In 2019, there were more than 379,000 reportable cases of non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses in California’s private sector. For each one, there is a story. There is a story about how the injury happened, or how the worker got sick. There is a story about ongoing recovery, or an ongoing struggle to recover. There is a story about financial hardship and there is a story about a family that may never be the same. Here’s how a workplace injury can affect your entire family.
Financial fallout after a Los Angeles workplace injury
Clearly a workplace injury can have significant financial implications for any California family. This is most often the case when the injured person is the sole breadwinner and he or she is unable to work because of his or her injury.
The reason? Financial obligations – such as mortgage and car payments don’t end just because someone gets hurt. The rent is still due on the first or 15th of the month. The family still has to eat. The kids will still outgrow their clothes. And the medical bills will keep stacking up.
A successful worker’s compensation claim may ease this burden somewhat. However there is no guarantee it will provide comprehensive relief – especially if the injured person needs ongoing care.
Emotional ramifications of getting hurt at work
Along with financial hardship, it is common for families to experience stress as they try to cope with the aftermath of a workplace injury. Anxiety and depression may also affect not only the injured person, but their loved ones as well.
Financial uncertainty is a likely cause. However by the injured person’s sudden inability to do the things the he or she once enjoyed with his or her family may also trigger these feelings. Family members may express these feelings differently. Some may become withdrawn and others may be moody. Some children may act out at school or become more demanding at home.
The person who got hurt at work may also begin to doubt his or her self-worth, and take his or her insecurity out on the family.
Other unintended consequences of workplace injuries
A workplace injury can also take a physical toll on the injured person’s family, as documented in a joint study.
Conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Northern Kentucky University, the study found that injured workers’ families are at greater risk for injuries themselves. Specifically, it found that they had 34 percent more broken bones and soft tissue injuries in the three months following their loved one’s occupational injury. The study attributed this increase in injuries to greater physical demands on spouses and children.
If you or a loved one got hurt at work, the personal injury attorneys at the Los Angeles Law Office of Parag L. Amin P.C. are here to help. Depending on your situation, we can provide assistance with filing a worker’s compensation claim, or fighting claim denials. We can also provide other legal options if necessary. It is up to you to take the first step. Contact us today.
