Denver Workers' Compensation Blog

Head injuries on the job can cause major complications

On behalf of Eley Law Firm on Thursday, April 2, 2020.

Any significant blow to the head can produce a mild traumatic brain injury, which many victims may not even realize occurred. Mild traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, may affect each victim differently, depending on the severity of the impact, the location of the injury and other factors. It is common for a these injuries to take days or even weeks to cause any symptoms, which may make it appear as though a victim suddenly behaves very strangely.

If you recently suffered a blow to the head on the job, you may have a serious injury that requires proper diagnosis and treatment. It is wise to begin by seeing your doctor for a medical examination. With proper diagnosis and treatment, you can work toward recovery and collect important documentation that validates your injury. This can serve as a strong basis for a workers' compensation claim.

Offering flexible meeting arrangements due to the threats of COVID-19

On behalf of Eley Law Firm posted in Workers' Compensation on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

At the Eley Law Firm, we are dedicated to providing experienced and tireless support to Coloradans who suffer on-the-job injuries. We understand that when you suffer a serious injury, the ability to immediately consult with an attorney to discuss your options can be critical.

In recognition of this need and also in response to the threats of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, we are offering our clients the ability to meet with us in person, via telephone or through video conferencing. We remain available to our clients and respectful of the need to refrain from in-person contact when possible. We are taking doctor-recommended public health measures to protect our clients, whom we understand have ongoing needs regardless of a pandemic.

Grocery store employees could face significant injuries at work

On behalf of Eley Law Firm on Monday, March 16, 2020.

Workplace injuries can happen anywhere and to anyone, but grocery store workers are a group of individuals who really need to watch out for accidents and injuries on the job. They come into contact with many people each day, may lift heavy items and could be performing repetitive movements each shift.

Ergonomics are extremely important in a grocery store setting, because good ergonomics can eliminate the risk of repetitive-strain injuries and accidents. The goal of good ergonomics is to reduce the severity of injuries as well as to reduce the number of injuries that take place in workplaces.

For teachers, your subject may influence injury risk

On behalf of Eley Law Firm on Thursday, February 27, 2020.

Teachers can and do get injured on the job. Though this is not usually considered a high-risk occupation, injuries can happen in many ways. For instance, teachers can slip and fall on stairs or sidewalks in the winter months. They can trip and fall in the parking lot. A teacher using a ladder in the classroom could lose their balance and fall. Teachers in older buildings could find themselves exposed to things like lead paint or asbestos.

And that's not even considering the broader topic of violence at school. Teachers have to interact with hundreds or thousands of students. All it takes is one violent incident to put the teacher and others in the hospital. Even with security in place and safety procedures more well-defined than ever, this is just an unfortunate reality that teachers face these days.

Is your fall harness actually set up to protect you?

On behalf of Eley Law Firm on Wednesday, February 12, 2020.

A fall at work can be deadly, even if it's only from a few feet. For those working at significant heights -- think two stories and above -- a fall is almost guaranteed to result in catastrophic injuries, if not death.

Workers have many ways they can combat this risk, of course. They need proper training. They may work only in enclosed spaces. They use highly-rated ladders, scaffold systems and rails. Everything they do focuses on reducing the chances of a fall.

Life-saving machine safety tips

On behalf of Eley Law Firm on Tuesday, January 28, 2020.

Working around heavy machinery can become routine, and that's when things often get dangerous. Workers forget just what risks they face or how quickly an accident can turn deadly. They grow complacent. They feel at ease. That all makes it easier for them to let their guard down and make a mistake that puts them in the hospital.

In many ways, it's like driving a car. When you first start, you often feel very dedicated to safety and you think about it constantly. As you get used to it, though, it's easy to stop thinking about just how difficult and dangerous safe driving really is. That leads to a casual attitude which can in turn lead to accidents.

A post-fracture bone infection

On behalf of Eley Law Firm on Tuesday, January 14, 2020.

You fall from a ladder at work. Reaching out to catch yourself on the concrete floor, you shatter a bone in your arm. Initially, as you go to the hospital, you feel relieved that you at least avoided a head injury. This should be a fairly straightforward healing process, right?

It may be, but you can never feel too sure. Complications can arise. One of the most serious is a bone infection after a fracture. Though perhaps not common, it does happen, and it can make your recovery process "prolonged and complicated."

Working at a ski resort comes with serious dangers

On behalf of Eley Law Firm on Friday, January 10, 2020.

In Colorado, working at a ski resort is often seen as something of a dream job. You get to work outside, in the beautiful mountains, enjoying a sport that you love. You get to help other people enjoy it as much as possible, too. Your love of the outdoors is satisfied every time you clock in for the day.

Those are the plus sides, but you have to remember that outdoor work is also very dangerous. It comes with some serious risks. Working at a ski resort means you could get seriously injured or even killed in an accident.

Car accidents a serious threat for American workers

On behalf of Eley Law Firm on Thursday, January 2, 2020.

For many, the job site is really the front seat of a motor vehicle. Modern workers spend a lot of time driving while employed. Some, like truck drivers and commercial drivers, do it almost exclusively. Others, like road construction workers, spend a lot of time behind the wheel despite not thinking of themselves as professional drivers.

You may already know that car accidents are a big risk that the general public faces, with around 40,000 people passing away every year. But did you ever consider the specific risk to workers who have no choice but to drive?

The average age of workers in various professions

On behalf of Eley Law Firm on Monday, December 16, 2019.

If someone suffers a serious on-the-job injury, their age at the time that they get hurt can have a big impact on their future. For instance, younger workers -- teens and those in their 20s -- may avoid injuries more often or heal more quickly than older workers. Those who are nearing retirement age, on the other hand, may have to deal with some of the frailty of aging, which could make them more likely to get hurt or could make it more difficult for them to ever heal completely.

Age also matters for those who suffer such serious injuries that they become disabled. Say that you break your back in a fall and you can never work again. You have to use a wheelchair for the rest of your life. As you seek compensation for your lost future earnings, that financial picture is much different if you got hurt at 60 years old, just a few years from retirement, than if you got injured at 22 years old, in your first job since graduating from college.

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