Nearly 1.2 million Americans are injured at work each year according to recent reports. While a minor injury may have no lasting repercussions and require little if any time away from work, more severe cases can have major effects. Serious workplace injuries can have significant physical and emotional impacts that affect every aspect of a person’s life. Those effects tend to extend well beyond the workplace.
Looking at the Physical Impacts of Workplace Injuries
From the physical perspective, the effects of workplace injuries are incredibly diverse. Depending on the type of injury and its severity, a victim may experience swelling, bruising, serious blood loss, or ongoing pain. Injured employees’ mobility may suffer as well. Injuries can render people unable to do their usual jobs or unable to work altogether. Some injuries cause disabilities that require extensive rehabilitation. Many people find themselves hiring a workers comp attorney to ensure they receive compensation for their missed time from work, medical expenses, and other repercussions.
That being said, the physical effects of workplace injuries aren’t restricted to the job. They affect people’s mobility at home too. Victims may be unable to perform even everyday tasks at home, like cleaning, cooking, and taking care of their children. Once-routine chores like mowing the lawn or doing laundry may become impossible for someone who sustains a serious injury at work. All those tasks often fall on the victim’s spouse, so the physical effects of work-related injuries extend beyond the actual victim.
Examining the Emotional Impacts of Work-Related Injuries
There’s no denying that the physical effects of work-related injuries can be extensive. Some injuries physically impact people’s lives for months or years after they take place. In certain cases, their effects last a lifetime. Still, the physical impacts could be considered relatively minor when compared to the potential emotional effects.
Financial Stress
Financial strain is one of the more obvious results of workplace injuries. If a victim can’t work because of an injury, there’s no income available to pay bills and meet basic needs. This, alone, can take a major toll on a person’s mental health. Financial struggles are known to cause insomnia, depression, anxiety, and an array of other problems. The effects of those issues tend to filter down to injury victims’ spouses and children.
Withdrawal
People are at a higher risk of becoming isolated after a work-related injury as well. For many people, their jobs are far more than a way to earn money; they’re part of their identity. If they’re suddenly unable to work because of an injury, that takes away a major portion of who they are. In short, they may start to question their purpose. If they’re unable to take care of their families and enjoy activities with them, that further detracts from their perceived self-worth.
Furthermore, when people sustain serious injuries at work, they’re no longer able to go out and spend time with friends the way they did before their accidents. Spending time with friends is essential for emotional and mental well-being. When that’s suddenly taken away, accident victims may start to withdraw. As withdrawal escalates into isolation, depression and other mental disorders are increasingly likely to ensue.
Relationship Issues
People’s relationships often suffer due to workplace injuries as well. Part of this comes from the ways injuries affect their victims. Suddenly and unexpectedly being unable to carry out their usual routines can certainly change a person’s outlook on life, but that’s only one factor to consider. Relationship issues caused by workplace injuries can also stem from resulting financial struggles and increased physical burdens on spouses. Stress, changes in lifestyle, and fear of an uncertain future come into play as well.
Minimizing the Impact of Workplace Injuries
Work-related injuries can have serious consequences. They may bring about severe or chronic pain and leave a person unable to work. They can render people unable to carry out tasks they once took for granted. Beyond the physical aspects, workplace injuries can have lasting mental and emotional impacts. Working with an attorney can bolster an accident victim’s chances of receiving the compensation they deserve. In turn, it may ensure the victim gets the medical care needed to recover and can help minimize the effects of the injury.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect those of Geek Vibes Nation. This article is for educational purposes only.
Amanda Dudley is a lecturer and writer with a Ph.D. in History from Stanford University. After earning her doctorate in 2001, she decided to pursue a fulfilling career in the educational sector. So far, she has made giant strides by working as an essay writer for EssayUSA, where she delivers high-quality academic papers to students who need them.