Tens of thousands of American workers are injured on the job every year. Despite the safety regulations in place, injuries continue to happen. The United Mine Workers of America represents miners, truck drivers, manufacturing workers, health care workers, and public employees. If you are a worker who has been injured on the job, you should be eligible to receive workers' compensation benefits. The laws vary from state to state, but workers' compensation offers medical benefits and covers a portion of lost wages. United Mine Workers of America A labor union, the United Mine Workers of America originally represented miners but has expanded to allow other members, including those who work in health care, manufacturing, public work, and truck driving. Founded in 1890, the union now has more than 80,000 members and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO, CLC. The union was started in Columbus, Ohio but has headquarters in Triangle, Virginia. The union's constitution listed 11 points as the goals of the organization, and those values are still used today. Throughout the years, the union has achieved collective bargaining rights, an eight-hour work day, and health and retirement benefits for workers and their families. Common Workplace Injuries Workers can suffer various injuries on any job. As an example, you might be a miner who is trapped in a cave-in. The injuries might include crushed bones, a spinal injury, traumatic brain injury, or even paralysis. If you are a truck driver, you could be involved in a crash that results in broken bones and lacerations that require extensive medical care. While working in a manufacturing environment, you might suffer crushed fingers or broken hands because of faulty equipment or a problem with machinery. Slip and fall accidents are very common in many industries and can lead to injuries to health care workers and those working in the manufacturing industry. What To Do If You Have Been Hurt On the Job If you have been hurt while at work, do whatever you can to protect your rights and preserve evidence. Here are a few tips regarding what you can do after you have been in an accident at work. If you have suffered a work-related injury, tell your supervisor or human resources department as soon as possible. Even if you don't think the injury is serious, you should tell someone. Make sure an accident report gets completed as soon as possible. If 911 is called, the responding officer will complete a report. Get a copy of any accident report that is filed, as this will support your claim. Seek medical attention right away after a work injury. Some injuries might not seem serious, but are worse than they appear. Faster and more thorough medical care is beneficial to getting you on the road to recovery right away. Contact your representative with the United Mine Workers of America. Negotiations might require faster claim processing or entitle you to additional benefits. Talk with a workers' compensation attorney. An attorney can help you get your claim on the right track and help you get the benefits that you are entitled to receive. Protect Your Legal Rights Filing a workers' compensation claim is complicated. Insurance companies are going to try to save money, so don't risk making a mistake that could cost you your benefits. Call on a workers' compensation lawyer so you can get the help you need throughout the claims process. Your United Mine Workers of America representative is also beneficial in helping with the claims process. Additional Resources Workers' Compensation: How Much is Your Claim Worth? Gas Explosions and Workers' Compensation *Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against your employer, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
