Every day, injuries incurred by workers in the United States might be classified as either minor or significant, catastrophic or fatal. Amputations, which occur most frequently in the transportation, agriculture, manufacturing, and construction industries, are among the most catastrophic and life-changing of such injuries. Northern Virginia workers’ comp lawyer can help you understand better.
Vehicle accidents and unsecured or inadequately guarded equipment or machinery are the leading causes of work-related amputation injuries, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In the workplace, dangerous instruments include:
- Equipment for slicing food
- Band saws with motors
- Garbage squishers
- Milling equipment
- Shears
- Exerting Force
- Grinder machines
- Machines that form rolls
Some accidents result in a complete limb amputation at the scene, while others may necessitate later surgical amputation. Workers’ compensation covers both types of amputations.
Compensation for Employees Who Suffer Amputee Injuries
Workers’ compensation in the Commonwealth of Virginia is designed to compensate workers for all medical costs and two-thirds of lost pay in the event of a work-related amputation injury. Workers’ compensation insurance is mandatory in Virginia for businesses with three or more employees.
You do not have to show that your employer was negligent in obtaining workers’ comp benefits for an accident you sustained. You can still submit a claim even if you were at fault for the accident, and your employer cannot fire you. However, suppose your claim is particularly costly or time-consuming. In that case, you may run into pushback from your employer’s insurance carrier, which is responsible for footing the workers’ comp benefits bill.
Future Health Care Costs After a Limb Is Cut Off
If it accepts your claim, workers’ compensation should pay for everything related to your amputation injury.
- Prosthetic limb surgery involves saving as much of the patient’s natural limb as feasible.
- After surgery, you will need a prosthetic.
- Future prosthetic replacements
- All In-Patient and Out-Patient Visits
- Orthopedic treatment
- Treatment through occupation
- Counseling for coping with the psychological effects of amputation
- Travel to and from doctor’s offices
- Medication for the treatment of pain and prevention of infection
Do You Need to Sue Someone Else?
Someone other than your employer is partly to blame for the harm you sustained on the job. You could be driving a business car for work and get into an accident that results in amputation. A machine with a manufacturing problem could also do you harm. An attorney can assist you in filing a claim with a third-party insurer or a lawsuit against the at-fault driver or manufacturer. If you win your case, you can collect damages for your mental anguish and the third of your lost pay not covered by workers’ comp.
