How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 30 severe cases involving wheelchairs and mobility devices over the past decade. Fractures are the most common injury type, appearing in 45% of all reports and often requiring extensive surgical intervention and long-term rehabilitation.
These incidents frequently result in severe damage to fingers and the pelvic region. The physical toll is often compounded by the nature of the equipment, which can lead to crushing injuries or complex orthopedic trauma when the device fails or is improperly operated.
How these injuries happen
Injuries involving mobility devices often stem from overexertion while moving patients or equipment by hand. Many cases involve the device tipping over due to uneven surfaces, catching on floor obstructions, or being struck by automatic doors during transit. These mechanical failures and environmental hazards frequently lead to sudden falls or the device landing on you.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Overexertion while materials moving by hand | 6 |
| 2 | Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area | 4 |
| 3 | Fall on same level | 4 |
| 4 | Nonroadway collision with object other than vehicle | 3 |
| 5 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 3 |
| 6 | Struck by rolling, sliding, or shifting objects—non-running | 2 |
| 7 | Other fall to lower level | 2 |
| 8 | Struck by rolling powered vehicle or machinery | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Health care accounts for 47% of these severe injuries, as you frequently navigate tight hallways and assist patients with specialized mobility equipment. The high volume of patient transfers combined with the need to manage heavy electric wheelchairs creates a constant risk, particularly when equipment maintenance or floor safety protocols are neglected.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports include mobility devices tipping over on uneven flooring, equipment catching on door thresholds, and you being struck by closing automatic doors. These incidents often highlight failures in facility maintenance or inadequate training for safe patient transport. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | MD | Public Administration | "An employee was using a mobility scooter to traverse a hallway. They turned around in the doorway of an automatic door. It started closing and struck the mobility scooter causing it to tip over and land on the employee. The employee sustained a broken femur." | |
| 2025 | TX | Health Care | "An employee, who has been using an orthopedic scooter, was moving in a hallway when a wheel of the scooter hit a cap on the floor, causing the employee to lose balance and fall. The employee sustained a fractured left hip." | |
| 2024 | TX | Health Care | "A bus driver used the lift on the bus to lower a resident in an electrical wheelchair. The wheelchair went forward and a wheel caught on the hook of the lift and caused the wheelchair to tilt. The wheelchair then landed on the driver's legs resulting in fractures to their knee and tibia." | |
| 2024 | CA | Public Administration | "An employee was being wheeled to the pedestrian door of the cargo entrance when their wheelchair got caught on an uneven paved path. The employee fell forward out of the wheelchair and hit the concrete pavement, fracturing their femur." | |
| 2024 | CO | Retail Trade | "An employee was struck by a customer on a mobile scooter in the store, causing them to fall and fracture their right hip. " | |
| 2023 | MA | Health Care | "An employee was pushing a patient in a wheelchair up a ramp when she felt a sudden pain in her middle and lower back, resulting in hospitalization." | |
| 2023 | PA | Retail Trade | "An employee was entering the gas pump booth when his leg was caught between his electric wheelchair and the door jamb, resulting in a leg fracture that required hospitalization and surgery." | |
| 2023 | PA | Health Care | "The employee had clocked out for the day and was leaving the facility. As the employee was going down an exit ramp to the parking lot, their wheelchair struck a bump and the foot plate became jammed. The employee was ejected from the wheelchair onto the concrete/pavement and sustained a hip fracture." | |
| 2022 | PA | Health Care | "An employee was helping load a patient into a van. The patient's powered wheelchair lost power, rolled backward down the ramp, and pinned the employee, who suffered several broken ribs." | |
| 2022 | NJ | Health Care | "An employee's right toe was run over by a wheelchair, resulting in amputation." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, if you were injured while operating a mobility device or assisting a patient in the course of your employment, you are generally eligible for Workers' Compensation. This coverage is designed to pay for medical bills and a portion of lost wages regardless of who was at fault. An attorney can help you document the incident to ensure your claim is processed correctly.
Employers are responsible for maintaining safe walkways and ensuring that floor surfaces are free of hazards that could cause a mobility device to tip or catch. If a trip hazard or uneven surface caused your accident, your employer may be liable for failing to provide a safe work environment. An attorney can help you investigate whether your employer violated safety standards regarding facility maintenance.
Fractures are the most frequently reported injury type in these cases, accounting for 45% of all severe incidents. These injuries often involve the femur, hip, or lower extremities, which can require significant time away from work and ongoing medical care. An attorney can help you evaluate the full scope of your medical needs to ensure your benefits reflect the severity of your injury.
Workers' Compensation is a no-fault system, meaning you are typically entitled to benefits even if you made a mistake while operating the equipment. Employers sometimes attempt to deny claims by blaming you, but an attorney can help you challenge these assertions by gathering evidence and witness statements. You should consult with a legal professional to protect your rights and ensure your claim is not unfairly denied.