There are an inordinate amount of employees injured on the job each year. The injuries vary from mild to severe to fatal, depending on the gravity and context of the injury. Many employees believe that they will receive backlash from their employers for making a workers’ compensation claim.
However, this is simply not true. There are laws in place to prevent employers from ostracizing an employee for asserting their legal rights to compensation. Employees should educate themselves about their possible rights to recovery.
Depending on the type of injury and the particular situation, there may be potential recovery under the Missouri workers’ compensation statutes for certain injuries that an individual suffers whether s/he is at or away from the workplace.
In order to assist employees who suffer an accident or injury in the workplace, we’ve constructed a fairly extensive list of many of the common injuries, accidents, or occupational diseases that we encounter in the workers’ comp context.
Please note that this list is not comprehensive, but it makes up a large majority of injury claims that are commonly asserted under Missouri Workers’ Compensation laws.
Table of Contents
ACL Tear
ACL stands for Anterior Cruciate Ligament. The ACL is located around the area of a person’s knee, specifically the ACL is located immediately below the patella (knee cap). Thus, any injuries that involve the ACL deal with the knee and surrounding region.
On average, about 200,000 people suffer from some form of ACL injury per year. See http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00297
Any sudden movement like pivoting, cutting, sidestepping or other motions that are often utilized on a construction project or in other similar work environments can increase the risk of an ACL tear.
If you suffer from an ACL tear due to an injury that occurred at work, please contact one of our Workers’ Comp attorneys today.
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a limb by trauma or surgery. The most common cause of amputation outside of war stems from peripheral vascular disease.
Peripheral vascular disease is when blood flow to arteries or veins is restricted outside the thoracic region (chest). A common type of peripheral vascular disease is deep vein thrombosis, which is the formation of a blood clot (typically occurs in your legs).
Peripheral vascular disease often occurs as a result of smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, and/or high cholesterol.
Amputation is most commonly necessary when there is any of the following: gangrene, a severe infection, or severe trauma to a limb from an accident or injury.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a general term that is used to describe joint inflammation.
A few of the most common forms of arthritis include the following:
· Fibromyalgia
· Gout
· Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis)
· Rheumatoid Arthritis
· Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE or lupus)
Osteoarthritis is highlighted above because it is the most prevalent type of arthritis. In fact, “[n]early 1 in 2 people may develop symptomatic knee osteoarthritis by age 85 years.” See http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/arthritis-related-stats.htm
See below for a more thorough explanation on osteoarthritis.
Brain Injury
More than 25,000 Americans die each year from aortic aneurysms.
The brain is one of your most vital organs. If you suffer from a brain injury, you could be partially or fully mentally or physically incapacitated, depending on the level of trauma.
Even minor cerebral edema (swelling of the brain) can cause brain fog or mild cognitive incapacitation. It is important to immediately address any brain injury as it could cause severe and permanent damage.
This is particularly the case when the brain injury is caused due to stroke (lack of oxygen) or from an aneurysm (enlargement of an artery due to a weak arterial wall, in the brain).
Around 12,000 Americans die annually from ruptured brain aneurysms. See http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156993.php
However, as the statistics show, when an aneurysm ruptures, even if treated immediately, the results can be fatal.
Broken Bones
Broken bones are one of the most common injuries and therefore require very little explanation. However, to maintain a consistent presentation, the medical aspects and common causes of a broken bone will be briefly discussed below.
Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is the dilatation of the bronchioles. Dilatation is essentially just the dilation or opening of the bronchioles. The bronchioles are just the branches that deal with air flow within the windpipe.
Most people know what the windpipe is, but for those who do not, it is the space through which air flows, located between the throat and the lungs.
If you’ve been exposed to toxic fumes that have adversely affected your windpipe, or if you are experiencing Bronchiectasis, please contact one of our attorneys today to help you evaluate your potential recovery.
Burn Injury
A burn injury can occur in many jobs where employees are exposed to fire or other combustible materials.
There is also a danger to employees who work in restaurants or in occupations where the individual is prone to fire or hazardous situations such as firefighters or police officers.
The type of burn injury depends on the severity and falls into one of the following categories:
First-degree burns – this is the most minor type of burn; it is a slight burn to the outer layer of the skin
An individual who suffers from a first degree burn will typically observe redness, inflammation, and dry skin.
