Crush injuries can end your career and may profoundly impact the rest of your life. If you suffered a crush injury at work, talk to an experienced workers’ compensation attorney at The Florida Firm Injury and Accident Lawyers. Our Orlando crush injury lawyer can guide you through the workers’ compensation claims process and pursue any claims you may have against third parties.
Our firm has been working for injured people in Central Florida for decades, and we have established a well-earned reputation for success. Many of our clients come to us as referrals from other lawyers and professionals who have worked with us in the past and been impressed with our knowledge, commitment, and consistently favorable results.
How Do Workplace Crush Injuries Happen?
Crush injuries happen when the body or a body part is compressed between two objects or surfaces. Workplace crush injuries can happen when:
- A vehicle pins a worker against another hard or immovable surface
- A worker’s body parts are caught in machinery
- Falling objects pin a worker
- A roof or trench collapses
These types of workplace injuries are most common in the construction, warehousing, manufacturing, and agriculture sectors.
When the body is crushed, bones may break, and internal organs could be damaged. Crushing disrupts blood circulation in the affected area, which can cause a build-up in pressure and tissue death. When the pressure is removed, stress-related chemicals are suddenly released into the bloodstream, which can cause kidney damage, heart arrhythmias, and cause the body to go into shock.
Crush injuries can lead to amputation, but even when doctors can save a limb, the worker often experiences reduced function along with chronic pain, numbness, or tingling. Many workers with crush injuries are permanently disabled. Workers’ compensation disability claims can be complex, so if you suffered a crush injury in the workplace, contact our Orlando attorneys for help.
Workers’ Compensation and Crush Injuries
A significant crush injury often requires substantial medical intervention, including surgery. Your workers’ compensation benefits pay for all medically necessary treatment of work-related injuries. You will also receive temporary disability benefits while you recover and cannot work.
Eventually, your doctor may decide that you have reached a point of maximum medical improvement (MMI), which means that further treatment will not improve your functioning. If your injuries cause permanent loss of function, Florida Statutes § 440.15 requires your doctor to assign an impairment rating. The impairment rating describes the extent of your permanent disability and impacts the amount of your permanent disability payments.
There are numerous points in the process where you might disagree with your doctor’s assessment. An experienced workplace crush injury attorney at our Orlando office can help you appeal any decision.
Pursue a Third-Party Claim
You cannot sue your employer for a work-related crush injury unless the employer failed to carry legally required workers’ compensation insurance. However, if a third party was involved in the incident, you might be able to sue them. We have had great success obtaining substantial settlements and verdicts for workers injured through third-party negligence.
If the negligence of some other party contributed to the situation that led to your injury, you could bring a claim against them. Other contractors working at a job site, manufacturers of vehicles or safety equipment, property owners, and others may be liable. Our lawyers in Orlando will conduct a thorough investigation of the accident that produced your crush injuries to identify any potentially liable third parties.
When you bring a claim against a third party, you can seek compensation for your injury-related incidental expenses and the portion of your wages not covered under your workers’ compensation temporary disability benefits. If you have a permanent impairment, you can claim money for the change in your lifetime earning capacity. You can also claim compensation for your pain and suffering, which may be substantial.
Consult Our Orlando AttorneysAfter a Workplace Crush Injury
When you suffer a severe workplace injury, work with experienced attorneys committed to easing your recovery and fighting for your rights. Contact the Orlando crush injury lawyers at Colling Gilbert Wright right away.
Our fees and expenses come out of the money we win for you, and we take nothing if we are unsuccessful. Reach out to us today for a free consultation with a member of our workplace injury team.