How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 219 severe cases involving violence from customers or clients over the past decade. Fractures are the most frequent injury type, accounting for 30 percent of these reported incidents. These injuries often require extensive medical intervention and time away from work.
The severity of these incidents is reflected in the frequency of brain injuries. You often face long-term physical and psychological recovery after being struck, kicked, or beaten while performing your professional duties.
How these injuries happen
Most injuries in this category result from direct physical aggression, with hitting, kicking, or beating by another person accounting for 70 percent of all reported events. These incidents often escalate from verbal disputes into physical altercations, leaving you vulnerable to sudden strikes or falls. In some cases, the violence involves weapons, including shootings and stabbings, which significantly increase the risk of life-altering trauma.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hitting, kicking, beating by other person | 154 |
| 2 | Violent acts by other person— unspecified | 47 |
| 3 | Shooting by other person | 6 |
| 4 | Stabbing, cutting, slashing by other person | 4 |
| 5 | Struck by propelled, falling, or suspended object— n.e.c. | 3 |
| 6 | Overexertion while materials moving by hand | 2 |
| 7 | Contact with other person while providing medical or custodial care | 1 |
| 8 | Overexertion while moving or manipulating external object(s)— n.e.c. | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Retail trade leads all sectors with 31 percent of these severe incidents, followed by health care at 27 percent. In retail environments, confrontations often occur during customer service interactions or loss prevention efforts. You face unique risks in health care when providing medical or custodial care, where unpredictable patient behavior can lead to sudden physical harm.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports include verbal disputes that rapidly escalate into physical violence, often occurring in public-facing areas like check-out counters or parking lots. Many incidents involve you attempting to manage difficult patrons or DE-escalate conflicts, only to be struck or injured by a weapon. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you evaluate your benefits and legal options.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | OK | Transportation & Warehousing | "A bus agency manager was getting a passenger to leave a bus. As the passenger was walking to exit the bus, he stabbed the manager in the stomach with a knife." | |
| 2025 | OH | Retail Trade | "On 7/05/2025, an employee was involved in a verbal confrontation with a customer at the check-out area. Later, in the parking lot, the customer drove her vehicle toward the employee, hitting his leg. The employee sustained a fractured leg." | |
| 2025 | GA | Wholesale Trade | "On May 25, 2025, an argument and physical altercation occurred between two customers and employees. The injured employee was struck by one of the customers, fell, and struck a bench in the store. She was hospitalized with two fractured ribs and a punctured lung." | |
| 2025 | FL | Accommodation & Food Services | "An employee was performing regular job duties, including bussing tables. The employee was punched in the face by a patron of the restaurant. The employee was hospitalized with loss of consciousness, brain swelling/bleeding, and multiple avulsions of teeth." | |
| 2025 | FL | Retail Trade | "Two employees were working in the pharmacy when a customer discharged a firearm after a dispute. One employee was shot in the foot and was not hospitalized. The other employee was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the abdomen and required surgery." | |
| 2025 | FL | Retail Trade | "An employee was breaking up a fight on the bar side of the liquor store. The individual being assaulted pulled a gun and shot another customer several times. Bullets went through the employee's hands. The employee sustained severe injuries to both hands requiring surgery." | |
| 2025 | DC | Real Estate | "An employee was in his car in the parking lot of his workplace (apartment complex) when a resident shot him with a gun. The employee was hospitalized with gunshot injuries to his right ribs and shoulder." | |
| 2025 | GA | Retail Trade | "A customer entered the store and started an argument with employees working in the deli. Two employees sustained gunshot wounds and were hospitalized. " | |
| 2025 | FL | Health Care | "An employee went to catch a client who was falling and they both fell to the floor. The employee sustained a fractured pelvis." | |
| 2025 | IL | Retail Trade | "On April 15, 2025, an employee was physically assaulted by an aggressive customer. The employee sustained broken and missing teeth as well as facial lacerations and was hospitalized. " |
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 employment are generally covered by Workers' Compensation, even if the injury was caused by a third party like a customer. The focus is on whether the incident occurred while you were performing your job duties. An attorney can help you navigate the claim process to ensure your medical expenses and lost wages are addressed.
Employers have a general duty under OSHA to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. This includes implementing security measures, training staff on DE-escalation, and maintaining safe environments for you when you interact with the public. If your employer failed to provide adequate security, an attorney can help you determine if this negligence impacts your legal options.
Seek medical attention immediately, even if you do not feel seriously injured, as internal trauma or brain injuries may not be immediately apparent. Report the incident to your supervisor and ensure an official record is created, as this documentation is vital for any future Workers' Compensation claim. Consulting with an attorney early on can help you preserve evidence and protect your rights.
While Workers' Compensation is typically the primary remedy for workplace injuries, there may be circumstances where a third-party claim against the individual who caused the harm is possible. These situations are complex and depend on the specific facts of the altercation and local laws. An attorney can help you evaluate whether a personal injury claim is a viable path in addition to your Workers' Compensation benefits.