Second-degree burns– this is more severe than a first degree burn as the burn actually penetrates through the top layers of skin. The result is a wet appearance similar to a deep scrape. Recovery time is anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks for a second degree burn.
Third-degree burns – this is the most severe type of burn (apart from fourth degree burns. Some sources say that the burn can be so severe that nerves are actually damaged. In such a case, the burn victim will not have any feeling in the burned area and it will essentially be numb.
Third degree burns often run the risk of infection or shock. In some cases third degree burns can result in death—however, this would require extremely severe burning in one area or extensive burning all over the victim.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
What’s Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The manifestation of carpal tunnel syndrome is often accompanied by numbness or tingling that occurs in the middle finger, the pointer, the thumb, and the palm—in severe cases Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is marked by pain that can extend up into the arm.
What’s the cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by uneven distribution of the median nerve due to squeezing or pinching in the wrist area.
Certain occupations are more prone to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome because the onset usually results from repetitive stress to the wrist area.
Any injury that results from continuous use over a period of time is considered a repetitive stress injury or what is sometimes referred to as a repetitive motion injury.
Individuals who work in the following occupations are frequently the victims of a repetitive stress injury, specifically Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:
· Carpenters
· Construction Workers
· Office Workers
· People whose work requires frequent use of the hands
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
There are generally two types of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
Type 1: Reflex Sympathetic Disorder or Dystrophy
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy is marked by a malfunction in the nerves of the face or other extremities in which the employee feels pain, inability to control the affected area, and swelling.
A few causes of Reflex Sympathetic Disorder:
· Trauma
· Neural disease
· Stroke/Heart attack
Some employees affected with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy complain of sweating in the affected extremity/area, changes in the skin color, and/or hypersensitivity.
Type 2: Causalgia
Causalgia is marked by intense burning due to nerve damage. This often results in neurogenic inflammation and will typically be accompanied by changes in the muscle and skin tissue.
The inflammation created by the nerves decreases blood flow, decreases flexibility in that area, and generally makes the area more painful.
Contagious and Communicable Disease
There is a specific statute under the Missouri Workers’ Comp laws that address situations where an employee contracts a contagious and communicable disease at work.
A disease is contagious and communicable during the period in which it is susceptible of transmission to another person.
The following is the relevant statutory language: “Any employee who is exposed to and contracts any contagious or communicable disease arising out of and in the course of his or her employment shall be eligible for benefits…”
R.S.Mo. § 287.067.7 (2016).
Many of these contagious diseases occur most frequently among hospital staff and other workers who work closely or in the general vicinity of infected patients.
The most common manner of transmitting an infectious disease in the healthcare industry is by:
· contact,
· droplet, and/or
· airborne agent.
See https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthcarefacilities/infectious_diseases.html for more information.
Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)
Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) or sometimes known as Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis. DJD is basically the degeneration or deterioration of the cartilage in the joints, which causes them to become inflamed.
As most people are aware, DJD onset can occur from age. However, in the workers’ compensation world, DJD is seen frequently when an individual’s occupation consists of consistent repetitive motions.
The most common places that Osteoarthritis occurs is in the:
· Hands
· Knees, &
· Spine
Causes of Osteoarthritis include:
1. Repetitive Motion Injury
OSHA performed a study that showed that repetitive motion injuries accounted for several hundred thousand in injuries to U.S. workers and north of $20 billion in workers compensation claim payouts.
Repetitive Strain Injuries are discussed in depth throughout this article, and for the sake of avoiding redundancy, we will refrain from further discussion here.
2. Obesity
“Two in three people who are obese may develop symptomatic knee [osteoarthritis] in their lifetime.” See http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/arthritis-related-stats.htm
3. Aging
“Nearly 1 in 2 people may develop symptomatic knee osteoarthritis by age 85 years. See http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/arthritis-related-stats.htm
4. Sports
“One in 4 people may develop painful hip arthritis by age 85 years.” http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/arthritis-related-stats.htm
Disease of Lungs or Respiratory Tract
When an employee is working on a job that constantly subjects him/her to gases, smoke or other airborne irritants, the outcome can result in damage to the lungs or respiratory tract.
