Crush Injuries
You could qualify for workers’ compensation for crush injuries in Florida if your injury is work-related. Workers’ comp benefits for crush injuries can extend to medical bills, lost income, disability, and more.
Our Florida workers’ compensation attorneys can help you understand your legal rights and options following a work crush injury. Call Rosenberg & Rosenberg now so our family-owned firm can provide a free case review.
Crush injuries can occur in any workplace, but they are especially common in industries where workers deal with large equipment and heavy loads. Workers can be struck, caught, or crushed by moving equipment, falling materials, or collapsing structures. Occupations where crushing accidents may occur include:
All of these workers and others could qualify for workers’ compensation for crush injuries in Florida. Our workers’ comp lawyers can help you seek benefits.
According to MedlinePlus, a crush injury occurs when a part of the body is placed under extreme force. The resulting damage can cause bruising, bleeding, internal pressure, bone fractures, cuts, and nerve injuries.
Crushing injuries are serious and often difficult to treat due to the extent of the damage they cause. Page 7 of a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report states that hundreds of people suffer fatal injuries each year as a result of being caught in, compressed, struck, or crushed by equipment, objects, machinery, or structures in the workplace.
Compartment syndrome and infection are serious complications that often accompany a crush injury. Compartment syndrome occurs when swelling in a muscle compartment prevents blood flow into the area. This compression can cause significant damage to the muscles and nerves. Without prompt treatment, the nerves and muscles could die, and the affected limb might require amputation.
Infection arises when bacteria enter the crush injury through open wounds. Untreated infections can lead to gangrene, sepsis, and death.
Crush injuries to the torso can also cause internal bleeding and damage to the victim’s organs.
Following a crush injury in the workplace, seek medical care immediately. You may be transported to the hospital via ambulance. Common treatments include:
After you return home, you may need months or even years to reach maximum medical improvement (MMI). Your doctor may suggest a course of physical therapy to help you heal and strengthen the affected areas. Depending on your injury’s severity, you may require assistive devices, medical equipment, or ongoing nursing care.
Workers’ compensation in Florida is designed to provide financial support while you recover from your injuries. The first step in filing a workers’ comp claim in Florida is reporting the injury to your employer. Notify your employer in writing within 30 days of the injury so they can file a claim with workers’ compensation.
If your injury was serious, they may already have begun the process. However, some employers and workers’ compensation carriers fight workers’ comp claims because of the associated costs. Your employer must file a workers’ comp claim within seven days of being notified of your injury. If they refuse or dispute your claim, you may need to file a complaint with the appropriate office.
When you are recovering from a serious crush injury, the workers’ compensation process may feel too overwhelming. The compassionate workers’ comp attorneys at Rosenberg & Rosenberg can handle claim filing, legal disputes, evidence gathering, and appeals. That way, you can take the time you need to focus on your health.
Workers’ compensation benefits differ depending on your injuries. Benefits available through Florida workers’ compensation typically include the following:
Crush injuries are often debilitating enough to require time away from work. If you miss work while you are in the hospital, recovering, or undergoing physical therapy, workers’ comp can replace it.
Florida’s workers’ compensation program allows you to recover approximately two-thirds of your average weekly wages. If you have multiple jobs, we can take all of your revenue streams into account when filing your claim for benefits.
Medical expenditures associated with your work crush injury can be very high, especially if you need surgery, hospitalization, or rehabilitative therapy. Workers’ compensation insurance in Florida covers all medical expenses related to your workplace injury, including diagnostics, treatments, and prescription medication.
If your injuries require prosthetics, assistive devices, or long-term care, you can include these future medical expenses in your claim. Our workers’ compensation attorneys can ensure your claim includes the full scope of your current and future medical expenses related to your crush injury.
Physical impairment and disability are common with crush injuries. If you suffer from long-term or permanent impairment because of your work injury, you may qualify for disability payments. These payments can help you make ends meet after a disabling crush injury at work.
The amount you receive and how long you continue to receive disability benefits depends on the severity and nature of your injury. Those who are temporarily disabled can receive payments for up to two years, while those with catastrophic, permanent injuries may continue to receive payments for much longer than that.
If you cannot return to your previous employment because of your crush injury, you may seek reemployment services through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance or the Division of Workers’ Compensation’s Bureau of Employee Assistance and Ombudsman Office (EAO).
Vocational rehabilitation through workers’ comp may include the following benefits:
To qualify, you must undergo a screening process that assesses your eligibility and evaluates your vocational abilities. Based on your screening results, the program establishes which services you can use to establish a new career and return to the workforce.
The workers’ comp lawyers at Rosenberg & Rosenberg can gather documents and assist you with the screening process.
If a work-related crush injury is fatal, the worker’s family may be able to file for workers’ compensation death benefits. These benefits help close family members of the deceased person cover funeral and burial costs, medical bills, lost income, and certain educational expenses.
Learn more about death benefits by talking with our workers’ compensation attorneys in Florida. The legal team at Rosenberg & Rosenberg can explain your options and help you file your claim. Call now for a free consultation.
Workers’ compensation carriers may deny a claim for several reasons. Depending on the reason for the denial, you may have grounds to file an appeal. You may only have a limited time to appeal the decision, so you could benefit from contacting our workplace injury law firm for assistance.
Sometimes, a denial is valid. For example, if an employee does not provide sufficient information to back up their claim, the insurer cannot assess their situation or award benefits. However, there are many situations where claims are denied unfairly. Even in cases where the denial is justified, you still have options. For instance:
Whether you have already received a denial or have yet to file a claim, we encourage you to speak with our work injury lawyers as soon as possible. While you focus on recovering, Rosenberg & Rosenberg can strengthen and submit all claims and appeals. If your claim was denied unfairly, a workers’ compensation lawyer from our firm can gather evidence to support your case and defend your legal rights.
Workers’ compensation claims are complicated and stressful, especially if you are coping with a serious crush injury. Rosenberg & Rosenberg’s attorneys have the knowledge and resources to help you pursue workers’ compensation for crush injuries in Florida. We handle crush injury claims for a wide range of industries and occupations. No matter how challenging your case is, we are here to fight for your right to fair benefits.
Our team is available 24/7, so contact us today for a free consultation.
