Colder weather in the Ozarks can be unpredictable. One day it could be bright and sunny and the next day could bring cold and ice. Bitter cold weather brings with it many unique dangers that can cause workplace injuries.
When workplace injuries do occur, you’ll want to make sure that you take advantage of any workers’ compensation that is owed to you. An experienced workers’ comp lawyer in Springfield, Missouri can help you do that. Here are some of the most common cold weather causes of Missouri work comp injuries.
Slip And Falls
While it may we may not get as much snow in the Ozarks these days, we still get plenty of ice which can be far more dangerous. Even a light glaze on sidewalks and entryways is a potential slipping hazard.
Slip and fall injuries are very common during colder weather. This can be even more risky for utility or construction workers, who often perform their jobs from high places and have to be bundled up during colder weather which can make it harder to safely maneuver.
Vehicle Accidents
If you’ve ever been on the road after a snow or ice storm, you know how dangerous the driving conditions in snow and ice can be. Workers who are frequently out driving on the road in all types of weather, such as truck drivers, are at much greater risk of sliding off the road, into a ditch, or even into other vehicles. The size of their vehicles and the difficulty in steering and braking can significantly increase the odds of significant injury and even death.
Common Cold Weather Work Comp Injuries
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- Broken Bones – The impact from falling or crashing can cause breaks or fractures in bones that take a long time to heal. If left untreated, they may never heal properly.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – In addition to pain, mobility problems, and weakness, one of the biggest dangers of spinal cord injury is paralysis, either in part of the body or the entire body.
- Neck Injuries – Common neck injuries include slipped or herniated discs, pinched nerves, or vertebrae slipping out of alignment.
- Shoulder Injuries – Statistically, these are the third most common body parts that suffer work-related injury outside of hands and knees. The complexity of bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons make shoulders very injury-prone, especially in slip-and-fall and vehicle accidents.
- Knee Injuries – The second most common body part injury typically comes in the forms of fractures, sprains, tears, and ACL injuries.
- Concussions – Landing or crashing on your head can have short- and long-term consequences, from memory problems to difficulty communicating.
Colder weather in the Ozarks brings with it many hazardous working conditions. If you’ve suffered a cold weather related workplace injury, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation from your employer.
Many injured workers are unaware that they can receive workers’ comp for their injuries. Others have to fight for what they are owed, such as compensation for lost wages from not being able to work or high medical bills. Call The Krebs Law Firm for a free consultation, and we will fight for your workers’ compensation rights alongside you.
Don’t try taking on the insurance companies alone. Call The Krebs Law Firm for a free consultation. You need an experienced workers compensation attorney at your side to make sure you get what you deserve for your workplace injury. Call The Krebs Law Firm locally at (417) 883-5886 or toll free at (800) 345-0535.
There is no upfront cost to hiring a Missouri Work Comp lawyer for your claim. If have a potential Missouri work comp case and want to make sure you maximize your Missouri Workers Compensation benefits for your workplace injury, then you should speak to a Missouri Workers Compensation attorney sooner rather than later.
Utilize our years of expertise to get the compensation you deserve and let us help you each step of the way.