’t interact with needles as part of your job, you are more likely to get cut generally when caring for others for a host of reasons, so the risk of infection simply by getting cut and interacting with others remains real. 2. You do a lot of heavy lifting Let’s say that a patient passes out and falls to the ground unconscious, and you need to move them out of danger. A limp body will feel a whole lot heavier than a responsive patient will. Many patients weigh a lot anyway, and with frequent staff shortages, you may not be able to wait for help to move someone who has fallen or needs to be adjusted. Daily tasks such as changing sheets or helping patients bathe can also take a toll on your back. Ensuring that you get the total amount of workers’ compensation you deserve after you’ve been injured can help you get back to work sooner. While that is in everyone’s interests, you may still need legal help to fight for what you’re owed.

If you work on construction sites, you are regularly surrounded by potential hazards. Trenches present particular problems. You will be exposed to a risk of harm to a particularly significant degree under two specific circumstances. When you are in it If your boss sends you into a trench to perform some work, you’ll need to be sure that they have done all they can to eliminate inherent dangers, which could include: Dangers within the trench itself: For example, noxious gases or underground cables or pipes Dangers from the trench: Such as a risk of it collapsing due to inadequate support Dangers from above the trench: Caused by someone or something passing around the edge or even a poorly stacked roll of cable rolling down a hill from well above the trench. If you are inside when something falls, it could injure or kill you When you are above it Employers must mark trenches clearly to reduce the chance that you may accidentally fall in. They should also route paths (especially those used by heavy machinery) away from it, as the ground around the trench edge will be weak, and you do not want the ground to collapse underneath you and send you plummeting. The dangers can change An employer cannot just construct a trench, declare it safe and then expect you to work there day after day. They need to monitor it regularly and reassess its risks. The ground can move with time, and intense weather, including rain and frost, can also affect stability, as can other unseen things, like an underground water pipe being damaged nearby. Construction accidents can be serious, so you’ll need legal help to understand how to claim workers’ compensation if you’re hurt due to a trench-related hazard.

Restaurant kitchens often have a high staff turnover. Many workers leave after fallouts with colleagues or bosses, and others just decide to opt for an easier way to earn money. But, all too often, there’s another reason a restaurant might need to hire a new staff member – because one of their current employees can no longer work due to a workplace accident. Here are some of the accidents that happen far too frequently to hard-working kitchen staff: Serious cuts It only takes a minor lapse of concentration for a knife or another cutting implement to cut into a finger or hand. Most such injuries are minor, but occasionally they do enough damage that the injury victim will need surgery and weeks off of work to recover. Scalds and burns Restaurant work requires that hot pans of food and liquids be moved about and the contents to make their way onto hot plates that then get transported from one room to another. When people are busy or not paying attention, spillage could occur with nasty consequences for anyone whose skin meets dangerously hot food, liquid or other material. Slips and falls When things get spilled onto the floor, someone needs to mop that floor. If the mopper does not make the slippery surface apparent with a cone or they do not dry it well enough, the situation could cause someone to slip and injure themselves. Lifting strain that causes back injuries Kitchens receive bulk deliveries, and some of those boxes are heavy. The constant time pressure means that no one else may be available to help lift, and people may try to do it alone and get injured. Most restaurant employers seek benefits via workers’ compensation insurance if they need time off work due to one of these injuries. You may need legal help to get the full amount that you’re owed and to help you navigate any employer retaliation that may occur as you try to rightfully claim your benefits.

When you go to the doctor, and they prescribe you medication, you need to ensure you understand the implications of taking it. Some people are so happy to get access to helpful drugs that they pick them up from the pharmacy and take them without giving a thought to any possible side effects. It’s always worth asking the doctor or pharmacist and reading the instructions. One dangerous side-effect some prescription medications have is that they can affect your driving. Here are just a few ways that medication can impair your ability to drive safely. They may cause drowsiness Staying awake at the wheel can be hard enough if you are tired after a sleepless night or a long day at work. Popping a pill with soporific side effects might make keeping your eyes open impossible. Antihistamines are one medicine that can have this effect. Others include opiate painkillers and, perhaps more obviously, medications that help calm anxiety or help with sleep disorders, such as Benzodiazepines. Some drugs can have disorienting side effects Many medicines sold over the counter for colds or allergies also contain problematic drugs such as Diphenhydramine. They can reduce your ability to maintain a constant position on the road. This can mean that you drift across lanes or drift too close to the car in front of you, making you more likely to run into them if the driver in front of you brakes suddenly. Taking care to understand your own medications is only part of the issue. The roads are full of others who may not be so careful. If one of them injures you in a collision, getting legal help to determine if they were affected by medication could help you to get the compensation you deserve.

