Every day, many employees place themselves at the risk of having workplace injuries. In 2020 alone, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 2.7 million non-fatal workplace illnesses and injuries. Though not fatal, these sorts of injuries can affect your work performance, causing you to worry about providing for yourself and your family.
Thankfully there are compensations, but only if you know the right thing, like when to file these claims and engage Philadelphia injury lawyers.
By the end of this article, you will be able to know what kind of injuries are classified as orthopedic, your entitlements for orthopedic injuries in Philadelphia, and what to do when you sustain such an injury.
Understanding Orthopedic Injuries.
An Orthopedic injury is any injury that affects the musculoskeletal system and its soft tissues. These injuries typically include sprains, strains, broken bones, and muscle tears. Workplace orthopedic injuries are majorly classified as acute orthopedic injuries. They include repetitive motion injuries, overexertion injuries, and injuries caused by reactions and falls.
Repetitive motion injuries tend to happen to workers whose duties involve repetitive tasks. Hairdressers and carpenters, for example, are at risk of developing overuse problems such as shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis. In contrast, office workers who sit all day may develop carpal tunnel syndrome in their wrists and hands.
On the other hand, Overexertion injuries are common with workers who have to lift wavy bags or boxes, and these injuries can be anything from joint and muscle pains to a slipped disc in their backs. Truck drivers, movers, waste collectors, restaurant workers, and warehouse workers are some kinds of employees who are at risk of these types of injuries.
Injuries caused by reactions and falls could happen when you have a sudden reaction to something, causing you to sprain an ankle or muscle, have a concussion, or sustain a soft tissue injury.
Regardless of the kind of orthopedic injury you have, it is important that you seek medical attention immediately, as minor orthopedic injuries can easily get worse and sometimes cause permanent damages when left uninterested for a long time.
Workers Compensation Rights for Orthopedic Injuries in Philadelphia.
Regardless of how an accident happened or when it occurred, so long as you were on the job at the time, Philadelphia’s law mandates that you are paid a Workers’ Compensation.
A workers’ compensation should typically cover both present and future medical bills and other expenses incurred due to the injury. For instance, if you cannot work due to an injury, you can seek compensation for lost wages.
Also, suppose a worker were to be killed because of a workplace injury. In that case, the surviving relations or dependents are entitled to a percentage of their weekly wages, and they could also file a wrongful death lawsuit if the cause of death is a result of someone’s negligence.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that you immediately lose the right to sue your employer for damages if you receive a workers’ compensation benefit. However, where an employer refuses to pay, you can pursue a legal claim against them.
What To Do When an Orthopedic Injury is Sustained at Work in Philadelphia.
It is the duty of an employer to ensure that all their employees are informed of the process of reporting a workplace injury ads there is a chain of command which such cases must go through.
First, the worker must immediately report the injury to their employer or, at the very least, preferably within 21 days of the incident, as the employee can get retroactive compensation if the injury is reported within this time. The manager must then file this report properly while giving the employee immediate medical attention through the authorized insurance company.
It is also important to know that Philadelphia, under the laws of Pennsylvania, has a three-year statute of limitations for workers’ compensation claims which have not been paid and 120 days from the date of injury to file a compensation claim. Therefore, the court will not hear a case that has been on the books for more than three years.
Let Us Assist You With Your Claim.
An Orthopedic workplace injury can sometimes disrupt a person’s daily routine and make them unable or unwilling to return to their previous position. As a result, you may need several forms of intensive treatment to heal properly.
So, while you do not necessarily need an attorney to make a workers’ compensation claim, they can make the work easier for you, giving you more time and energy to focus on your recovery. This is especially true in situations where your claim is denied because your employer or insurer suspects that it’s an ‘out of office’ injury.
Also, good Philadelphia injury lawyers can help file a lawsuit against your employer if they suspects any form of foul play, like instances where the employer terminates your employment to avoid paying the claim.