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1 800 HURT 511

Personal Injury Lawyer Jackson Heights

Which Injuries Are Often the Basis of Personal Injury Lawsuits?

Most injuries that are caused by someone else’s negligence or maliciousness can be redressed by a civil court. Of course, if you only sustained a couple scrapes and minor bruises from slipping on a wet floor that wasn’t properly marked, it’s likely you’ll be precluded from taking legal action. That being said, there are several common injuries associated with personal injury lawsuits, and these are discussed in detail in this blog.

 

Call 1-800-HURT-511 now to speak with personal injury lawyers in Jackson Heights. They’ll tell you whether or not you have a case that’s likely to yield damages. If you do, they’ll tell you all about how they can pursue these damages on your behalf.

 

The Injuries Commonly Associated With Personal Injury Cases

An individual can sustain a wide range of injuries following an event or accident. The injuries one sustains from an event are largely a result of the nature of that event. For example, if you’re in a high-speed car accident, your injuries will probably be much more severe than those you’d get from slipping on a wet floor at the grocery store.

However, this isn’t to say that simple accidents can’t lead to major injuries. For example, if you slip on the floor at the grocery store, you could land on your head and sustain a traumatic brain injury. Below are injuries that are commonly the basis of personal injury lawsuits:

  • Soft tissue injuries
  • PTSD
  • Cuts & lacerations
  • Broken ribs
  • Broken pelvis
  • Whiplash
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Internal bleeding
  • Burns
  • Animal bites
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Hand & wrist injuries
  • Foot & ankle injuries
  • Facial disfigurement
  • Dismemberment
  • Shoulder injuries
  • Knee injuries
  • Crush injuries

 

What Are Traumatic Brain Injuries?

There are two specific kinds of traumatic brain injury (TBI). One is when an individual suffers a violent blow to the head. Jerking the head in an unnatural way can also result in this kind of TBI. The other kind of TBI involves the brain tissue being pierced by something sharp, such as a piece of metal or a shattered piece of skull.

Some traumatic brain injuries are mild while others are more severe. A less severe traumatic brain injury may only affect your brain in the short term, whereas a more severe one is likely to result in brain bruising, tissue damage, and bleeding. Traumatic brain injuries are long-lasting injuries that often result in death. These are commonly associated with car accidents, slip and fall accidents, bike accidents, construction site accidents, defective product accidents, and medical malpractice.

 

What Is Wrongful Death?

Although it’s strange to think of death as an injury, this is how it’s treated in the legal realm. So if you’re killed as a result of somebody else’s negligence, your beneficiaries can file a wrongful death suit on your behalf. Wrongful death statutes vary from state to state, and these govern who can bring a lawsuit, how long one has to file a lawsuit, etc. Wrongful death suits have been around for a long time, and they were originally created to protect widows and orphans.

Wrongful death suits are usually brought in the wake of car accidents, construction site accidents, medical malpractice, defective product accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, aviation accidents, and workplace accidents.

 

What Is Whiplash?

When the head jerks in a fashion similar to a whip being cracked, such can result in what’s known as whiplash. The neck is not supposed to move in this way, which is why this motion often results in significant injury. Whiplash is often linked to rear-end car accidents, but it can also be caused by physical altercations, sports, construction site accidents, bike accidents, and pedestrian accidents.

Whiplash is a kind of neck injury, and while most individuals recover from whiplash after receiving treatment, some experience chronic neck pain and long-lasting complications because of whiplash. Whiplash isn’t something that will go away on its own. Therefore, if you experience the symptoms of whiplash following an accident, you need to seek medical attention right away.

 

How Will You Know the Extent of Your Injuries Following an Accident?

In the wake of an accident which caused you to sustain injuries, it’s likely you won’t be able to fully account for all your injuries. This is why it’s recommended to seek medical attention right away. A medical professional will look you over fully and run tests so injuries that haven’t presented yet can be identified.

Then they’ll document these injuries so there’s a link between the injuries and the event which caused them. Having these documents will make things easier for you when you go to file a claim later on. Not seeking medical attention after you’re injured, and not following the doctor’s prescribed plan for recovery, can preclude you from seeking damages for your injuries.

 

What Damages Are Commonly Sought as Redress for Injuries?

