Industrial Accident Compensation Lawyers Palm Beach County
When workers are injured as a result of industrial accidents, it is critically important that they seek legal counsel as soon as they possibly can. While connecting with the reputable legal team at The Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt may not feel like the most pressing concern that a worker has in the wake of an injurious accident, they must understand that if they don’t take certain steps within a matter of days after sustaining injury, they may be barred from seeking compensation for their harm.
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in an industrial accident, call our team now to schedule a free case review so that we can provide you with personalized guidance about your rights and options under the law. As you prepare for your legal consultation, consider browsing these general answers to FAQs about workers’ comp and industrial accident injuries. If this information sparks any questions related specifically to your situation, write them down and bring them with you to reference easily as we discuss your situation.
Many injured workers developed muscle strains after forceful movements such as lifting, carrying or dropping a heavy object or twisting in an unexpected or sudden manner. Sometimes people feel a pop or tear when the injury happens. However, these signs and symptoms can vary in intensity, depending on the severity of the sprain. Sprains and Strains are common industrial accident injuries and our Florida, Georgia and Illinois workers’ compensation lawyers are familiar with the various types of sprain and strain accidents that occur during work place accidents.
Sprains are injuries to ligaments which are tissues that connect bone to bone. Tendons connect muscle to bone. Strains are injuries to muscles, tendons, or both. They are often caused by a twisting or pulling injury. Your workers’ compensation doctors diagnose and recommend treatment for sprain and strain injuries according to “grades” of severity:
Classification of Sprains
Grade I sprain: Creates pain and tenderness due to overstretching or slight tearing of the ligaments without joint instability. Symptoms include slight swelling and bruising with minimal pain. Weight can be placed on the injured joint.
Grade II sprain: Causes partial tearing of the ligament. These injuries will typically result in bruising, pain and swelling. Difficulty with weight bearing may also be noticed.
Grade III sprain: Involves complete ruptures or ligament tears. Those with Grade III sprains will experience severe pain, bruising and swelling with no ability for weight bearing.
Classification of Strains
Grade I Strain: Mild muscle fibers damaged. Expect healing within two to three weeks.
Grade II Strain: No complete muscle ruptures, though moderate to extensive muscle fibers damage may be found. Healing can occur within three to six weeks varying on the degree of damage.
Grade III Strain: Complete and severe muscle rupture. Surgical and repair is necessary and recovery can last up to three months with appropriate therapy.
The experienced sprain and strain workers’ compensation injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt understand that even sprain and strain injuries can cause debilitating pain and disability. If you are hurt at work and think you may have suffered a sprain or strain injury, you may be considering seeking medical attention. If you are in this situation, remember these signs to determine when you should seek medical attention for a Sprain or Strain.
If you experience:
- Severe pain and cannot put weight on the affected joint;
- Tenderness at the joint upon touching or applied pressure.
- Deformed or misaligned appearance when compared to pain-free joint.
- Joint immobilized (if you can’t move it).
- Inability to walk without severe pain.
- Feeling of joint giving way or buckling.
- Numbness.
- Redness spreading out from the injury.
Common Types of Strains Include:
A lumbar strain happens when the muscle fibers are unusually stretched or torn in the low back. These accidents or injuries cause varying degrees of microscopic tears in the tissue. A lumbar strain is considered one of the most common workplace injuries and is caused by overuse, improper use, repetitive use and physical trauma are the most common causes of lumbar strains and sprains.
A shoulder strain is caused from damage to the connective and muscular tissues that support and moves the many joints that make up the shoulder. Chronic injury can result following an injury as the surrounding muscles and connective tissues are the source of shoulder joint stability. The upper thoracic spine should also be considered when diagnosing shoulder strains and sprain, specifically when overhead reaching is compromised.
An ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries in professional and recreational sports and activities. However, many workers suffer from ankle injuries due to many causes, including tripping of improperly fastened carpeting, moving quickly to avoid coworkers or being hit or stepped on. Ankle sprains occur when the foot unexpectedly turns inward or outward injuring the lateral ligaments.
A wrist sprain often occur after a fall in which the worker lands on an extended hand and stretches or tears the ligaments of the wrist.
An elbow sprain is often referred to as tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis. Tennis elbow is typically caused by a repetitive trauma injury that occurs over an extended period of time due to recurring use of the muscles. Small tears and other damage to the tendons that attach muscles of the forearm to the lateral epicondyle of the elbow create pain and difficulty with movement.
Industrial Accident Workers’ Compensation – Frequently Asked Questions
Is Workers’ Compensation Awarded After Industrial Accidents?
If a worker who has been injured in an industrial accident is eligible for workers’ compensation and wasn’t drunk, high, or trying to get injured so that they could defraud the state’s workers’ comp system, they should be awarded workers’ compensation benefits as a result of their harm. Generally speaking, workers’ comp covers medical bills, lost wages, and some other costs, depending upon the severity of the injuries sustained in the accident.
Can Industrial Accident Victims Sue Those Responsible for Their Harm?
Workers who are eligible for workers’ compensation awards are not able to sue their employers directly for any responsibility they may have had for the harm in question. However, injured workers may be able to sue others – such as manufacturers of defective industrial equipment – if their negligent, reckless, or intentionally dangerous conduct directly contributed to the cause(s) of their harm.
What Happens When an Injured Worker Is Partially to Blame for Their Harm?
When industrial accidents occur, workers are sometimes hesitant to seek legal guidance because they’re concerned that their conduct may have contributed to what happened. They worry that they’ll be held responsible, that their employer may retaliate, that they could suffer immigration consequences, and/or that there’s “simply no point” in pursuing compensation if their conduct rendered them ineligible to receive any.
If you’ve been injured in a work-related accident, know that workers’ compensation is not a fault-based system. You’ll remain entitled to your benefits – even if you were 100% at fault for what happened and regardless of your documentation status – as long as you weren’t drunk, high, or trying to get hurt. Also, know that it is illegal for an employer to retaliate against a worker for filing a legitimate workers’ comp claim.
How Can a Lawyer Help?
Workers may be entitled to workers’ comp benefits after suffering harm but securing a fairly-valued settlement can be a very tricky process. A lawyer from The Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt can help you to file paperwork, communicate with insurance claims adjusters, and maximize your compensation so that you can focus on healing.
How Should Injured Workers Prepare for a Legal Consultation?
When you meet with our team, please have a list of questions ready (if you have any) and bring along any documentation that will help us to better understand your situation and how it has affected you. A workplace accident report, hospital discharge papers, etc. can help us to understand the value of your industrial accidents case, which will allow us to pursue a maximized compensation award.
If you believe you have a work-related sprain or strain injury call one of the experienced workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt today.
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