Long Island City Hospital Workplace Injuries Lawyer
While Long Island City residents depend on local hospitals to help heal their injuries and recover from illnesses, they are not always the safest place for workers. Unfortunately, doctors, nurses, and other medical staff are frequently injured while caring for patients.
If you have been injured in a hospital while working, contact a Long Island City hospital workplace injuries lawyer at Shulman & Hill. We can review your case for free to see if you may be eligible for compensation. If so, our hospital injury attorneys can guide you through the claims process and help you recover compensation for your losses.
Most Common Long Island City Hospital Workplace Injuries
Hospitals are one of the most dangerous places to work, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). There are several types of injuries that a medical professional can suffer from while working in a hospital.
Overexertion is one of the most common causes of health problems for hospital workers, as they often need to work long hours on their feet and routinely lift, carry, and move heavy loads. If workers are not careful, their muscles can become strained or torn, causing serious problems long term. Among the most common are muscle injuries and ligament strains and sprains caused by lifting and moving patients who are not able to walk by themselves.
Another injury that is often encountered is puncture wounds, commonly caused by accidents involving needles. One could also get cut, stabbed, or injured due to a fumble or slip and fall while holding a sharp object. If the needle or other instrument is contaminated with bodily fluids, then they may be at risk of contracting an infection. Nurses and doctors are subject to the same illnesses and viruses that their patients are which is why wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) is so important.
How to Work Safely in a Long Island City Hospital
As a healthcare worker, you are likely instructed on the correct way to lift, move, and carry patients. If you follow these directions, then you will be able to lift and move most patients with few risks of injury. Most hospitals also have patient transfer devices that can help move patients for you.
One should also focus on hand hygiene and sterilizing instruments that have been used and contaminated in the hospital. Keep your eyes open around dirty scalpels, needles, and other sharp objects to avoid getting potentially infected. Always wear the mandatory protective gear, including latex gloves, eye protection, hospital gowns, and other items whenever needed.
The best way to keep yourself safe at the hospital is to follow all the safety requirements. Unfortunately, accidents may still occur even if you exercise caution. If you have been hurt in any capacity while working at a hospital or similar health care facility, you may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim to receive compensation to help cover your losses.
What to Do After a Long Island City Hospital Workplace Injury
The first thing you should do after seeking medical assistance for a workplace injury is to immediately report the accident and injury to your employer. They will likely need to complete an accident report, which is important since it will help establish the facts surrounding your accident. Failing to report your injury to your employer may jeopardize the approval of your workers’ compensation claim.
Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim
Workers’ compensation benefits help cover medical expenses and time off from work when recovering from a workplace-related illness or injury. If the accident happened while you were working, you likely are entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Our team of Long Island City hospital workplace injury lawyers can help walk you through the entire process of filing a claim and help you avoid common pitfalls to ensure its approval.
Contact a workers’ compensation law firm like Shulman & Hill once you have received the medical assistance you need. We will discuss the details of your case and provide legal advice on how to proceed. Depending on your case, you may even consider getting a medical evaluation at a facility other than the one you work at.
Dealing with the aftermath of an accident can be frustrating. Depending on the severity of your injury, you could find yourself unable to work, or need to check into the hospital as a patient yourself. Our team is prepared to help you get the compensation you may be entitled to so you can focus on your recovery.
Proving You Are Eligible for Workers’ Compensation
Some insurers are more inclined to protect their own financial interests than to pay claimants what they may truly deserve. They often seek reasons to justify denying claims for workers’ compensation benefits. Arguments they may employ include:
- The accident was not work-related
- The employee seeking benefits intentionally tried to harm themselves, hoping for a payout
You may need to provide evidence showing that you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Our Long Island City hospital workplace injuries lawyers are prepared to conduct an investigation to gather such evidence, collecting all of your medical bills, talking to witnesses, interviewing experts, and more.
Why Choose Shulman & Hill?
When you are pursuing a workers’ compensation claim for a healthcare-related injury, you want to make sure that your rights are protected. Our Long Island City hospital workplace injury attorneys have helped numerous injured workers like you secure workers’ compensation benefits.
We will be a fierce ally and trusted advocate for you every step of the claims process. If the insurer continues to deny your claim, your attorney can present your case to a judge. To learn more, contact us today.
WE WORK WITH YOU
TO GET YOU COMPENSATED
Everyday working people often struggle to afford top-tier legal representation. To ensure equal access to justice, we work on a contingency-fee basis. You pay no attorneys’ fees unless we achieve a settlement or verdict in your case.