No one expects to suffer a workplace amputation injury when they walk into a normal workday, but OSHA has reported that an average of approximately seven amputations occur in the workplace every day. A workplace amputation could result in workers’ compensation benefits, including any traumatic loss of a total or partial external body part, typically a limb, finger, or toe. This includes a medical amputation resulting from a workplace accident.
Workplace amputations can occur in almost any work environment, but they occur most frequently in industries with heavy machinery that workers operate daily. Other workplaces where these injuries can occur include construction, agriculture, and woodworking.
If you’ve suffered a workplace injury, the attorneys at Cruz & Associates can help you obtain the compensation you need. Our team is bilingual and fluent in Spanish and English.
Common causes of amputation
If your employer has failed to keep you safe at work, you likely have a valid workers’ compensation claim. Accidents frequently occur in workplace settings, but these are the most common causes of workplace accidents leading to amputation:
- Inadequate training and/or inadequate equipment and safety gear.
- Car accidents at work.
- Explosions
- Getting caught in equipment or machinery.
- Being crushed by falling machinery or debris.
- Other dangerous machinery accidents, which often involve saws or other sharp machinery.
Serious effects of amputation
Amputations due to workplace accidents don’t always occur at the exact moment of the accident. Often, the accident causes irreversible damage to the nerves and muscle tissue in the affected body part, requiring subsequent surgical amputation.
A traumatic injury such as an amputation affects more than just the physical body. People who experience these traumatic workplace accidents may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety surrounding their future work life, and severe depression. The medical expenses of workplace amputation and the inability to work during long recovery periods also cause financial burdens that most people cannot afford. Many amputees are permanently disabled by the accident, making it impossible for them to support themselves financially because they are physically unable to work.
Workers’ rights
First and foremost, it is important for workers to understand that they have the right to be employed in a safe work environment. Employees also have the right to receive proper training on how to navigate workplace hazards, how to maneuver dangerous machinery safely and effectively, and how to avoid dangerous situations that could lead to serious injuries. When a serious accident, such as an amputation, occurs in the workplace, 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 suffered an amputation due to a workplace accident are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits may include:
- Past and future medical expenses related to the amputation, including prosthetics and vocational therapy.
- Continued disability payments to compensate for the inability to work
- Rehabilitation services
Depending on the severity of the amputation injury, workers may receive workers’ compensation benefits indefinitely.
What to do if you have suffered an amputation in the workplace
If you or a loved one has suffered a workplace amputation, your next step should be to call an attorney. At Cruz & Associates in Atlanta, we understand that learning to navigate life as an amputee is difficult enough without having to worry about the financial stress of not being able to work. Let our highly qualified team of Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys help you understand what can be done to obtain the compensation you need so you can focus on recovery. Contact Cruz & Associates to schedule an initial consultation today to speak with a legal professional about your workplace amputation case and see what we can do to obtain the compensation you deserve.
