Miami’s economy depends on year-round outdoor work, construction, port operations, and tourism, all of which keep the city’s streets and job sites busy. In 2022, Florida reported 306 fatal workplace injuries, with transportation incidents as the leading cause and falls, slips, and trips as the second, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Construction workers accounted for the highest number of fatalities among occupations.
Every major industry in Miami carries some risk. Understanding the most common workplace accidents is essential to staying safe and knowing your rights. If you have been injured on the job, our firm will fight for the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve while helping reduce the stress of the process.
An experienced Miami workers’ compensation attorney can protect you and your rights after an injury, and secure the compensation you’re eligible for.
Vehicle-Related Workplace Accidents
Miami’s heavy traffic and constant tourism keep highways crowded, putting on-the-job drivers at risk. Vehicle accidents are the leading cause of work-related deaths nationwide, and delivery drivers, port truckers, and rideshare workers face some of the highest exposure. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 43 percent of Florida’s workplace fatalities in 2022 were transportation-related, making it the state’s deadliest occupational hazard. These crashes can cause catastrophic injuries and long-term health issues, including whiplash, fractures, spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, and nerve injuries.
Slips, Trips, and Falls
In Miami’s hospitality industry, hazards like wet floors, loose railings, cluttered walkways, and torn carpeting often lead to slips, trips, and falls. The city’s constant construction activity also creates risks, with scaffolding, uneven ground, and other site hazards putting workers in danger.
According to the CDC, 805 workers died from falls in 2020. For those who suffered slips and falls, 211,640 experienced injuries severe enough to require days away from work. If you’re injured after a trip, slip, or fall, you could experience traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, sprains and strains, nerve damage, and soft tissue injuries.
Lifting and Overexertion Injuries
Many jobs put physical strain on workers, whether through sudden accidents or repetitive tasks. Employees in warehouses, retail, moving, construction, and health care face a higher risk of lifting and overexertion injuries, especially when workplaces are understaffed or training is inadequate. These injuries can include herniated disks, hernias, torn muscles, and serious back or shoulder damage.Many jobs can strain employees’ bodies over time or through sudden accidents.
Struck or Caught in Workplace Equipment
On construction sites, in warehouses, or at airports, heavy equipment like forklifts, cranes, and conveyor belts can cause devastating injuries if safety measures fail or attention slips. Workers risk being struck, pinned, or crushed, leading to fractures, traumatic brain injuries, crushed limbs, or other life-altering harm.
Cuts and Lacerations
Regardless of your occupation in Miami, workplace accidents can still happen. Sharp tools, broken glass, or everyday equipment can slip or break, causing deep cuts that may lead to nerve damage or infections if not treated properly.
Electrical Accidents and Electrocutions
In Miami, frequent storms, high humidity, and aging infrastructure can increase the risk of electrical problems. For electricians, construction crews, and maintenance workers, these hazards may result in electrical accidents or electrocution. Such incidents can cause burns, nerve damage, internal injuries, cardiac arrest, and other serious complications beyond the immediate shock.
Repetitive Strain Injuries
Repetitive strain injuries can affect workers in nearly any industry, from office staff to factory employees. They develop in body parts stressed by repeated tasks, such as constant typing that may lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, or repetitive lifting and assembly work that can cause tendonitis. Over time, these injuries may result in lasting pain and reduced mobility. Of all the workplace injuries reported, it’s believed repetitive strain injuries are responsible for 60 to 75 percent of injuries.
Heat-Related Workplace Illnesses
Miami’s summer heat can create serious risks for outdoor workers. Those in construction, landscaping, or port jobs may spend long hours in direct sun, leaving them vulnerable to overheating and heat-related illnesses.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 33,890 work-related heat injuries and illnesses were reported between 2011 and 2020. Always be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion and dehydration, like tiredness, nausea, dizziness, and headaches.
Heat stroke should be considered an emergency, with symptoms like losing consciousness, vomiting, confusion, and seizures. Be especially aware of heat-related issues when first starting a job, too. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that nearly three out of four heat illness fatalities occur during an employee’s first week.
What To Do If You’re Hurt in a Workplace Accident
If you were injured at work, there are steps you need to take, especially if you want to pursue workers’ compensation.
- Report the accident to your employer: Florida law requires you to notify your employer within 30 days of any accident or injury that occurs in the workplace. If you do not, you will lose the chance at workers’ compensation.
- Get medical attention immediately: Seek medical care right away after any workplace accident, no matter how minor the injury seems. Some conditions take time to appear, and workers’ compensation claims rely heavily on proper documentation. Getting prompt treatment not only protects your health but also creates a clear medical record that shows the extent of your injuries and how your recovery is progressing.
- Document the scene: Take photos of the scene where the accident happened, your injuries, and any hazards in the area at the time of the accident.
- Keep all medical and wage loss records: Claims depend on documentation of your injuries. Request documentation from work for the time you missed, and be sure to keep medical records after any appointment.
- Consider representation: Contact our team at Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers to make sure your best interests are protected, especially during the difficult aftermath of an accident.
Injured in a Workplace Accident in Miami? Contact Payer Law
With over 30 years of experience helping Miami workers and their families secure justice and fair compensation, Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers will treat your case with all the attention and detail it deserves.
If you’ve been injured while at work, contact our legal team or call 305-363-7099 for a free consultation so you receive the compensation you are entitled to.
