Should You Accept a Workers’; Compensation Settlement for Office Injuries in Orlando, FL?
Work related accidents, injuries, and occupational illnesses can occur in any kind of work environment in Orlando, Florida, including office environments. When people think about work related injuries, they tend to imagine accidents involving machines in a factory, construction workers falling from heights, or overexertion injuries in occupations that require heavy lifting. When you think of occupational illnesses, you might imagine someone who has been exposed to asbestos or another illness related substance. People rarely consider the hazards that are present in an office, yet there are quite a few different accidents, injuries, and illnesses that can occur when you are employed in an office environment.
Orlando, Florida Office Workers Frequently Experience Fall Related Injuries
Falling down is an extremely common source of injury in a variety of work environments, including offices. These kinds of incidents can occur because of poor lighting, damaged carpeting, spills, and various trip hazards. In some cases, office workers end up falling down stairs that are damaged or slick. The employer and management should make efforts to keep the work area safe by maintaining the floors and carpets, cleaning up spills, and ensuring that trip hazards like wires are placed in a safe and out of the way location.
Orlando, Florida Office Workers Can Experience Heavy Lifting Injuries
While you might not associate office work with heavy lifting, there are plenty of injuries that occur from this very activity in offices throughout Orlando, Florida. In fact, the very point that you might not expect such injuries to occur is part of why they do. Office workers may not be properly trained in heavy lifting, because they aren’;t expected to be lifting heavy objects in the course of their usual day. Yet, there are plenty of activities that occur in an office, which can include lifting heavy furniture, heavy boxes of supplies, etc. To prevent such injuries, office workers should be trained to lift with their legs instead of their backs, and seek out assistance from co-workers with any objects that are too heavy for one person.
Orlando, Florida Office Workers Can Experience Injuries From Strain and Repetition
When you do imagine work related injuries occurring in an office, those that are caused from strain and repetitive motion are the ones you’;re most likely to think about. This is because office workers spend a large amount of time sitting, often in uncomfortable or strained positions, and are subject to posture issues and repetitive motion injuries from using their keyboards and computer mouse to complete clerical work.
These issues often result in back injuries, neck injuries, shoulder injuries, and repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel. The best way to avoid such injuries is to ensure that the chairs are designed to provide optimal support, that the workers maintain posture, and have ergonomic tools at their disposal. Further, it is important for office workers who spend a lot of time sitting to take frequent breaks, walk around, exercise, and stretch.
Should You Accept a Workers’; Compensation Settlement for Your Office Work Injury?
Whether or not it is in your best interests to accept a settlement in your Orlando, Florida workers’; compensation case depends on your unique circumstances, and is something that you need to discuss with an experienced attorney to make the best decision for you. However, there are many good reasons to consider accepting such a settlement, which we can go over and which you can learn more about from Farah & Farah with a free consultation.
The number one reason that many people choose to accept a workers’; compensation settlement rather than to seek the standard wage and medical benefits is because it takes the stress of the claim off of their shoulders, settles it entirely in one action, and allows them to close that chapter of their lives with peace of mind. This is because you no longer have to deal with a claims adjuster once you settle, you no longer have to see the doctor that your workers’; compensation insurance provider approves, and you no longer have wait for workers’; compensation wage benefits checks to come to you before you can pay your bills.
The ability to seek treatment from any doctor you choose is an important benefit for many people who are pursuing a workers’; compensation claim settlement. You may wish to see certain specialists which are not approved for coverage by the standard workers’; compensation medical benefits. It is also important to note that when you can only see an approved physician, you may have to wait longer for appointments and wait to for the insurance company to approve certain treatments and medications. Once you accept a settlement, you can choose any doctor you prefer to see and you won’;t have to wait for approval for treatment. You also don’;t have to worry about seeking further compensation for your prescriptions, medical devices, and mileage, or approval for these expenses before you can get the things you need.
Another common reason that office workers would prefer to accept a settlement, rather than continue with the typical wage benefits and medical benefits of workers’; compensation insurance is because they can have more financial freedom. This is because you get a settlement in a lump sum, and you can do what you need to with the money. Your bills don’;t have to wait for the next check, and you can get the groceries you need when you need them.
Finally, many people who are dealing with a workers’; compensation insurance company are continuously concerned that their benefits may cease, that their checks won’;t come, or that their treatment won’;t be approved. Once you accept a settlement, all of these fears and concerns are eliminated, and you can finally relax.
Contact Farah & Farah for More Information About Workers’; Compensation Settlements
If you’;re debating whether or not you ought to accept a workers’; compensation settlement in Orlando, Florida after your office injury, contact a dedicated Orlando personal injury lawyer at Farah & Farah to discuss your options.
