How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 1,009 severe cases of workplace violence over the last decade. These incidents frequently result in gunshot wounds, which account for 23% of all reported cases, often leading to long-term disability or extensive medical intervention.
The severity of these attacks is reflected in the high frequency of intracranial injuries, which account for 15% of cases, and fractures, which account for 20% of cases.
Common injuries
Workplace violence often stems from interactions with criminal assailants, who are the source of 31% of these severe injury reports. CO-workers or work associates account for 22% of incidents, while patients or charges account for 20% and clients or customers account for 15%.
| Injury Type | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gunshot wounds | 226 |
| 2 | Fractures | 198 |
| 3 | Intracranial Injuries | 147 |
| 4 | Cuts, lacerations, punctures without injury to internal structures | 132 |
| 5 | Traumatic injuries or exposures— unspecified | 85 |
| 6 | Severe wounds or internal injuries and other injuries | 29 |
| 7 | Amputations, avulsions, enucleations | 25 |
| 8 | Injuries to internal organs and major blood vessels | 23 |
Where injuries happen most
Health care accounts for 27% of these incidents, while retail trade accounts for 23%. Manufacturing accounts for 9%, and accommodation and food services account for 8%.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve verbal altercations that escalate into physical violence, often leaving you with little time to react or defend yourself. Many incidents occur during routine tasks when an unexpected attack leads to a fall or blunt force trauma. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident to determine your legal options.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | PA | Manufacturing | "The injured employee was working from the cab of the debarker when a former employee approached. There was an argument and the former employee struck the injured employee in the head. The injured employee ended up on the ground as the former employee continued to hit him. The injured employee was bleeding from his head, had internal bleeding, and sustained a concussion." | |
| 2025 | AL | Manufacturing | "Two employees engaged in a verbal altercation. The injured employee was punched in the face and fell, hitting their head on the concrete floor. The employee sustained a brain bleed and blunt force trauma to the face." | |
| 2025 | MO | Health Care | "An employee was on the phone with his supervisor when a patient walked up and punched him. The employee was knocked to the floor and the patient kicked him multiple times causing injuries to his head, left cheek, left eye, mouth, and right hand. The employee sustained a traumatic brain injury/concussion and a left periorbital edema." | |
| 2025 | MA | Professional Services | "An employee had just completed a repair at a customer's store and was leaving via the main entrance. A suspected shoplifter ran by (while being chased by the police) and shoved the employee into a shelving unit. The employee suffered a broken elbow and a chin laceration and was hospitalized, requiring surgery." | |
| 2025 | GA | Health Care | "An employee was providing care to patients when another patient attempted to enter the room and attacked the employee. She was kicked, punched, and thrown to the ground. The employee sustained a concussion and was knocked unconscious. The employee was hospitalized for injuries that included a broken collar bone, broken ribs, and a punctured lung." | |
| 2025 | TX | Health Care | "An employee was working to redirect a patient back to their bed when the patient punched the right side of the employee's head/eye area with a closed fist. The employee sustained a subarachnoid hemorrhage." | |
| 2025 | FL | Accommodation & Food Services | "A housekeeper was cleaning inside a room. She was attacked by another person and suffered injuries to facial bones and the head." | |
| 2025 | NJ | Health Care | "An employee was struck by a patient in the chest and fell to the floor, with the patient falling onto them. The employee suffered a head injury." | |
| 2025 | GA | Health Care | "An employee was providing a therapeutic escort for an agitated patient. The patient began fighting and bit off the employee's fingertip, resulting in a fingertip amputation." | |
| 2025 | WV | Health Care | "An employee was getting up off a couch as a client was aggressive. The client kicked the employee, causing him to fall over the arm of the couch and land on the floor. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured left hip." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, injuries sustained during the course of your employment are generally covered by Workers' Compensation, regardless of who initiated the physical contact. If your injury occurred while you were performing your job duties, you are likely entitled to benefits for medical expenses and lost wages. An attorney can help you navigate the claim process to ensure your rights are protected.
Employers have a legal obligation under the General Duty Clause to provide a safe workplace, which includes taking reasonable steps to protect you from known risks of violence. If your employer failed to provide adequate security, training, or staffing, they may be held accountable for your resulting injuries. An attorney can help you evaluate whether your employer's safety failures contributed to your assault.
Your first priority is to seek medical attention for your injuries, as documentation of your condition is essential for both your health and your claim. You should also report the incident to your supervisor immediately and ensure a formal record is created. An attorney can help you preserve evidence and understand how to properly document the event for your Workers' Compensation claim.
Workplace violence frequently results in severe trauma, including intracranial injuries, fractures, and internal organ damage. These injuries often require long-term medical care, surgery, and rehabilitation, which can impact your ability to return to work. An attorney can help you assess the full extent of your damages to ensure your settlement or benefits reflect the long-term nature of your recovery.