How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 3,294 severe lower leg incidents over the last decade, with fractures accounting for 77% of cases. These incidents often involve significant trauma that requires immediate hospitalization and extensive medical intervention.
Your lower leg is essential for mobility and balance, meaning any severe injury can immediately halt your ability to perform physical labor. Beyond the initial pain, these injuries frequently lead to long-term complications that impact your earning capacity and daily independence.
How these injuries happen
Most lower leg injuries stem from preventable hazards involving falls and heavy equipment. Falling to a lower level accounts for 20% of all reported incidents, often occurring when you lose your footing on elevated surfaces or ladders. When industrial vehicles or heavy materials are involved, the risk of a crushing injury or fracture increases significantly.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other fall to lower level | 644 |
| 2 | Fall on same level | 493 |
| 3 | Struck by falling object | 491 |
| 4 | Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area | 230 |
| 5 | Nonroadway collision with object other than vehicle | 200 |
| 6 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 120 |
| 7 | Nonroadway noncollision incident | 91 |
| 8 | Struck by rolling powered vehicle or machinery | 87 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing accounts for 26% of all severe lower leg injuries, largely due to the constant presence of heavy machinery and material handling. Construction sites follow closely at 21%, where uneven terrain and the use of powered transport vehicles create risks for you as you move through the area.
Real cases like yours
Many reported incidents involve you being struck by heavy objects or losing your balance while navigating work zones. Common patterns include tripping over equipment, falling from ladders, or being caught between heavy machinery and fixed barriers. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you evaluate your claim and ensure you receive the benefits you are owed.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "An employee was retrieving a hose from a trailer. The employee tripped over a crossover sub and fell off the trailer. The crossover sub then rolled off the trailer and struck the employee's leg between the knee and ankle. The employee sustained a fracture." | |
| 2025 | PA | Manufacturing | "An employee was on a ladder, pruning a tree in the outside picnic area. The employee lost their balance and fell. The employee was hospitalized with a fracture to their lower left leg." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "An employee was on a 10-foot ladder, working to insulate 24-inch piping that was 12 feet above the ground. The pipe jack/steel tube used to raise the pipe slipped, causing the steel tube to strike the employee's face. The impact caused the employee to fall off the ladder and sustain fractures to their left tibia and fibula." | |
| 2025 | KS | Construction | "The injured employee and a coworker were carrying a joint of 6" PVC pipe. They stepped over the side of a pile of dirt and concrete (approximately 3'x3') and the injured employee lost his footing. The employee's right leg was fractured in two places below the knee." | |
| 2025 | MO | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was operating a stand-up forklift. While turning to yield to another forklift, the forklift overturned and the employee's lower left leg was caught between a barrier and the forklift. The employee's left leg was amputated from the calf down and multiple bones were broken. The employee was hospitalized. " | |
| 2025 | PA | Other Services | "An employee was working on a tractor's brakes when the vehicle lunged forward and the tire rolled over his lower leg. He was hospitalized with bruising." | |
| 2025 | OH | Construction | "An employee was climbing off the back of a dump truck when he slipped and fell. His right leg struck a piece of scrap metal resulting in a severe laceration to the lower leg. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery." | |
| 2025 | MO | Manufacturing | "An employee was reaching for a label and stepped onto a metal piece along rollers and slipped. His leg went down into a gap between the machines and contacted the metal in the gap between the rollers. The employee was hospitalized with the avulsion of skin on his left shin between the ankle and knee, as well as injuries to muscle and ligament." | |
| 2025 | WI | Construction | "An employee was sawing cable on the ground using a handheld concrete saw. The saw blade caught on the cable and jumped, striking and lacerating the employee's left calf." | |
| 2025 | ID | Public Administration | "A Bureau of Land Management (BLM) employee was assisting a fire crew with clearing a forest trail. The employee was struck in the left leg by a fire-rated chainsaw. The chainsaw struck the employee underneath their chaps and above their boot. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
A fracture often requires surgery, physical therapy, and a prolonged period of restricted duty. Workers' Compensation should cover your medical bills and a portion of your lost wages while you recover. An attorney can help you ensure your claim accurately reflects the full scope of your medical needs and recovery timeline.
Employers are required to provide safe access to elevated work areas. If a fall occurred because of faulty equipment or a lack of proper safety training, you may have grounds for a claim beyond standard Workers' Compensation. An attorney can help you investigate whether your employer failed to meet these safety requirements.
If your injury results in a permanent impairment or loss of function, you may be entitled to permanent disability benefits. These benefits are calculated based on the severity of the injury and how it limits your ability to return to your previous job. An attorney can help you navigate the complex medical evaluations required to secure these benefits.
Workers' Compensation is generally a no-fault system, meaning you are typically eligible for benefits regardless of who caused the accident. Employers may sometimes attempt to deny claims by suggesting you made an error, but this does not necessarily disqualify you from receiving support. An attorney can help you protect your rights and counter inaccurate reports.