The damages sought in a personal injury case will reflect the extent of your injuries. Below are common kinds of damages that individuals sue for in personal injury cases:

General Damages:

  • Pain and suffering
  • No longer able to enjoy life
  • Dismemberment
  • Loss of consortium
  • Disfigurement
  • PTSD

Economic Damages:

  • Medical bills
  • Long-term care bills
  • Lost earnings both past and future

 

How Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Come Up With a Total Damages Figure?

After a personal injury lawyer gets a clear picture of all the injuries you sustained from the event, they’ll be able to calculate a damages figure. They will account for medical bills, lost wages, etc., and these economic damages will be easy to quantify, as they’re often fixed costs. On the other hand, pain and suffering and other kinds of general damages are hard to quantify, and largely these damages are quantified based on judgment.

 

Does Hurt 511 Have Injury Experts on Staff?

1-800-HURT-511 can be your one-stop solution when you need best-in-class legal assistance from a personal injury lawyer. We work with lawyers who’ve recovered over a billion dollars for their clients. Best of all, you only have to pay for their help if you’re awarded damages. We can connect you with an experienced lawyer who speaks your language. Call 1-800-HURT-511, as time is of the essence.

What Are Pedestrian and Sidewalk Accidents?

Sidewalk Accident Lawyer Bronx

Pedestrians have as much right to the roads as drivers do. Moreover, drivers are always supposed to yield to pedestrians, whether the pedestrian has the right of way or not. Cities and towns across the United States are always trying to make their roadways safer for pedestrians, but even with crosswalks, sidewalks, do-not-cross signs, and plenty of other safety measures, pedestrian accidents still happen.

Generally speaking, pedestrian accidents can be particularly serious, in large part because pedestrians are totally defenseless when they get struck by vehicles. Since a pedestrian is defenseless when they’re struck, the chances are much higher that they’ll sustain major injuries.

If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident that was caused by another’s negligence or recklessness, one of the first things you should do is get in touch with a pedestrian accident lawyer, as they’ll help you pursue just compensation for injuries you sustained from the accident.

Call the Sanders Law Firm at 1-800-HURT-511 when you need help from an experienced and skilled pedestrian accident lawyer in the Bronx. For years, we have been helping victims of pedestrian accidents and their families, and we’ll fight for you so you’re properly compensated for your injuries.

 

Where Do Pedestrian Accidents Occur?

Wherever pedestrians can be found, the specter of an accident happening looms. According to a 2017 report published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, only about a third of pedestrian accidents occurred at an intersection. There are other spots where pedestrian accidents can occur frequently, including:

  • – Intersections
  • – Shoulders
  • – Parking lanes
  • – Sidewalks
  • – Medians
  • – Bicycle lanes
  • – Paths & trails
  • – Driveways

 

Where Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen Most Often in the Bronx?

In the Bronx specifically, East 170th Street and Grand Concourse is an infamous intersection, and Grand Concourse is widely known as the “Boulevard of Death”. The street is particularly wide and it’s a favorite for speeding and reckless drivers.

The intersection of East 170th Street and Grand Concourse is particularly bad because pedestrians are frequently crossing multiple lanes of traffic. Moreover, since there’s a lot of retail activity in the area, there are a lot of pedestrians.

A study conducted in 2010 identified the East 170th Street and Grand Concourse intersection to be the worst intersection in the Bronx. And between 2009 in 2013, there were eight pedestrian crashes at this intersection; seven resulted in serious injuries and one resulted in a pedestrian losing their life. The Department of Transportation has improved the intersection in some ways, but it’s still widely known as a dangerous area.

Why Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen?

A pedestrian accident can be the result of a variety of causes, but the common causes are:

  • Unmarked crosswalks
  • Distracted driving
  • Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Bad weather and poor visibility
  • Speeding
  • Improper lane use

A pedestrian may also get more injured if they are not paying attention when they’re struck by a vehicle, or if they’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol when they’re struck. Even if a pedestrian shares blame in an accident, they may still be able to be compensated for their injuries.

 

What Are Hit-And-Run Accidents?

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety once found that nearly 20% of all pedestrian deaths over the last 10 years were linked to hit-and run-crashes. In a hit-and-run crash, a driver strikes a person, object, or another vehicle, and then flees the scene without leaving necessary contact or insurance information.