The hours and days after a vehicle crash are undeniably challenging and are a prime time for injury victims to unintentionally make poor decisions. If you’ve recently suffered harm in a crash any potential missteps that you make could affect your ability to secure the full amount of compensation to which you’re rightfully entitled. Here are three common errors to be wary of. 1. Saying too much to the wrong people The other party’s insurer will look for ways to reduce how much compensation they must pay you. Tactics could include calling you and trying to record you saying something that a court could perceive as you admitting fault. Or scouring your social media for posts or comments that suggest your injuries are not as bad as you or a doctor claim. They might even send a private investigator to follow you around. 2. Underestimating the cost of your injuries One of the most urgent things you should do after a crash is to get a full medical check-up. This rule of thumb applies even if you feel and look fine. Some potentially life-threatening injuries will not make themselves known straight away. Examples of “silent” harm include a damaged spine, an internal bleed or a traumatic brain injury. A medical check can root potentially dangerous conditions and allow you to get treatment for them. Detailing everything in a medical report also enables you to claim compensation for all the costs you can expect, rather than just the ones you’ve already incurred. 3. Trying to handle your claim alone Insurers will rub their hands with glee if they see that you have no legal representation, as it increases the likelihood that they will get away with underpaying your injury claim. To avoid this particular challenge, seek legal guidance as soon as you can.

After a major crash, people often look for compensation to help cover their expenses. They may have lost out on multiple days of income, maybe even weeks of wages because of their injuries. They may have thousands of dollars in hospital bills and also property damage expenses. Those who are at fault for a crash have financial liability for the wreck they’ve caused. They may need to provide insurance coverage to pay someone’s cost, and when they can’t cover those expenses with insurance, they might end up in civil court. Lost wages are often one of the biggest contributing elements to a personal injury claim following a crash. Those directly affected by a crash need to quantify their losses and use that estimate as a baseline when negotiating with the insurance company or filing a claim in civil court. What if the person who has been hurt doesn’t work a job but provides numerous services for their family? Homemaking services have significant value Anyone who has tried to hire a cleaning service or a childcare provider can quickly tell you how incredibly expensive such services actually are. Families save tens of thousands of dollars annually by having a parent or other family member provide services like child care, cleaning, meal planning and cooking. When an injury leaves a parent unable to take their children to school every day or prepare meals for the family, the household may have to absorb massive expenses. A personal injury lawsuit can potentially include the cost of someone’s lost services during the recovery or in the long-term future when their injuries will lead to permanent limitations. Putting a price on an injury can be hard The average person may struggle to understand the true financial impact of their injuries after a crash. It is easy to underestimate the cost when people only look at the first round of bills they get from the hospital. Those who partner with a lawyer after a car crash will better understand the financial consequences of their injuries and will have the support that they’ll likely require to get the maximum amount of compensation possible. Recognizing the true financial effect of a recent car crash will help those who need to pursue an insurance claim or lawsuit, regardless of whether they work or not.

Anyone can get hurt at work, as job injuries range from predictable, industry-specific trauma risks to fluke accidents related to criminal activity or inclement weather. People of all ages and backgrounds engaged in gainful employment could potentially end up suffering from a work-related injury or a job-acquired illness. However, certain groups weather greater risk (at least, statistically speaking) on the job than others. When looking at federal workplace injury data, two specific groups tend to navigate greater risk for injury on the job when compared with the rest of the population. Older workers are at elevated risk With people living longer and retirement ages rising, more people work later in life. Having older adults in the workforce can be beneficial in many ways, but those workers are more likely than their younger coworkers to end up hurt. According to a report from the National Safety Council, older adults are at elevated risk for two kinds of work injuries. Specifically, they are more likely to slip, trip and fall. Many older adults end up seeking emergency medical care because of broken bones or brain injuries caused by a same-level fall at work. They are also more susceptible to contracting infectious diseases at work. Younger workers also have elevated risks With many jobs, an individual’s degree of risk decreases as they become more familiar with the equipment they use and industry safety practices. As with driving a motor vehicle, experience is often the only means of ensuring someone’s competence and overall safety. Younger workers have their own risks, including a greater chance of injury caused by contact with objects/equipment and a greater chance of getting cut on the job. Mistakes on the job and sometimes an inability to consider long-term risks may factor into the increased injury risk for young adults. In certain industries, like construction, younger workers may actually be at the highest risk of an on-the-job fatality. Employees hurt at work and those who lose a loved one in a work incident may have grounds for a workers’ compensation claim and/or a civil lawsuit.  Recognizing personal risk factors, including personal characteristics that may increase physical risk, can help people avoid work injuries and take appropriate action after one has manifested.

It’s well known that younger drivers are some of the most accident-prone because of their inexperience and reduced maturity. How do things look at the other end of the scale? Do people keep on getting safer and safer? Or do they reach a point where their driving deteriorates in older age? Traffic statistics show that in 2020, over 6,500 adults over the age of 65 died in car crashes. A further 230,000 were injured enough as a result of motor vehicle collisions to need hospital treatment. Age isn’t everything As you age, your body’s ability to keep you safe while driving will lessen. Your eyes and ears won’t be as able to spot the early signs of trouble, and your brain and muscles won’t be able to process that information and react as quickly. But that is not the whole picture. Even the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirms that it is someone’s ability, not their age alone, that determines whether they are capable of operating a motor vehicle safely. You might think that why someone was injured or killed in a crash is irrelevant because it is the consequences of the crash that impact lives. Yet it is highly relevant when seeking compensation. If one of your older family members was injured or killed in a crash, you might need legal help to counter claims of the other driver and their insurer that your relative’s age meant they drove poorly and caused the crash. Attributing fault correctly can help you get the compensation your loved one deserves.

