Obtaining Compensation for a Workplace Amputation Injury
Local 10 News has reported that, sadly, a construction worker recently had an arm severed when he fell on a job site in Fort Lauderdale on a Thursday afternoon. This tragic amputation injury reportedly happened as the 39-year-old man was working on the 6th floor and fell to the 5th floor where it appears he happened to land next to an elevator shaft while the elevator was coming down. Construction workers were able to pull him safely down to the ground floor, but the injured worker still had to be rushed by paramedics to Broward Health to be treated for the injuries related to his severed arm.
How Common Are Workplace Amputations?
Out of all the scenarios that can lead to an injury, one that no worker wants to contemplate as a possibility is the idea of a workplace amputation. The severity of these injuries often impacts workers and employers much more profoundly than other injuries and represents a permanent shift that will forever impact many aspects of life. According to data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly one in every 20,000 workers was affected by amputation related to a workplace injury in 2017. And sadly, amputation incidence rates for those working in certain industries – such as the industrial, manufacturing, and construction sectors – are typically even higher.
Causes of Workplace Amputations
Unfortunately, the severing of limbs in a workplace setting might be attributed to any number of causes, including:
- Employee error
- Equipment failure
- Employer failure to maintain a safe workplace
Injured Workers Have a Right to Pursue Compensation
The good news in the context of the bleak aftermath of experiencing a workplace amputation is that workers here in the state of Florida are generally entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for job-related injuries. This is a type of no-fault insurance which covers almost any kind of work-related injury, regardless of whose negligence caused the injury. However, this doesn’t mean that obtaining the compensation to which you are rightfully entitled to is straightforward and workers often find themselves battling insurance companies who put up barrier after barrier in attempts to pay out as little as possible. Obtaining the help of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible after a workplace injury can help you ensure you are compensated.
We Can Help You Put Together a Successful Claim
Unfortunately, injured workers can’t prepare financially for a medical emergency they can’t foresee like those that unexpectedly happen while trying to earn a living. And no matter what benefits injured workers may rightfully be entitled to, successfully obtaining workers’ compensation benefits for a workplace injury that resulted in amputation often requires the help of a legal team that has a plethora of experience. As the Miami workers’ compensation attorneys at Payer & Associates, we are focused on serving clients with workers’ compensation claims throughout the Sunshine State and we have helped many people who have been seriously injured in workplace accidents obtain the benefits they deserve. We are available and ready to help if you reach out for assistance today.
Resource:
local10.com/news/local/2020/06/25/worker-loses-arm-in-fort-lauderdale-job-site-accident/
https://www.payerandassociates.com/factory-workers-and-workers-compensation/