A variety of things can compel a driver to flee a scene in this way. Perhaps they were driving without valid insurance or with an expired license, or maybe they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the crash happened. It could also be that they panicked, fearing repercussions the crash might bring about.

A driver who commits a hit-and-run crash could face several penalties for their actions. And if the hit-and-run crash resulted in the death of another person, it’s likely the driver will be charged with a felony, and if convicted could face imprisonment and fines.

 

What Injuries Are Common in Sidewalk Accident Lawyer Bronx?

Most pedestrians aren’t anticipating being involved in an accident when using the roadways, and that’s mainly because there’s a general trust that drivers will operate safely when around pedestrians. Still, there are negligent and reckless drivers on the roads each day, and the way these drivers operate puts nearby pedestrians at high risk.

If you’re hit by a car or truck because its driver was acting negligently or recklessly, you may sustain one or more of the following injuries:

  • – Concussion
  • – Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • – Broken bones
  • – Lacerations & cuts
  • – Internal organ damage
  • – Internal bleeding
  • – Paralysis
  • – Loss of limbs
  • – Neck & back damage
  • – Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

 

A pedestrian may also be killed by a crash, either immediately or after succumbing to crash-related injuries. In this instance, the victim’s family would be able to recover damages on their behalf.

 

Should Pedestrians Only Be On the Lookout for Dangerous Drivers?

Even though most pedestrian accidents involve drivers, a pedestrian can also get hurt if they make contact with debris, whether it’s in the road or on the sidewalk. A pedestrian may also get injured if they step into a pothole. Moreover, there are a range of pedestrian accidents that are specifically related to construction sites, and uneven pavement can also cause a pedestrian accident.

If you’re a Bronx resident and you were injured while using the sidewalk, it’s a good idea to contact a sidewalk accident lawyer in the Bronx. There are construction sites, sidewalks, and pedestrians everywhere in the Bronx, and a local pedestrian accident lawyer will be familiar with nearby hazards. Moreover, they’ll know how local cases similar to yours were resolved.

 

Is Hiring a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Worth It?

If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident, seeking professional legal assistance is definitely a good move. You may not possess the physical and mental capacity to pursue a claim right after the accident, but that won’t be an issue if you hire a lawyer. They will do all the tough work and develop a compelling case on your behalf so you get the compensation you deserve.

Call us at 1-800-HURT-511 to speak with our pedestrian and sidewalk accident lawyers in the Bronx. The initial consultation is free.

Sidewalk Accident Lawyer Bronx
Sidewalk Accident Lawyer Bronx
Sidewalk Accident Lawyer Bronx

Punitive Damages In Trucking Accidents

 

Truck crashes are among the most severe types of accidents. When a truck collides with a passenger vehicle, severe injuries and fatalities are common. When a truck driver or trucking company is negligent in a crash, they are responsible for all damages resulting from the collision. Your damages may include your medical expenses, money for pain and suffering, and reimbursement for lost wages. In New York, the law limits the amount of money you can recover in a personal injury case in a few situations.

Punitive damages are only awarded in cases where there was gross negligence. Punitive damages are meant to punish the offender and deter them from committing the action again in the future. In New York, the punitive damage award cannot exceed specific limitations. In general, the amount of punitive damages cannot be higher than two times the economic damages plus the amount of non-economic damages.

The total cannot exceed $750,000. In medical malpractice cases, you may sue for all your economic damages with a cap on non-economic damages. The total recoverable damages are $500,000. Claims against governmental entities have a limit of $100,000 per person and $300,000 in a single occurrence.

Every case is different and has a unique set of facts. Your attorney will review your accident to determine the best way to proceed. Many personal injury cases are settled before they go to trial. A truck accident attorney in Houston will work on your behalf to gather evidence and negotiate a fair settlement. Only if a settlement cannot be reached will the matter proceed to court.

After any motor vehicle accident involving a commercial truck, it is important to immediately begin taking steps to investigate the accident, prevent spoliation of evidence (including black box data and driving logs), interview witnesses, and identify all parties involved. Potential defendants in a truck accident case could include the driver, his or her employer, and either a parent company or subsidiary of the employer, depending on the facts conducting a thorough investigation will assist in developing the case and preparing a lawsuit, if necessary.

