For some reason work related injuries are somehow disregarded and not given enough legal attention and there are many logical reasons for this. More than likely it is because workers and /or laborers, especially those working at construction sites have limited knowledge of the law and their rights. The Charlotte Observer, wrote about a poultry company whose employer failed to report all of its employees’ injuries. It seems that the workers’ requests for physicians were intentionally dismissed as to not be held accountable later.
In 2008, nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers occurred at a rate of 3.9 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers–a decline from 4.2 cases in 2007, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. However, this does not change the fact that some of these work related injuries are not given legal attention, and workers are left with debilitating injuries without proper relief, benefit, or compensation.
Amongst all industries, construction and manufacturing workers are at the greatest risk with a likelihood of 6 injuries per every 100 workers in these industries according to 2006 statistics. This is closely followed by education and health workers, then comes mining workers, and lastly all those in information technology and financial sectors as being the lowest risk. When you are injured during work, the best thing to do is consult a personal injury lawyer who could help you before signing documents or papers. There may be some clauses which inhibit you from getting all you are entitled to.
About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm (VA-NC law offices ) edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono service to consumers.
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Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
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