Gastonia Healthcare Worker Injury Lawyer

Experienced Healthcare Worker Injury Attorney in Gastonia, NC

Out of all industries, healthcare employees face some of the largest and most life-threatening risks. When your safety is not taken seriously or a mistake is negligently made, healthcare workers can sustain serious injuries or contract a deadly illness. Whether you are a nurse at CaroMont Regional Medical Center or a general practitioner at Kintegra Family Medicine, when an injury occurs, a Gastonia healthcare worker injury lawyer can help.

The Sumwalt Group Workers’ Comp and Trial Lawyers: Protecting Gastonia Healthcare Workers

With over 45 years of combined experience, the lawyers at The Sumwalt Group Workers’ Comp and Trial Lawyers are here to represent workers and families across The Tar Heel State. We understand the challenges faced by injured healthcare workers and see the sacrifices you’ve made in the name of others. Now it is time for us to help you and protect your rights and safety. With experience handling more than 300 workers’ compensation hearings, we are the team for you.

Vernon Sumwalt

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Common Hazards and Injuries Faced by Healthcare Workers

In 2023, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 562,500 nonfatal injuries in the healthcare and social assistance industry, and, according to one study, 27% of reported healthcare worker injuries require visits to the emergency department.

If you work in the healthcare field, you know just how busy these places of employment can be and just how many hazards are present. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, hospitals are actually the most dangerous place to work.

The lawyers at The Sumwalt Group Workers’ Comp and Trial Lawyers have handled countless healthcare worker injury cases, most stemming from the following hazards:

• Disease or illness exposure. Healthcare workers in Gastonia, NC, risk being exposed to a number of illnesses and infectious diseases. This might happen through direct contact with an ill patient, while handling unsanitary or infected medical equipment, or through airborne or bodily-fluid transmission.
• Slips, trips, and falls. Healthcare workers are often exposed to slip, trip, and fall hazards. This might be due to spills, unsteady patients, or cluttered medical equipment. These hazards often result in sprains or strains, broken bones, and head and spine injuries.
• Toxins. Most healthcare settings are rife with hazardous chemicals. These chemicals are typically used to deep clean patient rooms, sterilize medical tools and instruments, and preserve testing specimens. Healthcare workers may suffer serious harm after a single exposure or after prolonged exposure. These injuries often include chemical burns, certain cancers, and respiratory illnesses.
• Sharps injuries. An injury unique to healthcare workers is a sharps injury. This is any kind of puncture or stabbing injury due to the use of needles, scalpels, or other sharp instruments used in the medical field.
  When these items are not properly cleaned or disposed of, healthcare workers may suffer a sharps injury, resulting in possible contraction of blood-borne pathogens. In a recent study, 55.3% of healthcare injuries were sharps injuries.

• Overexertion. Healthcare workers may be prone to overexertion injuries. These injuries can include muscle sprains or strains, and other injuries that cause damage to the musculoskeletal system. These injuries are most often the result of having to lift, move, or reposition patients or when lifting heavy items. Performing these same movements day in and day out can result in serious injuries.
• Violence. Healthcare workers also face the potential risk of violence in the workplace. A patient might become aggressive and assault a worker, and depending on the nature and severity of the event, the affected worker may suffer emotional trauma on top of their physical injuries.

Benefits You May Be Entitled to Under Workers’ Compensation

As an injured worker in North Carolina, you are entitled to recover certain benefits through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance coverage. These benefits can include:

• Medical costs, including all bills related to your injury, diagnostic testing, hospital stays, surgeries, or prescription medications
• Lost wages, when you are unable to return to work for a period of time or on a permanent basis due to your injuries
• Vocational training when your injuries keep you from returning to your typical mode of employment, but you are able to take on another position
• Death benefits for surviving family members in case a loved one is lost due to a healthcare work injury

FAQs

Can I File a Claim Against My Employer for a Healthcare Injury?

Typically, no, you cannot file a claim against your employer for a workplace injury in North Carolina. This is because your employer is already covered under their workers’ compensation insurance. However, in certain situations, you may be able to file a third-party claim against any negligent party outside of your work who caused your accident.

When Should I Hire a Healthcare Work Injury Lawyer?

In a perfect world, you should hire a healthcare work injury lawyer as soon as you can following your accident. However, if you have already filed a claim or reported the injury, there are specific instances where hiring a lawyer is necessary. This can include situations where your claim was denied or undervalued, or should your employer refuse to report your injury.

What Are Disfigurement Benefits?

If your healthcare work injury results in disfigurement, you may be able to recover disfigurement benefits. Disfigurement can include any permanent scarring or damage to your body’s internal organs. Your attorney can review your case and the injuries you have sustained in order to help determine whether disfigurement benefits are available to you.

Why Was My Original Claim Denied by Workers’ Comp?

There are several reasons why your original claim for workers’ compensation might be denied. First, you may have accidentally forgotten to include the necessary forms of medical evidence. You may have also missed the required reporting deadline, or the insurance company may dispute whether the injury actually happened on the job.

Hire a Healthcare Worker Injury Lawyer in Gastonia Today

If you or a loved one has been injured while working in healthcare, you deserve compensation. No matter how your injury came to be, if you were acting in good faith when it occurred, the team from The Sumwalt Group Workers’ Comp and Trial Lawyers is here for you. When the time comes to hire a healthcare worker injury lawyer in Gastonia, contact our Charlotte-based offices and schedule a free consultation.