Accidents with big rigs often result in severe injuries to the other drivers and passengers. Some of the most common injuries include traumatic brain injuries, head and back injuries, whiplash, broken bones, cuts and bruises, burns, and puncture wounds. Some severe injuries may be life-threatening, and the recovery may be lengthy and painful. The driver or trucking company may be found negligent in causing the accident. If you were hurt due to the negligence of another, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries. You may be owed money for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

At HURT-511, our personal injury lawyers help injured workers recover the benefits to which they are entitled by law. For a free consultation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer, call us toll-free at 800-4878-511 or complete our online form. Our firm handles accident and injury claims throughout all five boroughs of New York.

HURT-511 operates in all boroughs of New York including all Bronx neighborhoods, namely: Bedford Park, Belmont, Fordham, Highbridge, Hunts Point, Jerome Park, Kingsbridge, Morris Park, Morrisania, Mott Haven, Parkchester, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Throgs Neck, University Heights

Machine Injuries

 

Last year in America roughly three million employees suffered a workplace injury from which they never recover, at a cost to business of close to $60 billion. These statistics are staggering. To help gain a better perspective on the realities of workplace danger, consider the most common risk assessment techniques used in the industry.

A pre-assessment meeting usually takes take place with the key contact/decision makers of your company, affected supervisors, and maintenance personnel. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the risk assessment process, set the scope of the risk assessment project, and discuss the “acceptable or tolerable” risk perceptions. Arrangements will be necessary for an electrician to be available to open control enclosures during the assessments. The presence of an experienced machine operator will also be required during the assessment as only an operational machine can be properly assessed.

The possibility of avoiding a hazard can be tied to the machinery or process design. If the operator must hand feed product closely into a hazard, the potential of avoiding injury is less than it would be if the product moved into the hazard from a remotely loaded conveyor or material handling system or if the machine or process design allowed the operator, set-up personnel, maintenance personnel, engineer, or any passers-by to walk along side of an unguarded hazard in order to get from one point to the other.

After the machine risk assessment is completed, a meeting will be scheduled to discuss the findings, explain the preliminary risk rankings, discuss possible ways of reducing the risk rankings, and discuss the time frame for completion of the detailed assessments and summary file.

Working with heavy equipment in itself often entails a high risk of injury.  However, when companies do not provide the proper maintenance of equipment and training of the operators, they may be liable for injuries incurred on a worksite.  It is the duty of the contractors to ensure not only that the workers are safe but that there is an adequate amount of warnings related to potentially hazardous zones.  For example, a supervisor’s failure to enforce safety measures may make him liable for injuries that occur due to his failure.

It is important to promptly report and investigate a construction accident case.  An attorney will help arrange for investigative work, including access to the property and photographs of the property.  In many cases there are deadlines to which a notice must be given to the accused party.  Therefore, it is highly recommended that one follow up on a accident case as soon as possible.

In court, the accused party will have attorneys that will try to refute and devalue your case.  Having an attorney who is experienced in handling personal injury cases involving heavy machinery and equipment on your side will help fight and counter the testimony given by the accused.  You have the right for proper compensation for the injuries attained by other people’s negligence!

At HURT-511, our personal injury lawyers help injured workers recover the benefits to which they are entitled by law. For a free consultation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer, call us toll-free at 800-4878-511 or complete our online form. Our firm handles accident and injury claims throughout all five boroughs of New York.

HURT-511 operates in all boroughs of New York including all Bronx neighborhoods, namely: Bedford Park, Belmont, Fordham, Highbridge, Hunts Point, Jerome Park, Kingsbridge, Morris Park, Morrisania, Mott Haven, Parkchester, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Throgs Neck, University Heights

Machine Accident Treatment

 

Work-related accidents can occur for a variety of reasons. They can occur if a body part or piece of clothing becomes stuck in the machinery, or if someone accidentally removes the warning label. Machinery accidents often cause serious and life-threatening injuries. Amputation injury is a common injury sustained in industrial or machinery accidents.