Damage to the lungs is discussed below under the section entitled pulmonary disease. One of the most common diseases of the lungs is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
COPD is typically accompanied by chronic bronchitis or emphysema or some combination thereof.
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000091.htm
A worker can become affected with COPD from smoking, gases, or other inhalation of damaging substances.
As a result of the epidemic of lung disease and respiratory issues amongst firefighters and police officers, the Missouri legislature created a statute in the Workers’ Compensation laws that specifically protects firefighters and police officers. R.S.Mo. § 287.067.6 (2016).
If you are a firefighter or police officer who has suffered from a lung disease or infection of the respiratory tract, please consult with one of our attorneys today to help determine your rights to compensation.
Electrocution or Electrical Accidents
According to a 2010 study performed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 160 deaths were reported as a result of electrocution.
It should be no shock that the electrocution of a worker can cause serious or even fatal injuries. For this reason, OSHA has implemented strict safety precautions that employers are supposed to follow to protect the safety of their employees.
In the event that an employer is not following OSHA’s Safety Rules or Federal or Missouri law, the employee may be entitled to additional compensation under the Missouri workers comp statutes.
If you or a loved one is injured as a result of non-existent safety procedures, please contact one of our attorneys, so we can discuss your rights with you.
Epicondylitis
Epicondylitis is basically inflammation at the end of the humerous bone. The humerous bone is the bone that connects your shoulder and your elbow. Epicondylitis is typically seen in the elbow region where the humerous bone ends at the elbow.
The inflammation can be located on the outside (lateral) region of the bone in your elbow or the inside (medial) region.
Tennis elbow – When the inflammation is located on the outside part of the humerous (elbow side).
Tennis Elbow is marked by pain over the end of the bone which can radiate out to the forearm and to the area above your elbow.
Golfer’s elbow – When the inflammation is located on the inside of the elbow
Causes of epicondylitis include:
· Sports
· Jobs with Repetitive Motion
· Trauma
Epicondylitis can occur when workers continuously lift objects over a period of time and repeated stress is caused in the elbow region. Many jobs that require lifting or physical motion that causes trauma or stress to the elbow result in cases of epicondylitis.
If you are dealing with pain or chronic inflammation in your elbow, and you are running out of options to resolve the problem, call one of our attorneys today to see if you may have a potential workers’ compensation claim. We provide free consultations to determine whether your case may be compensable under the Missouri statutes.
Head Injuries
Head injuries can occur from a plethora of stimuli.
A few examples include slip and fall cases, falling objects, car accidents, machine accidents, injuries from equipment malfunction, as well as a number of other potential ways.
The consequences of a head injury run the gamut as to the effects it might have on the employee. Head injuries could include minor concussions to unconsciousness to even death. We experience cases in which even the unthinkable can occur, and workers can fall from heights, suffer from a vehicle accident, collide with a machine or heavy equipment, or suffer trauma from heavy machinery. Many of these accidents occur on a construction site.
For that reason, OSHA has strict safety regulations to protect workers on construction sites from these potential harms.
When the employer does not comply with OSHA regulations, the employee likely has another remedy in addition to any compensation to which s/he would normally be entitled. It is important to fully exhaust your remedies under the Missouri Workers’ Compensation statutes as any injured worker is entitled to be compensated for his or her sufferings.
Many workers work their whole lives for a company, and as soon as that worker is injured, the employer is quick to turn its back on them. This is the very reason why Workers’ Compensation statutes are in place. The worker has to have some way to recover for the pain s/he has suffered.
Additionally, employers cannot retaliate against a worker for utilizing his/her rights under the Workers’ Comp laws. Do not hesitate to explore your options for recovery if you are suffered on the job. Remember, any contact with an attorney with regards to these injuries is typically protected by the attorney-client privilege. Thus, your employer will never know if you consult with an attorney or not.
Accordingly, if you have suffered a head injury at your place of work, we urge you to contact one of our attorneys, so you can explore your rights and at least be able to protect yourself against your employer.
Hearing Loss
There are several types of hearing loss. Each type of hearing loss differs based on the stem of the problem. The following are the three types of hearing loss:
1. Conductive Hearing Loss
2. Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL)
3. Mixed Hearing Loss
Each type of hearing loss arises due to certain deficiencies, ailments, or trauma. Below we will discuss each type.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss is the result of issues with the ear canal, ear drum, or the other components of the inner ear.
