What causes hospital and healthcare facility accidents?
Hospitals, medical clinics, rehabilitation centers and other healthcare facilities are very active workplaces. Doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, social workers, janitorial staff members and cafeteria workers may all be working onsite. The situation in a healthcare facility can change quickly, especially in medical emergencies. Patients can be volatile and unpredictable. As such, the risk of injuries can be quite high.
Common causes of accidents in healthcare facilities include, but are not limited to:
- Slip and falls
- Lifting patients
- Needle sticks
- Violence by patients
- Repetitive motion
- Exposure to biological hazards
- Exposure to hazardous chemicals
When workers become ill or injured as a result of a workplace accident, they are eligible to apply for workers’ compensation benefits.
What are some types of injuries in hospital and healthcare facility accidents?
Depending on the type of accident, there are many injuries and illnesses that healthcare workers can suffer from at the workplace. These include:
- Back injuries
- Head injuries
- Broken bones
- Sprains and strains
- Infections
- Carpal tunnel
- Cuts and lacerations
As a result of injury or illness, workers may need extensive medical treatment. They may be unable to go back to work for weeks or even months. In some cases, workers are left with a permanent disability.
Take steps to protect your health – and your rights
If you suffered an on-the-job injury or illness, get medical attention as soon as possible. A doctor can make a diagnosis and begin treatment. Your injury or illness will also be documented. Notify your employer that you were hurt at the workplace. It’s best to provide notification soon after the accident, and to do so in writing so that you have a record.
You can also provide additional documentation of your injury or illness. For example, take photos of any visible injury. Make copies of any reports or records related to what happened. Keep a journal that tracks the course of your injuries or illness, noting if you are in pain and how your condition has impacted your daily life.
It’s all important to talk to an experienced workers’ compensation attorney as soon as you can to protect your rights.
How a healthcare injury lawyer can help
If you suffered an injury or illness on the job, you are eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits include coverage of all medical expenses related to your injury or illness. It includes partial lost wages if you are forced to miss time from work. In some cases, injured workers may receive additional compensation – if they lost the use of a body part, for example.
But filing a workers’ compensation claim can be complicated, and many claims are denied. Employers and insurance companies may question your injury or illness. That’s why you need an experienced attorney who knows how to move your claim forward.
Attorney Anthony R. Vellner has been fighting for injured workers throughout the Lehigh Valley since 1991. He builds strong cases for benefits based on medical evidence. He can guide you through the claims process from the initial claim for benefits, to filing a petition for appeal if your claim is denied, to arguing your case in front of the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation judges.
You may also be able to take legal action if a third party’s negligence contributed to the accident that left you injured. Attorney Vellner can investigate the accident to get the facts and determine liability. He knows how to build strong cases that get results, either through a negotiated settlement or jury verdict.
There’s one thing you can be sure of – employers and insurance companies have lawyers looking out for them. You need experienced legal representation on your side. If you’ve been hurt in a hospital or healthcare facility accident in the Lehigh Valley, we are ready to help. We know how to handle all types of claims, no matter how complicated they are.
Take steps to protect your rights. Talk to an experienced attorney today about what happened. Contact us to schedule a free consultation at our Allentown or Bethlehem offices.
