In an effort to catch the attention of motorists, many business owners will ask one or more of their employees to hold large signs outside — often on the sidewalk or elsewhere near the road. These signs, which often advertise walk-in specials and other deals, may be effective at drawing people into the business. If you're an employee of a business and you have experience holding one of these signs, it's possible that you could fall or be hit by a vehicle — resulting in a serious injury. While the incident could be your fault, a workers' compensation attorney may believe that your boss was negligent. Here are some scenarios in which this may be possible.

High-Wind Day

One of the risks of holding a large sign outside of your business it that these signs can often catch the wind. If it's a windy day and you have a firm grasp on the sign — or, worse, it's somehow attached to your body — a heavy gust of wind could potentially blow you over and cause you to sustain an injury. The wind could knock you onto the sidewalk, resulting in a broken limb, or perhaps even push you into a street sight or lamppost, resulting in a head injury. When you consult with a workers' compensation attorney, he or she may feel as though your employer should have assessed the risk of the wind and kept you indoors.

Low-Visibility Sign And Conditions

Sidewalk signs that employees carry are often bright, as the vibrant colors help to attract the attention of motorists as they pass. This isn't always the case, however, and it's possible that your employer's sign isn't very visible. If you were sent outside in low-visibility conditions — for example, dusk or during a high period of fog — it's possible that a passing cyclist or even a car could bump into you and hurt you. Your attorney's argument will be that the combination of the low-visibility sign and the low-visibility conditions led to your injury.

Request To Be Daring

Sometimes, an employer may be so desperate to get people to pay attention to his or her sign that he or she will instruct you to engage in dangerous behavior. For example, the employer might ask you to walk between cars as they're stopped at an intersection. While you can always say no, doing so can be difficult when you value your job. If you were hit by a car as a result of following your employer's orders to be on the roadway, this can be another good reason to file a workers' compensation suit.

For more information on other workers' compensation issues, check out sites like http://mcmullenochs.com.