Some examples of conductive hearing loss arise from foreign bodies obstructing the ear, ear infections, and other deformations of the ear.
Many jobs cause exposure to trauma and other dangers that could damage the bone structure or adversely affect the composition of the ear. Any such damage can harm the ear to a point where an individual’s suffering begins to decline. In certain situations where trauma has affected the bone structure of the ear, doctors can typically provide relief and rehabilitation through surgery on the affected areas.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss refers to issues with the neurons located in the inner ear.
A few stimuli that can lead to sensorineural hearing loss is trauma to the ear, excessive or continued high pitches, frequencies or loud noise over a prolonged period of time (or short period of time if intense enough), aging, tumors, infections, diseases, and a number of other causes.
What are some of the most common professions in which hearing loss is experienced?
· Tradesmen (carpenters, plumbers, industrial machinists, et al.)
· Farmers & agriculture workers
· Military personnel
· Mining workers, and
· Persons working in the transportation industry
Heart Attack
A heart attack, also known as an acute myocardial infarction in the medical world, is an incredibly serious event. A heart attack occurs when there is necrosis of living heart muscle due to the blockage of the coronary artery.
On average, more than one million people suffer from heart attacks each year, and around 350,000 of those cases result in fatalities.
So, the question is, does a worker have a workers’ comp claim for a heart attack that occurs at work?
The answer is general as it depends on the factual circumstances, but the heart attack would have had to occur in the course of employment. The elements are the following: “(a) It is reasonably apparent, upon consideration of all the circumstances, that the accident is the prevailing factor in causing the injury; and
(b) It does not come from a hazard or risk unrelated to the employment to which workers would have been equally exposed outside of and unrelated to the employment in normal nonemployment life.” R.S.Mo. § 287.020.3(2) (2016).
Heart Disease
Heart disease refers to any pathological disease that affects the heart or its surrounding components, including the arteries, valves or the electrical systems that control the heart.
Heart disease generally refers to diseases of the heart which could include coronary artery disease, problems with the heart’s rhythm like arrhythmias or atrial fibrillation, and even birth defects like congenital heart disease.
Workers with heart disease may have claims for recovery in Missouri under certain circumstances. The operative language is the following: “if the occupational exposure was the prevailing factor in causing both the resulting medical condition and disability.”
Fortunately for affected workers, heart disease has been found to be a fairly prevalent claim made under the workers’ compensation statutes—so much so that its specifically included in a statute for workers who are subjected to an inordinate amount of exposure.
Specifically, heart disease is accounted for in the Missouri statutes as a disease that is specially protected in certain occupations, which include firefighters and police officers. R.S.Mo. § 287.067.6 (2016).
Hip Injury
Hip injuries can be debilitating. A dislocated or fractured hip can prevent an individual from performing everyday tasks like tying their shoes or any prolonged sitting or standing. The hip is such a vital part of the body that workers who are injured on the job have to have some recourse for injuries affecting their hip or the surrounding region.
Hip injuries come in a variety of different forms including dislocation of the hip which can be posterior or anterior, the hip can suffer from a fracture, and/or full break. To repair the same, a doctor may suggest partial or full hip replacement surgery. In this procedure the doctor will replace the hip with wholly synthetic parts or utilize artificial components to supplement the current hip structure.
When a worker suffers from a hip injury on the job in Missouri, that person should immediately contact an attorney to preserve their rights to compensation. An experienced Workers’ Compensation lawyer can help you recover monetarily and physically to where you can figuratively and literally get back on your feet.
Hypertension
Missouri has a specific statute that protects firefighters and police officers that suffer from hypertension. R.S.Mo. § 287.067.6 (2016).
Knee Injuries
Knee injuries may be one of the most common injuries that occur on the job. We use our knees everyday from walking up and down stairs to bending over to pick up your keys.
The reality is that with the complex composition of the knee, its not surprise that workers require surgery, operations, or rehab to assist with knee injuries that occurred in the workplace.
In some cases the injury results from a hard trauma such as falling or running into some heavy object or machinery or in other cases it results from continued up and down motion that wears the ligaments out in the knee and causes so much overexertion that your knee gives out on you.