If you have a workplace accident, you need to fill out certain paperwork and provide relevant supporting evidence before you’ll qualify to receive workers’ compensation benefits. However obvious the extent and effect of your injury may be, you will not get a cent of workers’ compensation until you complete these tasks correctly. Form 18 is the document that you’ll need to submit in order to give official notice of your claim. Once completed, you must submit it to the North Carolina Industrial Commission. This form alerts the Commission to several important pieces of information that will allow it to process your claim. You’ll need to detail what happened that caused your injury as well as when it happened.  You’ll also need to mention what parts of the body were injured. Details of your work hours and wages will also need to be included. Omitting details could lead to delays in the processing of your claim. What if I cannot complete and sign the form? Someone else can do it for you if you are unable, which could happen if your injuries have affected your hands, your cognitive functions and/or your ability to process information sufficiently while you’re on specific medications. How long do I have to file the form? You must do so within two years of the injury or occupational disease occurring. Otherwise, you’ll likely lose all rights to claim. Remember, you’ll need to report the original incident to your employer within 30 days of sustaining harm or you may be barred from receiving compensation. Sending your employer a copy of this form would count as notice. The sooner you file, the sooner you can get compensation. Note that if you’re claiming for asbestosis, silicosis and business, you’ll need a different form. Filling out the form correctly is not always a straightforward process. Consider legal help to do so and to help you prepare the appropriate accompanying evidence to increase the chance that your workers’ compensation claim will succeed the first time around.

Medical researchers are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible. There are more therapies available for cancer than ever before, and advances in neurological science and prosthetics can help people recovering from an amputation or a spinal cord injury maintain more function than would have been possible years ago. Brain injuries, however, have long remained a near-impossible hurdle for researchers. Despite advances in understanding neuroplasticity (the ability of the brain to rewire itself), the adult brain doesn’t grow much and therefore has limited healing abilities. Surgery and rehabilitative care can reduce the impact of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), but no real “reversal” treatment exists at this time. However, cutting-edge research has just created a new hope for those who are struggling with a TBI themselves and those who have a family member who has a brain injury. What researchers were able to do with mice As previously mentioned, the brain largely stops developing new tissue once the human body finishes growing. New neurons continue to develop throughout life, but the brain has a limited ability to rebuild or repair itself. Although sections of the brain do continue maturing and developing into people’s 20s, new growth and major neurological changes after that point are uncommon, to say the least. However, what medical science knows about treating brain injuries may soon change dramatically. Researchers have been able to successfully transplant human brain tissue into living rats. The rats in the study were able to use the transplanted neuron tissue. The transplanted tissue ended up integrating into the rats’ brains, receiving blood supply and cooperating with the pre-existing brain tissue. This advancement could provide hope for countless individuals impacted by TBIs. Cutting-edge care requires financial support Those hoping to undergo brand new, experimental treatments or to help their loved ones get such care often learn that there is a financial barrier to such treatment. Insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits are ways for individuals with brain injuries or their caregiving family members to seek financial compensation that could potentially help secure the best care possible. Learning more about medical advances and personal injury claims can help those adjusting to life after a brain injury. As can seeking legal guidance from a professional.

The North Carolina workers’ compensation insurance program will cover the cost of necessary medical care when a worker gets hurt on the job. Unlike private health insurance, workers’ compensation coverage will cover the costs without any patient responsibilities, like co-pays and prescription fees. Generally, workers should not have to pay anything for the treatment of a work injury. Whether they need surgery, physical therapy or medication, workers’ compensation should cover 100% of their expenses. They could also potentially qualify for disability benefits if they need to take time off of work to heal. Sometimes, workers do not agree with the treatment plan suggested by the doctor managing their care. What happens in that situation? You may need to request a second opinion You can pick your own doctor for your care if the Industrial Commission approves the request or see a physician recommended by your employer. Either way, no one medical doctor has infallible medical knowledge. There are gaps in any doctor’s expertise and hands-on work experience. If you believe that the treatment recommended by the doctor overseeing your care would not benefit you, you will need to follow the correct protocol. You can formally request a second opinion about the treatment you need to recover. You should not simply refuse treatment. If you do not comply with medical orders, you could potentially compromise your right to benefits in the future. The insurance company could claim that your failure to follow the doctor’s orders is really why you can’t work or need additional care, not the original injury. You have every right to disagree with a treatment plan suggested by a doctor, but it is important that you respond appropriately during that disagreement. Knowing your rights while receiving workers’ compensation can help you avoid claim-ending mistakes.