Nurse Awarded $200,000 in Workers’ Compensation for Injuries
The worker’s compensation attorneys at Silverman, McDonald, & Friedman are here to protect the rights of those who have been injured at work and facing a dispute with their employer’s insurance company. We are here to help make sure you get the compensation you deserve when you are injured at work. Contact our offices in Wilmington, Seaford or Newark to learn more.
A nurse who worked at a rehabilitation center suffered from a fractured pelvis at work, and was awarded $200,000 in workers’ compensation benefits. While the fracture was attributed to brittle bones from the cancer she was being treated for, since the injury did occur while she was performing work duties, she qualified for workers’ compensation coverage. Her employer contested the extent of the injury and the amount of medical care required to treat it. After the pelvic fracture, the nurse was both vocationally and medically disabled. After her legal team requested $500,000 and her employer offered $100,000, the Workers’ Compensation Commission signed off on the negotiated amount of $200,000. (Law.com)
Nurses work incredibly hard taking care of others who are injured or ill. Working those long, strenuous hours amid all of the hazards of the healthcare setting makes them vulnerable to many different types of injuries. Nurses, just like any other employee, are covered by workers’ compensation. If a nurse injures her back or shoulder or fractures her pelvis or hip while performing work duties, they may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers compensation is for work-related injuries and occupational diseases and it includes:
- Partial wage-replacement benefit
- Medical care for the workplace injury or illness
- Vocational rehabilitation services
- Permanent total disability benefits
- Payment for scheduled losses (loss of a body part, vision, hearing, etc.)
- Death benefit
The Delaware Workers’ Compensation Commission governs the program, which is funded through insurance plans which employers are required to purchase when they have one or more employees.
What are some common hazards that nurses are exposed to on the job?
There are many hazards that nurses are exposed to at work each day including:
- Patient handling activities
- Repetitive stress and overexertion
- Slip and fall
- Workplace pressure
- Violence
- Bloodborne pathogens
- Needlesticks
- Exposure to dangerous chemicals
Common workplace injuries for nurses and other healthcare workers
Nurses work long, arduous hours doing difficult work. Some of the common injuries nurses and other healthcare workers suffer from might include:
- Back injuries
- Head injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Joint injuries
- Herniated discs
- Slip and fall injuries
- Broken bones
- Infections
- Infectious diseases
Sometimes it can be difficult for those in the healthcare field to report their injuries and take the time and receive the care they need. So, their injuries can go untreated and get worse. In Delaware, you must report a workplace injury to your employer immediately. Failing to do so may have a negative impact on your ability to qualify for workers’ compensation should the injury worsen to the point where you are unable to work. A Delaware workers’ compensation attorney from Silverman, McDonald & Friedman knows how life-changing a workplace injury can be, and we are here to help.
At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we proudly serve all of Delaware, including workers in Seaford, Wilmington, and Newark. We offer free, no obligation consultations at our three office locations. You are welcome to call 302-888-2900 or fill out our contact form now to talk with someone about your case today.
Related:
Attorney Jeffrey S. Friedman joined Silverman, McDonald & Friedman in 2001. He graduated from Widener University School of Law, and is admitted to practice law in Delaware and Pennsylvania, and in several Federal Circuit courts. He areas of concentration include auto accident and workers’ compensation cases. Read more about Attorney Friedman here.