Healthcare workers face some of the toughest job conditions out there, with high rates of burnout and injury. If you work in a clinic, hospital, or any health setting and have suffered an injury, get the workers’ compensation benefits you’re entitled to. If you’re having trouble with your claim or simply don’t have the time or energy to deal with insurers, contact Flaxman Law Group for a consultation. Our boutique, family-first law firm can review your situation and answer your questions.
Workers’ Compensation Claims Among Healthcare Workers
Healthcare workers face many risks on the job which can lead to workers’ compensation claims:
- Occupational illness. Nurses, doctors, and other workers in healthcare settings are exposed to communicable diseases, drugs, and chemicals that may be harmful. Healthcare workers also suffer high levels of stress, which can contribute to heart disease and mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and even PTSD.
- Sharps incidents. Nurses, surgeons, doctors, and other workers in healthcare settings use syringes and other sharp instruments, some of which can have blood and other bodily fluids on them. In an instant, this work can mean lacerations that expose workers to dangerous diseases.
- Violence. Unfortunately, workers in hospitals, clinics, and other settings may work with patients who experience unusual reactions to medications, who suffer mental or cognitive illness, or who are violent. Sometimes, families get angry and upset about a loved one’s condition. Any of these situations can lead to violent confrontations that cause serious physical harm to employees.
- Strain injuries. Staff in hospital settings may need to stand all day and help lift or assist with larger patients. This can cause lower back pain, strains, and other related injuries.
- Car accidents. Many healthcare workers, including those staffing emergency departments, are shift workers. Many studies have found that shift workers—and medical residents, especially—have a higher instance of car accidents, especially after a long shift or night work.
Many healthcare workers are covered by workers’ compensation, so if they’re injured or fall ill because of their job, they should get benefits that pay for medical care and lost wages. In reality, many healthcare employees struggle to get their rightful benefits, even if they have a valid claim. The forms for benefits may be complicated and employers and insurance companies may try to minimize injuries or even deny legitimate claims. The process of appealing a denial or trying to negotiate with insurers is daunting, especially if you’re working long hours taking care of patients.
If you’re working hard on behalf of patients every day and are injured, Flaxman Law Group would love to work hard on your behalf. If you’re injured on the job, reach out to us at 866-352-9626. We’re a boutique, family-based law firm serving injured people across Colorado and South Florida. Our father-son attorney team has more than 50 years of experience and we’ve helped injured individuals recover even multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts. We’d be happy to meet with you in a consultation to review your workers’ compensation and to address any denials or questions you have.