Some of the most common knee injuries are a tear of mcl or tear of the acl. Both of these injuries are more fully described in this article.
If you or a loved one is suffering from a workplace knee injury, we can evaluate your case and help you pursue any and all legal remedies you might have.
Ligament Tears
Loss of Hearing Due to Industrial Noise
The term Loss of Hearing Due to Industrial Noise is defined as “loss of hearing in one or both ears due to prolonged exposure to harmful noise in employment.” R.S.Mo. § 287.067.4 (2016).
The term harmful noise is defined as “sound capable of producing occupational deafness”. R.S.Mo. § 287.067.4 (2016).
Because loss of hearing as a result of industrial noise occurs so frequently in the workplace, the legislature believed it was necessary to specifically include a statute that addresses such a situation. For that reason, this type of ailment is specifically recognized as an occupational disease under Missouri Workers’ Comp Statutes.
If you work an industrial or commercial setting where the exposure to high decibels of sound is frequent or if it occurs over a prolonged period of time, and you believe your hearing has suffered as a result, our lawyers can probably help you recover under the applicable Missouri workers’ compensation statutes.
See Hearing Loss generally for other causes and explanations regarding the decline or loss of an individual’s hearing.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is most associated with exposure to asbestos. In certain workplaces, employees are subjected to prolonged asbestos exposure and suffer from Mesothelioma.
In its simplest explanation, Mesothelioma is the formation of a cancerous tumor that forms in the outer lining of the lungs (or in the mesothelial cells of the pleura) . The pleural are two cavities (visceral and parietal) in the chest that are lined with mesothelial cells.
Mesothelioma is not incredibly common relative to other diseases. Doctors diagnose about 3000 people with mesothelioma on an annual basis. Currently, the scientific and medical community have not found a cure for Mesothelioma. It is incredibly sad and there is no just solution.
However, if you or a family member is suffering from Mesothelioma, you owe it to yourself to pursue the employer or company that subjected you or your loved one to this horrible cancer. Our lawyers will do our best to find you and your family retribution and compensation to at least allow you and your family to live comfortably and best pursue any potential treatment.
MCL Tear
Neck Injury
Nerve Injuries
Nerve injuries can be one of the most painful injuries that a worker can experience. Nerves are essentially a group of neurons bundled together that send impulses to the central nervous system.
When the nerves are sending pain impulses the pain can be excruciating. In some situations the pain from nerve injuries can be so bad that the employee may no longer be able to perform the daily work functions. At this point, the worker needs some way to be able to support his family in the event that this time away from work is not properly accounted for.
In these situations, the worker’s only form of retribution may be to make a claim against the employer. In the event that you or someone you love is suffering from nerve damage that was the result of a work accident or injury, please contact one of our attorneys to learn more about your rights.
Pulmonary Damage
Pulmonary comes from the Latin word Pulmonarius and refers to the lungs. There are a number of irritants, diseases, and other factors that can lead to pulmonary damage.
When a worker’s lungs are damaged in the workplace due to exposure of toxic gas or other irritating substance, the results can be devastating. Doctors can determine the extent of the injury to your lungs using a variety of studies and research.
However, it doesn’t take a doctor to know that our lungs give us the ability to intake oxygen, which is one of the fundamental elements humans need to nourish cells. Without the ability to intake oxygen or with a reduced capacity, the affected worker could suffer consequential ailments or diseases. We can help you get compensated for these types of injuries.
If you believe that you have suffered pulmonary damage (lung disease) as a result of some exposure in the workplace, please contact one of our workers’ compensation attorneys today.
Radiation Disability
The term Radiation Disability is defined as “disability due to radioactive properties or substances or to Roentgen rays (X-rays) or exposure to ionizing radiation caused by any process involving the use of or direct contact with radium or radioactive properties or substances or the use of or direct exposure to Roentgen rays (X-rays) or ionizing radiation.” R.S.Mo. § 287.067.5 (2016).
Repetitive Stress Injury
Repetitive Stress Injury is sometimes referred to as Repetitive Motion Injury, cumulative trauma syndrome, or some variation thereof. It generally refers to trauma to soft tissue in the worker that is caused by repetitive movements.
The soft tissue that can be affected includes: tendons, muscle, and synovial sheaths.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is probably the most prevalent repetitive stress injury. However, any injuries that compress the nerve can similarly occur from repetitive motion.
