Hickory Healthcare Worker Injury Lawyer

Healthcare Worker Injury Attorney in Hickory, NC

Facing a work-related injury is a difficult time in anyone’s life. Unfortunately, these types of injuries are common, especially for healthcare workers. Rather than facing your case alone, you can get the help of an experienced Hickory healthcare worker injury lawyer.

The attorneys at The Sumwalt Group Workers’ Comp and Trial Lawyers have over 45 years of combined experience fighting for the rights of workers. Attorney Vernon Sumwalt has personally handled more than 300 workers’ compensation hearings. Getting the right representation can make a huge difference in your case.

Your Responsibilities After an Injury

If you’ve been injured on the job, there are steps you must take to ensure you get the right legal protection. These steps are vital, especially since the healthcare industry continues to have a higher incidence rate than any other, with a rate of 5.5/100 workers in 2020.

These steps and rules apply to everyone, whether you work for a big group like the Catawba Valley Health System or a small private dental practice. Nearly all employers in North Carolina are subject to the same regulations around workers’ compensation.

First, it’s necessary to notify your employer of the accident or injury as soon as you are able. You must also provide formal written notice within 30 days of the incident. Without this notice, you might not be able to receive any workers’ comp benefits. The timing of this notice also affects when you can receive benefits. In most cases, compensation payments must start 14 days after your employer is officially notified.

Additionally, you should keep track of any medical expenses, the effects of your injury, and any other related evidence. If you’re thinking about filing a personal injury claim, you should consider keeping a journal of your symptoms and the effects they’ve had on your life. Even if all the evidence doesn’t get used, it doesn’t hurt to have it available.

When talking to your employer and any legal representative, be honest about the cause of your injury and the toll it’s taken on you. Employers cannot legally retaliate against employees who file workers’ compensation claims. Healthcare worker injury laws help protect you and determine what compensation you might receive.

Vernon Sumwalt

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How a Hickory Healthcare Worker Injury Attorney Can Help

The Hickory area has about 8,830 people employed in healthcare, making up 5% of all jobs. Big employers like the Frye Regional Medical Center on Center Street contribute heavily to that number. Out of these employees, the most populous job is registered nurse, with 2,870 employees.

Since healthcare workers experience workplace injuries more frequently, this means a lot of potential injury claims. Getting legal representation can help you get the most out of your case. When you hire a healthcare worker injury lawyer, they can help:

• Gather evidence for your claim
• Represent you when you’re suffering, so you can focus on recovery
• Advocate for the compensation you deserve
• Advise on whether filing a personal injury claim would be right in your case
• Explain the specifics of healthcare worker injury claims to you

Each injury case will have its own nuances, so the potential benefits of having an attorney extend beyond this list. They can look at all the aspects of your case and determine what pieces might be missing. Someone with experience in workers’ comp laws is far less likely to overlook potentially critical pieces of evidence.

While you can go about the workers’ comp process alone, it’s often much easier if you have an experienced lawyer on your side. The attorneys at The Sumwalt Group Workers’ Comp and Trial Lawyers have the kind of experience and compassion needed to handle these cases.

FAQs

What Is Not a Common Cause of Healthcare Professional Injury?

Some causes of injury not commonly reported by healthcare professionals are falls from high places and sedentary work. Since healthcare professionals are busy individuals, they get exposed to many potential injury causes. No type of injury by itself is inherently invalid for the purposes of workers’ comp or personal injury claims.

Is It Worth Filing a Claim for Pain and Suffering?

Whether it’s worth filing a claim for pain and suffering depends on your case. These claims can sometimes get you more compensation than workers’ comp alone. If you think you can prove that your employer was negligent and this contributed to a significant injury, it might be worth filing a claim. Consulting an attorney can help you decide whether that is the right path.

What Evidence Is Needed for Pain Claims?

For pain and suffering claims, you must be able to prove negligence or fault by your employer. You must also be able to demonstrate your own suffering as a result of the injury. These cases involve a lot more evidence, which can include official reports, medical records, witness testimony, a journal of your suffering, and more. Gathering all this evidence alone is challenging, but a personal injury lawyer knows what evidence is needed and how to gather it.

Does MRI Increase Settlement?

In some cases, an MRI can increase the value of a settlement. MRIs can provide irrefutable evidence of an injury, and back up claims about its severity and the medical costs. However, an MRI will only be ordered if your medical team thinks it is necessary to diagnose or determine the cause of your pain. Having an MRI does not guarantee a higher settlement.

Hire a Healthcare Worker Injury Lawyer Today

Healthcare workers do invaluable work and are also exposed to many hazards every day. When you’ve been injured on the job, it’s important to fight for compensation for lost wages, medical costs, and more. This can be made much easier by working with a qualified attorney.

At The Sumwalt Group Workers’ Comp and Trial Lawyers, we know the complexity of these cases and how difficult navigating a legal process while injured can be. Schedule a consultation with us to determine whether we can support your case and how we can advocate for your rights. If you’ve had a workplace injury, it’s better to get help sooner rather than later.