Arkansas Manufacturing Injury Attorney

Working in the manufacturing industry can mean long hours, third-shift work, and a lot of time performing manual labor. Working this way for a prolonged time can cause repetitive stress injuries and other long-term conditions. In some cases, the machinery, materials, and products you work with can pose significant risks for injury. If you or a loved one suffered an injury while working in the manufacturing industry, you should talk to an attorney right away.

Ken Kieklak is a Fayetteville injury attorney for manufacturing workers and helps injured workers and their families to file Workers’ Compensation claims to get the coverage they need for medical bills and continued wages. For a free consultation on your case, contact Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, today at (479) 316-0438.

Common Causes of Injury for Manufacturing Industry Workers

The manufacturing industries in Arkansas include food manufacturing, grain milling, beverage and tobacco producing, as well as work with wood, paper, metal, plastics, rubber, and other manufactured materials. These industries have an overall injury rate of about 2.8 injuries or illnesses per 100 workers. The highest rates are among computer manufacturers, grain millers, furniture manufacturers.

Many of the most common causes of injury in the manufacturing industry are predictable, given the typical conditions of manufacturing plants and factories. With the increased reliance on large machinery with many moving parts, it is uncommon that most injuries come from contact with harmful objects. About 40% of all manufacturing injuries occur from things like getting body parts caught in machinery. Another 24% of injuries comes from the wear and tear that the job can put on your body. These “overexertion” injuries can include things like throwing your back out while lifting or carrying items.

Factories and plants are often somewhat dangerous places to be. Slipping or tripping and falling accounts for another 19% of all injuries in manufacturing. This includes injuries from falling down staircases, slipping on oil or spilled products, falling off ladders, and other incidents. Manufacturing often requires performing the same task over and over and standing for long hours. These repetitive motion and repetitive stress injuries account for another 8% of all manufacturing injuries.

Possibly the most serious are the injuries from coming into contact with dangerous substances. Gasses, chemicals, and materials used in manufacturing can be dangerous after long-term exposure, and some can even cause acute injuries after a single instance of exposure. These account for 6% of manufacturing injuries. Lastly, the remaining 3% of injuries occur from miscellaneous other causes.

If you or a loved one suffered an injury or developed a condition after years of working in the manufacturing industry, Arkansas’ workers’ comp. program may be able to help you.

Filing Workers’ Comp. for Manufacturing Injuries in Fayetteville

Arkansas’ Workers’ Compensation program is overseen by the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission (AWCC). The goal of workers’ comp. is to help injured workers get coverage for their medical expenses, continue to get a weekly paycheck while they are out of work, and eventually return to work, potentially with modified tasks and responsibilities to account for their injuries.

When you suffer a work injury, you should report it to your employer and seek medical care. This is part of the process for beginning your Workers’ Compensation claim. If your claim is accepted, any medical care you need because of your injury should be covered by your employer and their workers’ comp. insurance. The AWCC’s rules may require you to use a particular doctor your employer or their insurance provider chooses, but this should still entitle you to high-quality healthcare and have your needs covered.

Workers’ comp. can also pay you replacement wages while you are recovering from your injuries. In most cases, the AWCC’s rules allow you to claim up to 2/3 of your normal average weekly wages as workers’ comp. benefits. This may not be as much as you normally earn, but it can still help you and your family cover your expenses while you focus on getting better.

As long as your injury is work-related, you should qualify for workers’ comp. This includes not only specific injuries that occurred during an accident but also conditions that develop over time. This means that you can often claim workers’ comp. even for conditions like back problems, repetitive stress injuries, and lung conditions.

Arkansas Workers’ Comp. Lawyer Offering Free Consultations for Manufacturing Workers

If you or a loved one was injured in a workplace accident or suffers from a health condition after years of working in the manufacturing industry, talk to an attorney about your case. Ken Kieklak is a Fayetteville workers’ comp. lawyer for the manufacturing industry and works to help injury victims get their medical expenses and lost wages covered. For a free consultation on your case, contact Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, today at (479) 316-0438.