Workers have lost extremities such as fingers, hands, or arms in industrial accidents. These injuries require extensive treatment and they have life-changing consequences. Losing a finger or limb will change a person’s entire life. The loss may render a person incapable of working and caring for their loved ones. As most workers who are injured at the workplace have people dependent on them, the injury will affect an entire family and not just the individual.

New York workers’ compensation lawyers explain that industrial workers often work in long shifts and it is not a surprise that many workers are injured. It is important that the machinery is maintained well and the workers are trained properly for their operation.

Even a small error anywhere in the chain can cause an injury to someone. Employers know that workers can become injured and that is the reason why employers are required to have workers’ compensation insurance. Employees must understand that workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance, which means an injured worker will receive benefits irrespective of who is responsible for the injury.

Unsafe working conditions combined with a lack of safety precautions contribute to manufacturing accidents. Manufacturing accidents are often serious and may render a worker incapable of working again and earning their living. Some classes of workers such as material handlers, assemblers, machine operators, and general laborers are more prone to injuries. For such workers, injuries may have catastrophic and lifelong effects.

Some injuries are a result of machinery accidents, but continuous exposure to hazardous materials such as chemicals, plastics, metal, glass, and other similar substances can also cause illness. Failure to enforce safety codes and regulations also contribute to assembly line accidents. Negligent operation and machinery malfunctions are also a common cause of injuries. Lack of safety training also plays a major role in causing assembly line injuries.

At HURT-511, our personal injury lawyers help injured workers recover the benefits to which they are entitled by law. For a free consultation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer, call us toll-free at 800-4878-511 or complete our online form. Our firm handles accident and injury claims throughout all five boroughs of New York.

HURT-511 operates in all boroughs of New York including all Bronx neighborhoods, namely: Bedford Park, Belmont, Fordham, Highbridge, Hunts Point, Jerome Park, Kingsbridge, Morris Park, Morrisania, Mott Haven, Parkchester, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Throgs Neck, University Heights

Workers’ Comp For Healthcare Staff

 

Working in a hospital is the most dangerous occupation of all. Believe it or not, it is more hazardous than working in the construction or manufacturing industries. In fact, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that working in a hospital is twice as dangerous as working in the private industry as a whole. For every 100 full-time hospital workers, 6.8 individuals annually must take time off of work due to a work-related injury or illness. That means nearly 55 injuries a year for the Albany Medical Center (AMC), which has nearly 800 employees. St. Peter’s, which is another large healthcare employer in the Capital region, although with fewer beds than AMC, also has its share of annual hospital worker injuries.

As a healthcare professional, you know of the potential you have for injuring yourself as you care for others. Whether you work in a hospital, nursing home, medical office, or homecare setting, your duties expose you to hazards that could lead to an injury that leaves you unable to work as you recover. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), hospital workers are more likely to miss work due to injury than workers in the construction or manufacturing industries.

While caring for incapacitated patients, nurses lift and move patients during tasks that require nurses to lift them as they attend to wounds and personal needs and move them into wheelchairs and onto gurneys, putting themselves at risk for back, hip, and knee injuries. Wet floors, electrical cords, and medical equipment creating slipping and tripping hazards for nurses in hospital rooms and clinics. Exposure to bodily fluids of infected patients and sharp needles place nurses at risk of contracting infectious diseases or being exposed to toxic substances.

New York workers’ compensation law provides that a treating medical provider may discuss an injured employee’s medical history, diagnosis, causation, course of treatment, prognosis, work restrictions and impairments with the workers’ compensation insurance carrier, the employer or certified rehabilitation professionals (nurse case managers).

However, before any discussion may take place the injured employee must be notified by the employer, insurance carrier or its representative, or nurse case manager about the discussion at least ten days before the anticipated communication; be allowed to be present during any such discussion or communication, along with the employee’s attorney if represented; regularly be informed by the employer, insurance carrier or nurse case manager about the nature of the communication before the discussion

At HURT-511, our personal injury lawyers help injured workers recover the benefits to which they are entitled by law. For a free consultation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer, call us toll-free at 800-4878-511 or complete our online form. Our firm handles accident and injury claims throughout all five boroughs of New York.

