What Causes Most Work Accidents, Injuries & Deaths?
Safety failures, oversights, mistakes, and inexperience are the underlying causes of many job-related accidents, injuries, and deaths.
Falling
Nearly 17% of all deadly workplace accidents involve some type of fall. About 95% of these fatal falls are happening in the private sector. Falling accidents at work can involve scaffolding and heights, but they also include slip, trip, and fall incidents on icy or wet floors.
Exposures to Hazardous Materials
More than 12% of all work-related deaths result from exposures to toxic, flammable, or volatile substances. These materials can cause respiratory injury, burns, and death. They include acids, natural gas, industrial solvents, and caustic cleaning agents. Carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide have caused more fatal occupational exposures than any other toxic substance over the last decade.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
About 40% of fatal workplace accidents involve motor vehicle crashes. Most affect people working in transportation, trucking, and warehousing. About 12% of deadly on-the-job motor vehicle accidents took place in the construction industry. About 8% took the lives of those working in waste management services.
Object-Related or Equipment Accidents
Close to 14% of occupational deaths are caused by objects hitting or falling on workers and by equipment accidents. Crushing injuries, amputations, and traumatic brain injury can happen when objects are not properly secured, operated, or maintained. A lack of safety guards, failure to follow protocols, mechanical failures, and operator mistakes can all lead to equipment accidents.
Explosions and Fires
About 2% of all fatal occupational injuries are caused by explosions and fires in the workplace. Most occur in the transportation, oil and gas, mining, and natural resources industries. Workplace fires and explosions can result from machinery failures, employee oversights, or the negligence of contract workers and equipment manufacturers.
Our Covington Office
661 River Highland Blvd
Covington, LA 70433
Open 24/7 for injured Covington residents
Get directions →What Are My Legal Options After a Workplace Accident?
Your legal options depend on several variables, including how the accident occurred and whether you were an employee or a contractor at the time of injury. Louisiana workers’ compensation law requires most employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance.
Workers’ compensation is designed to protect both employees and employers. It provides defined benefits to injured workers and limits the employer’s liability exposure. What those benefits cover and the process for obtaining them are governed by Louisiana law.
It is important to understand that not every worker is covered identically, and not every claim is straightforward. In some situations, a third-party personal injury claim may also be available alongside or separate from the workers’ compensation process.
What We Handle
Covington Practice Areas
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Car Accidents Rear-end, intersection, and highway collisions across Louisiana. -
Truck Accidents 18-wheeler and commercial-vehicle wrecks governed by federal trucking rules. -
Motorcycle Accidents Serious-injury motorcycle crashes where bias against riders is common. -
Bus Accidents Transit, school, and charter-bus crashes involving public and private carriers. -
Catastrophic Injury Brain, spinal-cord, amputation, and severe-burn injuries that change a life. -
Brain Injury Traumatic brain injuries with long-term cognitive and physical effects. -
Burn Injury Severe burns from fires, explosions, chemicals, and electrical contact. -
Wrongful Death Claims brought by families after a fatal accident or act of negligence. -
Construction Accidents Falls, struck-by, and equipment injuries on the job site. -
Offshore Accidents Rig, platform, and vessel injuries beyond the shoreline. -
Workers' Compensation On-the-job injuries and the benefits owed to injured workers.
How Does a Workers’ Compensation Claim Work?
The process moves through several steps from the time of injury to a benefit determination:
- You report the accident and injury to your employer as soon as possible. Louisiana law requires this report within 30 days.
- You get medical care. You may be required to see a doctor selected by your employer, and certain care may require your employer’s approval.
- Your employer files a “First Report of Injury” claim with its insurer within 10 days of your injury report.
- The employer’s insurer files a claim with the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
- The insurer investigates the claim to determine eligibility for benefits. Investigations can include reviews of medical records and work histories.
- Benefits are denied or granted based on the insurer’s findings.
Insurance companies do not always conduct fair, thorough, or unbiased investigations. That can result in wrongful claim denials, undercut benefits, or early termination of benefits.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; each case is decided on its own facts. See our full case results.
