Workers’ Compensation: Workplace Amputation Accident Attorneys in Atlanta
No one expects to experience a workplace amputation injury when they go in for a normal day of work, but OSHA has reported that there are an average of seven amputations that happen at the workplace every day. A workplace amputation that could lead to workers’ compensation includes any traumatic loss of a complete or partial external body part, usually a limb, finger or toe. This includes a medical amputation that is the result of a workplace accident.
Amputations at the workplace can happen in almost any work environment, but most commonly occur in factory-based industries because of the heavy machinery that the workers operate on a daily basis. Other workplaces where these injuries can occur include construction, agriculture, wood manufacturing, and other machinery-based jobs.
If you’ve suffered from a workplace injury, the attorneys at Cruz & Associates can help you get the compensation you need. Our team speaks fluent Spanish and English.
Common Causes of Amputation
If your employer has failed to keep you safe on the job, you likely have a valid workers’ compensation case. Accidents happen frequently in workplace environments, but these are the most common causes for workplace accidents that lead to amputation:
- Inadequate training and/or inadequate safety equipment and gear
- Car accidents while on the job
- Explosions
- Becoming trapped by equipment or machinery
- Being crushed by falling machinery or debris
- Other dangerous machinery accidents, usually including saws or other sharp machinery
Serious Effects of Amputation
Amputations from workplace accidents don’t always happen at the exact moment of the accident. A lot of times the accident causes irreversible damage to the nerves and muscle tissue of the affected body part, in which a surgical amputation is subsequently required.
A traumatic injury like amputation affects more than just the physical body. People who experience these traumatic workplace accidents could suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety surrounding their future work life, and serious depression. Medical expenses from the workplace amputation, and the inability to work during extensive recovery periods also cause financial burdens that most people cannot afford to take care of. Many amputees are permanently disabled from the accident, causing them to be unable to financially support themselves because they cannot physically work.
Workers’ Rights
First and foremost, it is important for workers to understand they have the right to be employed in a safe work environment. Employees also have the right to obtain proper training on how to navigate workplace hazards, how to maneuver hazardous machinery in a safe and effective manner, and how to avoid hazardous situations that could lead to serious injuries. When a serious accident, such as a workplace amputation, does occur, the worker has the right to file a compensation claim based on the severity of the injury. The team at Cruz & Associates will help you every step of the way when it comes to filing for workers’ compensation.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
In the state of Georgia, workers who have experienced an amputation from a workplace accident are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits can include:
- Past and future medical expenses related to the amputation, including prosthetics and vocational therapy
- Ongoing disability payments to offset being unable to work
- Rehabilitation services
Depending on the severity of the amputation injury, workers could receive workers’ compensation benefits indefinitely.
What to Do if You’ve Experienced a Workplace Amputation
If you or someone you love has experienced an amputation at their workplace, your next step should be calling an attorney. At Cruz & Associates of Atlanta, we understand that learning to maneuver life as an amputee is difficult enough without having to worry about the financial stress of not being able to work. Let our highly skilled team of Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyers help you understand what can be done to get the compensation you need so you can focus on recovering. Contact Cruz & Associates to set up an initial consultation today to speak with a legal professional about your workplace amputation case and see what we can do to get you the compensation you deserve.