Even outside the construction industry, there are hundreds of jobs that require continuous, repetitive movements that slowly wear down a specific part of your body over time.
So long as these repetitive movements do not pose the same threats to the general public, then you likely have a strong argument for compensation under the Missouri Workers’ Compensation statutes.
Retrobulbar Neuritis
Retrobulbar neuritis, sometimes referred to as optic neuritis, is the inflammation of the nerve that is seated at the back of the eye. The inflammation causes a hindrance in the nerve at the back of the eye and blocks the nerves ability to communicate information to the brain.
What are Symptoms?
· Partial Blindness
· Complete Blindness
· Pain in the eye(s)
What are some different causes of retrobulbar neuritits?
· Allergies
· Chemical Exposure
· Adverse Reactions to Drugs
· Multiple Sclerosis
· Bacterial or Viral Infections
In the workplace the most obvious cause of retrobulbar neuritis is due to exposure to hazardous or irritating chemicals.
What are some chemicals that have been known to cause retrobulbar neuritis?
· Lead
· Quinine
· Arsenic
· Antibiotics
· Poisonous or toxic gases
In general, women inexplicably have a higher susceptibility to retrobulbar neuritis than men. Retrobulbar neuritis is slightly different from papillitis as papillitis is the result of a swollen optic disk. Individuals with retrobulbar neuritis do not have a swollen optic disk.
How do doctors test for retrobulbar neuritis?
Typically doctors will perform neuroimaging. Many times a gadolinium enhanced MRI is performed to diagnose retrobulbar neuritis.
If you believe you might have retrobulbar neuritis due to chemical exposure in the workplace, you should get an individual consultation with a doctor of your choice.
An experienced Missouri workers’ compensation lawyer can advise you of your rights to use your own doctor and can protect you from employers attempting to avoid their obligations.
Shoulder Injury
Shoulder injuries are some of the most commonly suffered injuries by employees in the workplace. Within that category, one of the most frequent shoulder injuries is the torn rotator cuff.
Slip and Fall Injury
Frequently we hear about slip and fall cases at a grocery store or in a public place, but we don’t usually hear about slip and falls that occur in the workplace. The fact that workers are literally dropping left and right in restaurants, hospitals, and warehouses should come as no surprise.
With the ever growing trend to optimize return on investment, commercial establishments are letting safety in the workplace fall by the wayside in an attempt to increase profits.
This approach not only leaves employees exposed to potential injury, but also any persons visiting these establishments. Employees with a better awareness surrounding slip and fall injuries, coupled with the gall to pursue compensation for the same, can deter employers from “stepping over a dollar to pick up a dime.”
If an injury occurs at an employer’s place of business, something needs to be done to not only provide recourse to the injured person, but also to protect future victims from the same type of harm.
The potential workplace hazards that pose slip and fall risks are present and widespread. Many workers who experience a slip and fall at work are unaware of their rights and often miss out on compensation after suffering injuries from the falls.
If you are injured at your workplace from a slip and fall, or if you are a patron injured at a commercial establishment, we’d like to hear your story. We will get you the recovery you are entitled to, and if the situation lends to it, we will ensure that the employer implements necessary safeguards to prevent these occurrences from happening in the future.
<
Spinal Cord Injury
Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood flow to your brain is hindered or obstructed which results in deprivation of oxygen to the brain. Even just a few seconds of oxygen deprivation to brain tissue can cause catastrophic damage in the cerebral region such as necrosis of the brain tissue and even death in severe cases.
Strokes often result from clogging of arteries due to plaque build-up or from a blood vessel bursting. When an artery is clogged, it is clinically referred to as an ischemic stroke. The World Heart Federation states that approximately 80% of all strokes are Ischemic.
The other type of stroke that occurs when a blood vessel bursts is called an hemorrhagic stroke. Hemorrhagic strokes are typically caused by an aneurysm, or blood vessels that are diseased and/or have weak walls.
One of the most common arteries that contributes to strokes is the carotid artery. That’s the artery that is found in the neck region. For some off reason this artery accumulates an inordinate amount of fat. This fat narrows the path which blood (and oxygen) can flow. In addition to fatty deposits blocking arteries, a blood clot can also be responsible for blocking the same.
