How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 33,729 severe fracture cases over the last decade, with the pelvic region being the most frequently impacted area at 13%. These injuries often require extensive surgical intervention and prolonged immobilization, which can disrupt your ability to perform basic daily tasks.
Beyond the immediate pain, fractures frequently lead to long-term functional limitations and chronic mobility issues. You may find that your earning capacity is permanently altered, making it essential to document the full scope of your recovery needs.
What causes Fractures
Most fractures occur when you lose your balance on constructed surfaces or suffer impacts from falling objects. These incidents often stem from preventable hazards like missing guardrails, unstable ladders, or poorly maintained walking paths that create sudden fall risks.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other fall to lower level | 9,899 |
| 2 | Fall on same level | 8,593 |
| 3 | Struck by falling object | 3,000 |
| 4 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 1,661 |
| 5 | Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area | 1,466 |
| 6 | Nonroadway collision with object other than vehicle | 1,035 |
| 7 | Nonroadway noncollision incident | 835 |
| 8 | Struck by rolling powered vehicle or machinery | 736 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing accounts for 22% of all severe fractures, largely due to the high volume of heavy machinery and complex moving parts. Construction follows closely at 21%, where you are frequently exposed to height-related risks and structural failures during daily operations.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve equipment failures during routine maintenance and falls from elevated platforms that lack proper fall protection. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident to determine if your employer failed to provide a safe environment.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | NM | Public Administration | "On 7/31/2025, an employee was training to ride an ATV when it went into a draw and she went over the front of the ATV, landing on the ground. The employee sustained a fractured arm." | |
| 2025 | IL | Manufacturing | "An employee was climbing an A-frame ladder to clear a jam in an overhead conveyance. The employee fell from the ladder to the plant floor and sustained fractured ribs." | |
| 2025 | OK | Construction | "An employee accessed a fixed (permanent) platform and a support beam failed causing him to fall through the grating approximately 8 feet to the ground level. Part of the platform structure also fell. The employee sustained fractures to his ribs and pelvis." | |
| 2025 | CO | Administrative Services | "An employee was picking up litter on the perimeter of the complex. He was outside the facility grounds by the railroad tracks when he tripped in the rocks and fell, striking his head and knees. The employee sustained a fractured knee." | |
| 2025 | TX | Construction | "An employee was airing up a trailer tire in the gas station parking lot. When he stepped backward, he tripped over an elevated fuel riser and suffered a fractured right femur." | |
| 2025 | GA | Retail Trade | "An employee had been performing administrative duties in the office at the front of the store. She was opening the office door for a co-worker when she stumbled backward and fell on the floor. The employee sustained a fractured left hip." | |
| 2025 | GA | Manufacturing | "A drive chain broke at the wave feeder on the log line infeed. The injured employee came to help move logs with a remote-controlled hoist so they could reach the chain sprocket. He connected the log grapple to a log and started to lift the log with the hoist. The log rolled and pinned his left leg against another log, fracturing his leg. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | TX | Mining | "An employee was working to assemble a rotator head onto a landing joint. The rotator head fell onto the employee's leg and fractured it." | |
| 2025 | AL | Manufacturing | "On July 31, 2025, an employee was walking when they fell on the concrete floor. The employee sustained a fractured right femur." | |
| 2025 | NJ | Manufacturing | "An employee was standing on the edge of the dumpster while pulling out cribbage. The employee fell to the ground, sustaining a fractured elbow and hip. The employee was hospitalized." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Recovery timelines vary significantly based on the severity of the break and the specific bone involved, often requiring months of physical therapy. Some fractures may result in permanent hardware placement or long-term joint stiffness that limits your ability to return to your previous job duties. An attorney can help you evaluate whether your settlement reflects the true duration of your recovery.
Workers' Compensation is designed to cover necessary medical treatment, including emergency care, surgery, and rehabilitation for your fracture. However, insurance carriers often dispute the necessity of long-term care or specialized therapy. An attorney can help you ensure your claim accounts for all related medical expenses.
Falls from heights are a leading cause of severe fractures and often indicate a failure to comply with OSHA safety standards for fall protection. If your employer failed to provide stable equipment or proper training, you may have grounds for a more comprehensive claim. An attorney can help you investigate the site conditions to identify potential safety violations.
You are generally entitled to wage replacement benefits if your doctor determines you are unable to work during your recovery period. Calculating these benefits correctly is vital, as they should reflect your average weekly earnings before the injury occurred. An attorney can help you verify that your benefits are calculated accurately and paid in a timely manner.