Working in health care can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Sadly, it is also a dangerous one. Oklahoma health care workers are more likely to suffer an injury or serious illness on the job than those in any other industry.
If you work in a hospital, residential facility, private physician's office or anywhere in the health care field, you may not realize the insufficient safety standards in your workplace. Few people do until they suffer the consequences.
If you are an avid bicyclist, you were likely eager to get your bicycle out of storage after the harsh winter. National Bicycle Safety Month in May reminded bicycle riders and motorists in Oklahoma of the need to share the road effectively. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the numbers of fatal bicycle accidents are on the rise.
A safety advocate for the Auto Club Group said a survey indicated that the primary concern of most cyclists is a car striking them, followed by a fear of distracted drivers. She said the warmer weather would bring more cyclists onto the roads, and she urged both bicycle riders and motorists to demonstrate courtesy and care.
As a motorist in Oklahoma, you have probably noticed that more and more commercial vehicles share the highways with you. Tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers and tanker trucks travel through our state to reach delivery points across the country. With the increased number of big rigs comes the higher risk of truck vs. passenger vehicle accidents, and the significant difference in size and weight often allows truck operators to walk away unscathed while occupants of cars usually suffer catastrophic injuries -- if they survive.
Although most truck drivers are aware of their increased responsibility to drive with care, some may be a little more lax behind the wheel, which can lead to serious crashes involving other motorists. If you or a loved one are suffering the consequences of a truck accident that was not your fault, the cause of the crash will determine who might be liable for your damages.
When you are hurt at work, it can have a significant impact on your life, especially your finances. Fortunately, there are workers' compensation benefits available for individuals who suffered injuries in the workplace or became ill due to occupational exposure. These benefits cover your medical bills, a portion of your lost wages and more.
Depending on the nature of your situation, these benefits can also cover certain needs if you are unable to return to the same job you had before your accident. These are vocational rehabilitation benefits, and certain Oklahoma employees may qualify for them if their injuries prevent them from working in the same capacity they did before the accident.
If you enjoy taking to the Oklahoma roads on your motorcycle, you might be aware of the many hazards that could threaten your life. While biking can be so much fun, it can also be dangerous, regardless of how experienced you are. Although many people immediately assume a biker's negligence when they hear about a motorcycle accident, most such incidents involve negligent motorists.
Riding on two wheels requires a whole lot more skill than driving a vehicle with four wheels. You may face motorcycling hazards that you cannot avoid, some that involve other motorists, and those over which you have control.
While some safety hazards threaten Oklahoma workers in general, others are limited to specific occupations. If you work in the logging industry or as a road construction worker, you might be at risk of developing HAVS -- Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome. This condition threatens the health of any worker who handles vibrating equipment or tools.
If you are a frequent user of power tools such as a grinder, jackhammer, impact wrench, chainsaw or another hand-held tool that vibrates, you might be one of the estimated two million workers nationwide who could develop HAVS -- according to the US National Safety Council.
Injuries on the job can happen to anyone. You may have thought that your duties did not pose much risk to you or that the safety measures in place would prevent you from getting hurt. Unfortunately, this notion does not always prove true, and you -- like other Oklahoma workers -- could easily end up suffering a serious injury. Even if you take precautions to avoid putting yourself at unnecessary risk, those actions may not be enough.
In most cases, on-the-job accidents are preventable. Often, oversights in safety measures or failure to follow proper procedures can result in an incident that leads to injury. Even if you follow correct protocol, you could find yourself hurt if a co-worker acts negligently or an employer does not provide necessary safety equipment.
A car accident can be traumatic, even if you and your vehicle suffer seemingly minimal damage. You may reject the fuss and wave away medical assistance, but this may be a mistake for many reasons. For example, having a report of receiving medical attention after an accident may assist you in any future insurance claims or lawsuits that result from the crash. More importantly, however, is the possibility of unseen damage to your body.
While cuts, bruises and broken bones are usually visible after a motor vehicle accident, some injuries require the trained and discerning eye of a medical professional. One of these is internal bleeding. Failing to properly treat this condition can rapidly lead to more serious complications.
If you experienced an injury in the workplace, you know how overwhelming it is when you are not able to work and earn enough to support your family and pay for your medical bills. This is the reason why workers' compensation exists, yet actually obtaining the benefits you deserve can be complex and frustrating.
One of the most beneficial things you can do is to fully understand the benefits to which you are entitled. When you know your rights, you can fight for the support needed with intention and clarity. Many injured Oklahoma workers find it useful to seek legal guidance as they work to complete a claim and pursue workers' compensation benefits.
If you are a construction worker in Oklahoma, you will naturally spend much time on scaffolding structures. One thing completely out of your control is that you have to rely on those who manufactured them to follow the necessary safety guidelines. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration prescribes strict regulations that cover the terrain requirements along with the standard of materials used for the scaffold, the distance from power lines and more.
Although scaffold-related injuries and fatalities are alarmingly prevalent, they do not always result from collapsed structures. Slippery or inclined scaffolds can cause you to slip and fall, you might be without the necessary personal protective equipment, or you can suffer an electric shock if the scaffold was not the required distance from power lines. You might even have been at ground level and struck by an object dropped by a co-worker on the scaffold.
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Litton Law Firm
2601 N.W. Expressway,Suite 209 West
Oklahoma City,
OK
73112
Phone:
405-896-9724
Fax:
405-308-4141
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