Many studies provide a potential method of preventing strokes. These studies suggest that one of the most effective treatments may be tocotrienols and tocopherols (natural vitamin E). The tocotrienols and tocopherols appears to play a role in naturally cleaning the carotid artery of plaque. In some cases, however, the carotid artery is severely diseased and the infected person will inevitably suffer from a stroke.
Vision Loss
When an individual loses there vision, usually it is attributable to three direct causes that may arise from a variety of different stimuli.
Those three direct causes are: 1) issues with the retina, such as abnormalities or injuries; 2) issues that impede nerve signals between the brain and the eye; and 3) abnormal clouding or cataracts in the eye structure that impair vision.
Our ability to see is based wholly on light passing into the back of the eye, so the brain can process the image that is perceived. When the passage of light is hindered, an individual loses the ability to see. The bottom line is that light has to be able to reach the retina for an individual to be able to have clear vision, or any vision for that matter.
There are other situations where disorders or accidents can cause impairment in the areas of the brain that process the visual signals or interpret visual impulses.
What are some Examples of causes of Vision Loss?
· Glaucoma – glaucoma is pressure in the eye that is derived from an overabundance of fluid in the eye. Surgery can alleviate the problems if performed early enough in the process
· Cataracts – Cataracts make up the leading cause of blindness in the world. Cataracts are caused by clumping of proteins in the eye which hinder light from passing through the retina, thereby limiting one’s ability to see clearly. Typically doctors can restore vision by performing cataract surgery
· Refractive Errors – There are numerous refractive errors. This includes the everyday problems arising with eyesight, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and other issues. These errors are caused by the improper refraction of light to the retina—without concentrated light on the retina, individuals will suffer from blurred vision or inability to perceive clearly
· Macular Degeneration – Macular degeneration occurs when the layers of the macular area are affected by degeneration. Debris begins to form under these atrophied photoreceptors causing individuals to lose the ability to process images. To date, science has not discovered a viable cure for macular degeneration
With respect to workers compensation claims, one of the most common causes for vision loss occurs from accidents in the workplace. Injuries at work occur frequently–the institute of health states that approximately 2000 people are treated for eye trauma or eye injuries that were sustained in the workplace. Specifically, contact with sharp or blunt objects or hazardous chemicals that are harmful to the eyes can be a cause of vision loss as a result of a work injury.
Vision loss in the workplace often occurs as a result of chemical or toxic exposure. Vision loss occurring from exposure to chemicals is ripe for compensation under the Missouri Workers’ Comp Statutes.
If you, or a family member, are suffering from vision loss due to a work accident or work-related cause, please contact one of our Missouri workers compensation lawyers now to learn more about your rights.
Work-Related Car Wreck
According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) around 1.3 million people die from car wrecks each year. That amounts to almost 3,300 deaths per day. In the United States there are approximately 37,000 fatalities a year as a result of car crashes.
Because majority of Missouri individuals work during the course of the week, many of these car accidents will inevitably occur during work hours.
This raises the question as to what are an individual’s rights after suffering from a work-related car accident. Do you have additional rights because an accident happened while you were at work? Is your employer liable for the damages that you suffered? Can anyone else be liable for the damages you have suffered from the crash?
These are all legitimate questions, so how do you know the answer?
Like many legal questions, the answer depends on the specific facts surrounding the incident.
If the car accident occurred during work hours and the individual was considered to be in the course and scope of his/her employment, then there is potential recovery from the employer on the basis of the workman’s compensation statutes. This is possible regardless of who is at fault during the accident. That means that even if the worker/driver was negligent during the car accident, there is still potential grounds for the driver to recover against the employer under the Missouri worker’s comp statutes.
There also may be other avenues of recovery such as from a negligent third party who causes the accident. For example, if a driver/non-worker/third party is going too fast for conditions and causes an accident, the worker may be able to seek compensation from his/her employer and also may be able to seek compensation from the third party who negligently caused the car accident.
There are many nuances, and the above explanations are simple explanations that cannot fully take into account the variety possible situations that could occur. It is highly advised that you consult with an experienced Missouri workers’ compensation attorney to find answers to these questions and to fully and properly pursue your rights under Missouri workers comp laws.