When Should I Contact a Covington Lawyer?
As soon as possible after a work accident. A Covington work accident lawyer can identify all available legal remedies, flag impending deadlines, and explain what steps matter most. Your attorney can manage the paperwork, deal directly with insurance companies, and take early action to push back against any mishandling of your claim investigation. If your situation involves third-party claims, your attorney can handle those cases as well.
Having a lawyer involved early improves the chances of securing and maximizing compensation from your claim.
Your Covington Injury Attorneys
Founding partners Trey Morris and Justin Dewett lead every Covington injury case Morris & Dewett takes.
What clients say
- ★★★★★
Thanks Morris and Dewett for the excellent work you have done on my behalf.
I want to personally thank Sarah for her kindness.
- ★★★★★
Attorney Shavers & Sarah were awesome!
They made me feel important & as if I was their only client! A big thank you to the entire business.
- ★★★★★
I hired Morris and Dewett back in November of 2025.
They helped me get through my hard times of being off work, stress, and worry. Anytime I had a question I could call and they always had an answer. Very nice and professtional people. Thank you Morris and Dewett for making this an easy process for me and my family.
- ★★★★★
Morris and Dewett and their team of attorneys and staff go above and beyond.
They always were there to support me and answer all my questions after a shoulder injury that included multiple surgeries. They are caring and compassionate and that goes a long way! Highly recommended!
- ★★★★★
Morris & Dewett does things the right way!
They put their clients first in measurable and impactful ways.
- ★★★★★
First time being injured and needing a lawyer they where very helpful.
They answered my questions Id have very well. Highly recommend them.
Reviews reflect individual client experiences. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
What Type of Compensation Can I Get After a Work Accident?
Compensation depends on whether you pursue a workers’ compensation claim, a third-party case, or both. It also depends on the severity of your injuries, how much work you miss, and other factors.
Workers’ compensation benefits generally include medical benefits, wage replacement benefits, and rehabilitation benefits if a work injury prevents you from returning to your prior occupation.
When a third-party personal injury claim involving a work injury is pursued and resolved, compensation can include damages beyond what workers’ comp covers. That includes compensation for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-economic harms.
View our case results to see the outcomes we have achieved for clients with work injury claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What causes most work accidents, injuries, and deaths?
- Safety failures, mistakes, and inexperience are the underlying causes of most job-related accidents. The leading categories include falls, exposures to hazardous materials, motor vehicle accidents, object and equipment accidents, and explosions or fires. Falls alone account for nearly 17% of all deadly workplace accidents. Motor vehicle accidents account for about 40%.
- Q: What are my legal options after a workplace accident?
- Your options depend on how the accident happened and your employment status at the time. Louisiana law requires most employers to carry workers' compensation insurance, which provides defined benefits and limits employer liability. In some situations, a separate third-party personal injury claim is also available. A Covington work injury lawyer can evaluate the facts of your case and identify which paths are open to you.
- Q: How does a workers' compensation claim work in Louisiana?
- You report the accident to your employer within 30 days. Your employer files a First Report of Injury with its insurer within 10 days. The insurer files with the Louisiana Workforce Commission and then investigates the claim. After the investigation, benefits are either granted or denied. Insurance companies do not always conduct fair or unbiased investigations, which is why legal representation matters.
- Q: When should I contact a Covington workers' compensation lawyer?
- As soon as possible after the accident. Deadlines in Louisiana workers' compensation cases are strict, and early missteps in reporting, documentation, or dealing with insurers can affect the outcome of your claim. An attorney can help you navigate the process from the start and protect your rights throughout.
- Q: What type of compensation can I get after a work accident?
- Workers' compensation benefits can include medical coverage, wage replacement, and rehabilitation benefits. If a third-party claim is also available, you may be able to recover additional damages including compensation for pain and suffering. The total available depends on your injuries, the circumstances of the accident, and which claims you are entitled to pursue.
Last updated June 5, 2026