HURT-511 operates in all boroughs of New York including all Bronx neighborhoods, namely: Bedford Park, Belmont, Fordham, Highbridge, Hunts Point, Jerome Park, Kingsbridge, Morris Park, Morrisania, Mott Haven, Parkchester, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Throgs Neck, University Heights

Hazards Experienced By Healthcare Workers

 

Most people don’t realize just how much healthcare workers do in a days’ work. They lift patients in and out of ambulances, vans, wheelchairs and gurneys, transferring them to hospital, clinic and ER beds. They are exposed to airborne viruses and diseases, hazardous bacteria and contaminated needlesticks. They have to handle razor-sharp scalpels that may be covered in germs, infected fluids or blood.

Healthcare workers injured in hospitals, clinics, emergency rooms or doctor’s offices can suffer job-related injuries as serious as construction site injuries. And, just like any workplace injury, filing a workers compensation claim is the first step toward recovering, both financially and medically. But the process can be incredibly complicated and, very often, without the help of a knowledgeable lawyer, work injury victims have their claim denied.

On a daily basis, the men and women who work within the health care industry must perform a variety of physical tasks that put them at risk of suffering injury. For many, tasks involved with assisting, moving and lifting patients takes a tremendous physical toll at puts healthcare workers like nurses at an increased risk of suffering injuries to the neck, back and extremities.

From a nurse who experiences a sharp pain in her neck while helping move a patient to a home health care aide worker who suffers a chronic dull ache in her lower back, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports high incidences of musculoskeletal injuries among healthcare workers. For many, these types of injuries are not only painful, but also disabling. There are several risk factors contributing to the high rates of occupational injuries among healthcare workers.

For example, throughout the course of one shift, a 120 pound nurse may be tasked with caring for several patients, many of which likely outweigh her by one hundred or more pounds. Given the physical requirements of the nursing profession, in cases where a hospital fails to invest in equipment to aid in the safe handling of patients, it’s almost impossible to avoid injury.

Hospital, nursing home and home health aide employers must work to educate and train healthcare workers about proper lifting and patient handling techniques. Additionally, research proves that incidences of injury among nurses and other healthcare workers can be significantly reduced through the use and implementation of mechanical hoists and other equipment as well as specialized lifting procedures. Healthcare workers who suffer work-related injuries are eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Often, when dealing with workers’ compensation insurance providers, injured workers can benefit from the advice and assistance of an attorney.

At HURT-511, our personal injury lawyers help injured workers recover the benefits to which they are entitled by law. For a free consultation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer, call us toll-free at 800-4878-511 or complete our online form. Our firm handles accident and injury claims throughout all five boroughs of New York.

HURT-511 operates in all boroughs of New York including all Bronx neighborhoods, namely: Bedford Park, Belmont, Fordham, Highbridge, Hunts Point, Jerome Park, Kingsbridge, Morris Park, Morrisania, Mott Haven, Parkchester, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Throgs Neck, University Heights

Workers’ Compensation For Registered Nurses

 

Medical assistants, nurses, and transportation workers in the healthcare sector play a crucial role in the running of a hospital. Often, they are the first ones to report for duty and are the last ones to leave. They work for extended hours caring for those who need medical attention. However, they too can get injured in the process. Healthcare professionals who are prone to work-related injuries include medical assistants, nursing staff, nursing home aid workers, hospital patient transportation workers, PT/OT and physical therapist aides and EMT and paramedics.

There are many ways in which a healthcare professional can get injured at the workplace. Healthcare workers have to reposition, lift, and shift patients, and with more and more patients being obese, the chances of a worker getting injured are high. A large number of healthcare workers get musculoskeletal disorders and injuries at a rate higher than that even in the mining and construction industries.

Slips and falls are common types of injuries suffered by healthcare workers. Grease, water, and spilled fluids can cause a worker to slip and lose balance. Falls often cause disabling injuries that may have life-changing consequences. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare professionals are 90 percent more prone to injuries from slips, trips, and falls compared to workers in any other industry. It is the second largest cause of injury, ranking next only to overexertion induced injuries.

As for any employee who is injured on the job or develops a work-related illness, workers’ compensation may provide benefits that pay for medical expenses and lost wages. It is important to know that you cannot be fired or discriminated against for filing a workers’ compensation claim based on your hospital injury. General rules require you to report your injury to your employer as soon as possible. Although your employer cannot claim you were negligent and responsible for your own injury, depending on the status of your employment, the hospital may argue that you are an independent contractor and not covered by workers’ compensation or that your injury was not work-related.

