June thru September—the most common months for workplace injuries!
The official start of summer is almost here! It’s a time for vacations, outdoor activities and a lot of family fun in the sun. But, that sun brings with it the heat of summer, and a rise in workplace injuries. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a major spike in reported heat related workplace injuries through the months of June, July, August and September.
Start of Summer Means Increased Risk for Pool Accidents
With summer now underway, some swimming pools are open for business. But along with all the fun comes an increased risk for accidents. In 2018, 148 children under the age of 15 drowned in swimming pools or spas in the United States. Of the 148 victims, 112 were under the age of five.
Bicyclists Make Up the Fastest-Growing Group Dying on U.S. Roads
In the past year, motor vehicle accidents resulted in the deaths of 24 bicyclists and injured another 776 in Pennsylvania alone. With the growing popularity of biking, both for sport and commuting, the number of fatalities is on the rise. In fact, bicyclists make up the fastest-growing group dying on U.S. Roads. As we get ready to celebrate National Bike Month in May, our attorneys at GLS Injury Law wanted to remind drivers and riders alike of the safety precautions we can all take to save lives. We also want to share the steps bicyclists should take in the event they are injured in a crash or collision with an automobile, which can help ensure they are properly and fully compensated for their injuries.
Hearing Loss, an Often Overlooked Workplace Injury
Many people don’t realize that hearing loss can be a compensable workplace injury. The Workers’ Compensation Act provides benefits for loss of hearing related to exposure to noise on the job. It’s a form of a “specific loss,” which is a type of workers’ compensation designation for workers who lost a body part or a limb. In Pennsylvania, to qualify for workers’ compensation for hearing loss, the damage must be caused by employment, and it must qualify as “binaural (both ears) hearing loss in excess of ten percent.”
Workers’ Compensation and Cumulative Trauma Injuries
Many workplace injuries are the result of a single or sudden accident. However, some workplace injuries are developed over time due to repetitive stress, and this injury is eligible for workers' compensation. One of the most common repetitive stress injuries is referred to as carpal tunnel syndrome.
7 Claim Mistakes and the Impact on Your Workers’ Compensation
Claim mistakes hurt the thousands of workers who are injured on the job and apply for Pennsylvania workers’ compensation. The most recent report shows 9,375 workers filed workers’ compensation claims in 2016. Those claims, however, are increasingly being denied. In fact, over the last few years, denial rates have increased by 20 percent. Often times, it’s because of mistakes being made unknowingly by the injured worker.
Chances are, last month you heard or saw something regarding heart health. February was American Heart Month, a month the American Heart Association reminds everyone of the signs and symptoms of heart disease, and what to do in the event you or someone you know is experiencing a heart attack.
It is a huge problem in the United States—heart attacks striking someone every 40 seconds, which is roughly 790,000 people a year. While heart disease is by far the leading cause of these incidents, work-related issues such as stress and overexertion are at the root of many heart attacks.
Snow and Ice Covered Roads and Personal Injury Cases
With winter weather upon us, road conditions can be hazardous, leading to many accidents. But even with the ice and snow covered roads, often times the road conditions are not the actual cause of an accident. There are many factors to consider besides the road conditions, including the negligence of the other driver. Was the person who caused the accident going too fast for the road conditions? Were they using headlights? Was their vehicle inspected and properly maintained? These are the factors our attorneys at GLS Injury Law, P.C. examine when evaluating personal injury claims for auto accidents.
Hurt in an Accident in a Company Vehicle, Now What?
If you spend the majority of your day behind the wheel, you have a dangerous job. You may not think your position in sales or your job as a plumber is particularly dangerous—but driving puts you at risk of an accident. On-the-job traffic accidents are the leading cause of worker death in the United States. Countless workers are injured in car accidents, and often times, they have legal rights beyond workers’ compensation. While workers’ compensation is typically the primary means to make a claim for medical treatment and lost wages through the employer, it’s not the only option.
The National Safety Council estimates 375 people will die during the New Year’s Eve holiday period this year. That estimate is based off the number of fatalities in the U.S. over the last five years and is down 8% from last year. Even with the decrease, there's a lot of work to do, since most of these accidents involve impaired driving and are 100% avoidable.
Premises Liability this Winter: what every property, business and homeowner needs to know
Blustery winds, sub-zero temperatures, bouts of freezing rain and heavy snowfall—it’s a mixed bag of conditions we’ve become accustomed to during the winter months in Pennsylvania. It’s that winter weather that often times leads to hazardous conditions on sidewalks, driveways and parking lots.
