Sustaining an injury from falling objects or being struck by a falling or flying object is one of the top three leading causes of disabling workplace injuries in the United States. Being struck by an object is one of OSHAs “fatal four” construction hazards, however, this injury is not limited to the construction industry. You might think that only large falling objects might cause an injury, but a small object if it is dropped from a high enough can cause serious injury.
A research report using data from Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Academy of Social Insurance that outlined the 10 leading causes and direct costs of workplace injuries, listed being struck by an object as the third leading cause and 8.9 percent of disabling injuries that cost $5.3 billion in workers’ compensation costs in 2012.
What is a “struck by” workplace injury?
Struck by injuries happen when an object, a piece of equipment or machinery makes forcible contact with a person. Workers might be struck by:
- Flying objects
- Falling objects
- Swinging objects
- Rolling objects
Common types of objects that can strike and injure workers
There are countless types of objects that can fall or swing or roll and hit a worker causing their injury. Some of those include:
- Hand tools
- Pieces of machinery or power tools
- Tool buckets
- Wood or pieces of lumber
- Building materials
- Boxes
- Nails
- Paint cans
- Loose masonry
- Loads from a crane or forklift
Common injuries from being struck by falling objects
Here are some examples of the injuries that workers can sustain when they have been hit with a falling or swinging object on the job:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Skull fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken shoulders
- Eye injuries
- Foot injuries
- Deep cuts and lacerations
- Death
Workers’ compensation for victims of struck by an object workplace accidents
If you have been injured on the job in a struck by a falling object accident, you may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim. If your claim is approved you will receive a weekly disability payment that will cover a portion of your lost wages, medical benefits for medical care related to the workplace injury and other benefits.
If another party might be liable for your injuries, such as a piece of defective equipment, or the owner of the construction site you might also be able to file a third party liability lawsuit to recover compensation for your losses. The experienced workers’ compensation lawyers at the law firm of Larry Pitt & Associates do everything in their power to make sure that you receive the full amount of compensation that you deserve.
If you suffered an injury from being struck by a falling object in the workplace, please contact a Philadelphia workers’ compensation attorney at Larry Pitt & Associates. We work diligently to get compensation for your injuries. We have offices throughout Pennsylvania to serve clients in Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties.