Patients suffering from dementia or the side effects of medications may become violent and attack their caregivers. Nurses are frequently the victims of assault. Because of these hazards, you may suffer from serious injuries including, but not limited to, sprains, strains, broken bones, infections, and open wounds. These injuries and illnesses will require medical treatment and time away from work. Because the incident that caused the injury occurred at work, you should receive workers’ comp benefits to cover your losses.

The New York workers’ comp board or your self-insured employer may look for any excuse to deny your workers’ comp claim and assume that you will back down and accept whatever decision they make. You have too much at stake to do this.

In some cases, the workers’ compensation insurance carrier may employ a nurse case manager to assist the injured worker with these tasks.  It is important that the injured worker understands his or her rights during the workers’ compensation process and the limits of the nurse case manager’s role.

The majority of nurse case managers are registered nurses, and they act as a medical case worker. They may, with the patient’s permission, attend doctors’ and hospital appointments and communicate with the patient and the authorized physician about the patient’s treatment.

A nurse case manager is responsible for helping an injured worker to obtain the medical care that he or she needs; serving as a liaison between all parties involved in the workers’ compensation claim, including doctors, the injured worker, the employer and the insurance company; providing information to an insurance adjuster regarding doctors’ visits and treatment authorization.

At HURT-511, our personal injury lawyers help injured workers recover the benefits to which they are entitled by law. For a free consultation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer, call us toll-free at 800-4878-511 or complete our online form. Our firm handles accident and injury claims throughout all five boroughs of New York.

HURT-511 operates in all boroughs of New York including all Bronx neighborhoods, namely: Bedford Park, Belmont, Fordham, Highbridge, Hunts Point, Jerome Park, Kingsbridge, Morris Park, Morrisania, Mott Haven, Parkchester, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Throgs Neck, University Heights

Overexertion-related Injuries In Health Workers

 

One might think that American hospitals would be among the safest work sites in the country. Indeed, with all of those healthcare professionals milling around all day, one would expect safety to be at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Perhaps it is, but statistics don’t fib. According to information recently released by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), almost 58,000 work-related injuries occurred in 2013, the last year for which such data is complete. That amounts to 6.4 work-related injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time employees, a rate that is twice as high as the overall rate for private industry.

Overexertion appears to be one of the primary issues. Statistics indicate that almost half of all work-related injuries in the healthcare industry were linked to overexertion. Particularly alarming, healthcare workers are almost four times more likely to sustain injury as a result of violence than the average employee in the private sector.

People in New York, and elsewhere, depend on their medical providers to look out for their health and well-being. Unfortunately, however, medical errors commonly happen, putting patients at risk. In fact, U.S. News & World Report LP, reports that over 200,000 people die each year as a result of preventable medical mistakes. However, there are some things that patients can do to help protect themselves.

One of the most common types of errors that result in patient injuries are medication-related mistakes. In order to prevent these types of errors, it may be helpful for patients to ensure that all of their doctors know about all of the medications that they are taking. Furthermore, they should ensure that their health care providers know about any adverse reactions or allergies that they have had to medications. People should not be afraid to ask questions to ensure they know what they are taking, for how long they will be on it and what the potential side effects are.

For a hospital employee, one of the main causes of injuries is moving patients. For example, on a daily basis, you have to lift patients from gurneys, help them in and out of beds, and move them from room to room in wheelchairs. One of the reasons for this problem is that the same safe-lifting techniques used in other industries, such as lifting heavy objects, are not adequate to help hospital workers safely pick up and move people.

Evidence-based research has shown that safe patient handling interventions can significantly reduce overexertion injuries by replacing manual patient handling with safer methods. Mechanical equipment is now available that can lift and move patients, so that healthcare workers can avoid using manual exertions.

This results in fewer injuries. It also results in maximizing the safety and comfort of patients during handling. On a daily basis, the men and women who work within the health care industry must perform a variety of physical tasks that put them at risk of suffering injury. For many, tasks involved with assisting, moving and lifting patients takes a tremendous physical toll at puts healthcare workers like nurses at an increased risk of suffering injuries to the neck, back and extremities.

