Healthcare workers’ job is to help others, but their duties can put them at risk of suffering injuries or illnesses and becoming patients as well. Physical injuries can arise from traumatic accidents and repetitive movements, while illnesses often develop while caring for sick patients.
Injuries Workers in Medical Jobs Frequently Suffer
What is the most common injury to healthcare workers in South Carolina? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says that sprains and strains account for over half of all hospital worker injuries that result in days away from work. Other common injuries among healthcare workers include:
- Lacerations and perforation injuries from handling sharp equipment
- Burns from hot equipment or electrical shocks
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Herniated spinal disc injuries
- Internal injuries and bleeding
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Infectious diseases, including airborne illnesses like COVID-19 or bloodborne diseases like HIV from needle sticks
These are just some of the common injuries healthcare workers face. If you were hurt or fell ill at work, you could be owed compensation for your losses due to the injury or sickness.
Types of Accidents That Cause These Injuries and Contributing Factors
The healthcare industry exposes medical workers to a wide range of on-the-job hazards. Some of the most common accidents that can occur in hospitals and healthcare facilities include:
- Falls, such as slip-and-fall accidents caused by slippery floors or tripping hazards
- Equipment accidents, including crush accidents and entanglements caused by the use of equipment or design and manufacturing defects
- Needle sticks
- Workplace violence, including violent or criminal activity by patients, visitors, or other third parties
- Overexertion caused by working too long without a break or moving heavy patients or equipment without proper support
Compensation Options for Injured Healthcare Workers
An injured healthcare worker may have several options for obtaining financial compensation. First, they can file a workers’ compensation claim after suffering a work-related injury or occupational disease. In South Carolina, the workers’ compensation system provides guaranteed benefits such as:
- Medical benefits – These pay the cost of reasonable and necessary medical treatment for a work injury or occupational disease.
- Temporary disability benefits – These partially reimburse lost earnings caused by medical restrictions from a work injury or occupational illness.
- Permanent disability benefits – These provide financial payments based on the type and severity of a permanent loss of a body part or loss of use of a body part or lost bodily function.
When a healthcare worker suffers an injury due to a third party’s negligence – someone other than the employer and co-workers – the worker may also have the right to file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for financial and personal losses, including:
- Cost of medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Cost of long-term care and support for prolonged or permanent disabilities
- All lost wages and lost future income
- Physical pain and anguish
- Emotional trauma or distress
- Reduced quality of life caused by disabilities, disfigurement, and reduced life expectancy
How Our SC Workplace Injury Lawyers Help Injured Healthcare Workers
At Jebaily Law Firm, our workplace injury attorneys vigorously pursue financial recovery and benefits for injured healthcare workers by:
Thoroughly investigating workplace accidents to recover evidence for claims
Identifying at-fault or otherwise liable parties
Evaluating legal options for financial recovery, such as workers’ comp claims and third-party personal injury lawsuits
Documenting workers’ injuries and losses to pursue maximum compensation for them
Aggressively negotiating for a fair settlement and pursuing claims in administrative hearings or court proceedings
If you’ve been hurt in your healthcare job in South Carolina, get experienced legal help to pursue maximum compensation. Contact Jebaily Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your options with our experienced South Carolina workplace injury lawyers.
