Baltimore Workers’ Compensation Lawyers: Workplace Injuries May Affect Future Earnings
February 29, 2016A study recently published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine analyzed the effects of work-related injuries on the long-term wealth of U.S. workers. Researchers collected data from more than 12,000 participants over a 30-year period. The participants ranged in age from 14 to 22 years of age when the first interviews were conducted in 1979. Follow-up interviews were conducted on an annual basis until 2008. The information collected included employment history, income, level of education and health status. By the final year of the study, 82% of the survey group was still responding.
Each year, participants were asked whether or not they had sustained a work-related injury or illness and if so, whether or not the injury or illness resulted in missed workdays. From this data, respondents were categorized into the following three groups:
- Suffered a work injury that led to days away from work (DAFW)
- Suffered a work injury but had no days away from work (NDAFW)
- Did not sustain a work injury
The injured workers were asked whether or not they received Workers’ Compensation benefits, whether they lost wages, had to work fewer hours, had to change jobs or were laid off or fired following the work injury. The findings revealed some interesting information about the long-term impact of work-related injuries, particularly as it relates to certain industries.
Study Findings
Study participants who incurred an occupational illness or injury between 1988 and 2000 severe enough to result in days away from work lost an average of $3,715 (measured in the year 2000 dollars) in annual income growth during the ten years following the injury, when compared to others who were not injured. Those who reported an occupational injury that did not cause them to miss workdays lost an average of $1,200 (in 2000 dollars) per year.
Overall, construction workers were the most likely to suffer economic losses after a work injury. The incident rate for DAFW injuries in the construction industry was 7.8%, compared to only 4.7% for those in other industries. Construction worker injuries tended to be more severe than those that occurred in other occupations. However, construction workers were less likely to file a Workers’ Compensation claim than non-construction workers, even though they were more likely to be approved for benefits if they did file a claim. Injured construction workers were also at a higher risk of suffering lost wages, having their hours cut or getting laid off and were less likely to get assigned to a different job than injured workers in other professions.
Baltimore Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Help Injured Workers Obtain Maximum Compensation
If you’ve been hurt at work, you may be worried about the impact your injury will have on your ability to provide for yourself and your family. You want to be sure that you are getting all that you are entitled to, but you may not fully understand your rights. Let our Workers’ Compensation lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton ease your legal burden so that you can focus on your health. Our Baltimore work injury lawyers are committed to helping people get the most out of their Workers’ Compensation claim with the least amount of stress. To discuss your possible claim with us, call 844-556-4LAW (4529) today to schedule a free consultation or contact us online.