At HURT-511, our personal injury lawyers help injured workers recover the benefits to which they are entitled by law. For a free consultation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer, call us toll-free at 800-4878-511 or complete our online form. Our firm handles accident and injury claims throughout all five boroughs of New York.

HURT-511 operates in all boroughs of New York including all Bronx neighborhoods, namely: Bedford Park, Belmont, Fordham, Highbridge, Hunts Point, Jerome Park, Kingsbridge, Morris Park, Morrisania, Mott Haven, Parkchester, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Throgs Neck, University Heights

Warehouse Workers & Musculoskeletal Disorders

 

Major national vendors deliver thousands of packages to consumers across the country every day. Customers expect to be able to place an order and have their package delivered within a day or two. For the warehouse workers responsible for preparing these packages, this can involve a great deal of lifting, bending, twisting, and running for up to 12 hours a day. The New York Committee for Occupational Safety & Health surveyed Amazon employees at a Staten Island warehouse and found that the intense work pace is causing workers to develop musculoskeletal disorders.

According to some of the employees surveyed, they are expected to package approximately four online orders per minute. If they stop working for even a moment, it has a negative impact on their performance evaluations. Of the roughly 145 Amazon warehouse employees surveyed, 66 percent said that they felt physical pain while performing their regular work duties, and 42 percent said that they felt pain outside of work. Over 25 percent of workers said that they felt pain in their feet, and almost as many said that they felt pain in their lower back and knees. Unfortunately, it is likely that these injuries will only get worse now that Amazon offers free one-day shipping to Prime customers.

One worker described his warehouse work as a full-body workout all day, every day. Constant bending, squatting, twisting, and lifting can cause injuries to the joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and tendons as a result of repetitive strain and exertion. In 2016, Amazon was fined $7,000 for failing to report two dozen worker injuries. In a brief written by the U.S Occupational Safety & Hazards Administration, Amazon exposed workers to a range of injuries related to repeated bending at the waist, overexertion, and standing for up to 10 hours without a break. In some cases, they were forced to work mandatory overtime shifts as well.

These are not the only safety complaints that have been lodged against Amazon. In fact, because of its poor warehouse conditions, the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health named Amazon as among the most dangerous places to work. The report stated that Amazon had injury rates that were higher- than-average and did not address employee safety concerns. According to the president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which is assisting some Amazon workers with unionizing, as two-day Prime shipping becomes more widespread, workers will be expected to fill 200 to 300 orders per hour in a 12-hour shift. This pace can be exhausting and increase the risk of serious workplace injuries.

Remember, each case is unique, so contact HURT-511 for more information on workers’ comp statute and our personal injury lawyers help injured workers recover the benefits to which they are entitled by law. For a free consultation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer, call us toll-free at 800-4878-511 or complete our online form. Our firm handles accident and injury claims throughout all five boroughs of New York.

HURT-511 operates in all boroughs of New York including all Bronx neighborhoods, namely: Bedford Park, Belmont, Fordham, Highbridge, Hunts Point, Jerome Park, Kingsbridge, Morris Park, Morrisania, Mott Haven, Parkchester, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Throgs Neck, University Heights and Woodlawn.

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From Our Clients

Stephanie De La Cruz
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I was an UBER passenger and the car got rear-ended by a utility van. I called 1-800-HURT-511 since a friend dealt with them before and I was glad I did. My attorney was extremely professional and aggressive when necessary. He was transparent from the start and didn’t complicate things unnecessarily.

Stephanie De La Cruz
Jordan Barnes
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Serious team effort from the entire staff to get my work injury case resolved quickly. They built a strong case and kept me in the loop for the duration. This team also delivered on two previous occasions and did it in a very cost-effective way. A faithful customer for life thank you!

Jordan Barnes
Kevin Diaz
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I highly recommend HURT-511! When the insurance companies turned me away after a scary scooter accident that nearly killed me, a lawyer at HURT-511 stayed and fought for me and recovered the entire policy! Their staff is well-informed and always available to answer my questions. They treated me like one of their own and I made the right decision to stick with them. Thank you so much!

Kevin Diaz
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