If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1Move out of the area if more items could fall, but stay still if your neck hurts.
- 2Call 911 for loss of consciousness, confusion, repeated vomiting, a worsening headache, neck pain with numbness or weakness, or heavy bleeding.
- 3Have someone stay with you for the next several hours.
- 4Don't drive yourself to care if you were hit on the head.
- 5Tell your supervisor and report the injury in writing. Keep a copy.
- 6Note what fell, from how high, and where you were standing. Photograph the object and the shelf or work above.
- 7Write down whether you were wearing a hard hat and who was working above you.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Falling-object injuries happen in warehouses and stores with high shelving, and on construction sites with work overhead. Your report should describe the object, the height, what caused it to fall — an overloaded shelf, a forklift bumping racking, an unsecured load, someone dropping material — and whether there were toe boards, netting or barricades.
If the object fell from work being done by another trade or company, note who was working above you. You still report to your own employer.
Your employer generally sends the report to its insurer or claims administrator. Deadlines to report and file vary by state, so check with your state's workers' compensation agency as soon as possible.
Keep a symptom diary for the coming weeks — headaches, dizziness, neck stiffness, shoulder pain, sleep and mood — along with photos and visit records.
Getting medical care
Urgent care, an emergency department or occupational medicine can evaluate you, and a clinician may decide imaging is needed. Ongoing symptoms may be followed by neurology and concussion care, spine care or orthopedics. A licensed clinician decides what is appropriate after an evaluation.
Tell the clinician what hit you, from how high, and where it struck. Mention headache, neck or shoulder pain, and any numbness. Some states and employers have rules about which provider you see first, so ask your employer or adjuster — but go to emergency care first if you need it.
If you're prescribed medication, ask the pharmacy and adjuster how work-injury prescriptions are handled. Home delivery helps if you shouldn't drive.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery, common medications after work injuries, or find pharmacies near you. Your doctor and pharmacist decide what is right for you.
When people often talk to an attorney
- You have a concussion, neck injury or shoulder injury that keeps you off work.
- The object fell from work done by another contractor or company.
- Shelving or racking was installed or maintained by another company and failed.
- Your claim is denied because scans look normal but symptoms persist.
- You're pressured to return before your clinician clears you.
- There are disputes about specialist care or therapy.
Learn more: what a workers' comp attorney does. Many offer a free first consultation; fees in workers' comp are often regulated by the state.
Recovery and going back to work
Follow the care plan and give a head or neck injury time. Pushing too hard can bring symptoms back.
Ask your doctor about restrictions on screens, driving, overhead reaching and lifting. Ask your employer about lighter work.
Keep your supervisor and adjuster updated. Ask what's being done to prevent more falling objects in your area.
Questions to ask
- Doctor: Could I have a concussion, and what warning signs should I watch for?
- Doctor: Is my neck or shoulder injured?
- Employer: What caused the object to fall, and what's being done about it?
- Employer: Can I get a copy of the incident report?
- Adjuster: What is my claim number, and do I need to see a particular provider?
- Adjuster: Is concussion follow-up handled under my claim?
- Attorney: Another crew was working above me. Does that matter?
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I was hit by a falling object at work?
Stop, sit down and check for head and neck injuries, and call 911 for confusion, vomiting, severe headache or neck pain with numbness. Get checked by a clinician. Report it in writing and photograph what fell.
Can I have a concussion if I was wearing a hard hat?
Yes, a hard hat reduces risk but can't prevent every concussion. Watch for headache, dizziness, nausea or confusion. Get evaluated.
Is being hit by a falling object covered by workers' comp?
Struck-by injuries on the job are often handled through workers' compensation, depending on your state and situation. Report it in writing. Check deadlines with your state's agency.
What if another contractor dropped the object?
Report to your own employer and note who was working above. Another company's involvement may raise questions beyond workers' compensation. Many people talk with an attorney.
Why does my neck hurt days after being hit?
Neck and shoulder pain often stiffens over a day or two after a blow. Tell your clinician. Keep a symptom diary.
When can I go back to work after being hit by a falling object?
Your clinician decides based on your injuries. Ask for written restrictions. Share them with your employer.
Related situations
Industries where this often happens
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).