Charlotte Workplace Broken Bones Attorneys
If you, your spouse, or one of your family members recently cracked or broke a bone in a work-related accident, you should talk about your legal options with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer. At the Ramsay Law Firm, our dedicated attorneys have been handling workers’ compensation claims, hearings, and appeals for more than 25 years, and understand what it takes to obtain the benefits you deserve for your injury.
Proudly serving part-time and full-time employees across all types of industries and occupations throughout the North Carolina, our Charlotte workplace accident lawyers are available to help if you or a loved one needs assistance filing a claim, disputing a claim denial, or disputing the termination or reduction of your current benefits.
For a free legal consultation with one of our skilled injury lawyers, contact the Ramsay Law Firm online, or call us today at (704) 376-1616.
Common Types of Bone Fractures
There are countless reasons bone fractures can occur in the workplace, ranging from an accidental fall in a slippery restaurant kitchen or icy parking lot, to being struck by falling or heavy objects at a construction site, to accidentally trapping a limb in a piece of machinery on the factory floor. In other cases, victims are assaulted by their coworkers, customers, or others, such as nurses who are assaulted by their patients while working in a hospital, clinic, or mobile care setting.
Depending on the severity of the injury and the location of the fracture, the effects may include severe pain and swelling, stiffness or paralysis, loss of physical sensation, reduced ability to balance, reduced ability to support weight, and shortening or disfigurement of the affected area. The bone can also be driven into, or out through, the surrounding tissue, further worsening the injury. For example, displaced shards of bone can pierce organs or protrude through the skin, causing blood loss, nerve damage, and other complications that increase healing time.
There are many types of bone fractures, which can occur in all areas of the body, particularly thinner and weaker bones such as the clavicle (collarbone). Some common examples include:
- Avulsion Fractures
- Comminuted Fractures
- Compound Fractures
- Greenstick Fractures
- Lisfranc Fractures
- Oblique Fractures
- Spiral Fractures
- Transverse Fractures
Can You Get Workers’ Compensation Benefits for a Broken Bone Injury?
There are 206 bones in the adult skeleton. A fracture in any one of them can be a medical emergency, impairing normal feeling and function in the affected area for weeks, months, or potentially even longer.
During the healing period, it can be difficult or impossible to carry out simple tasks. This poses a major problem for workers, particularly those whose jobs involve heavy labor, repetitive movements, or standing long hours on their feet. While the damaged bone is healing, the worker may be unable to perform some of their normal duties. If the injury is very serious – for example, a fractured femur (thigh bone) or broken neck – it may completely prevent the victim from working, even in a modified capacity.
Fortunately, North Carolina’s workers’ compensation laws can provide financial benefits if a worker suffers an on-the-job bone fracture. This applies regardless of whether the fracture occurs on or off the physical job site, as long as the injury was sustained in the course and scope of the worker’s duties. While the worker is disabled by the fracture injury, workers’ compensation benefits can partially cover lost wages, medical bills, and other accident-related expenses, providing the victim and their family with a financial security net.
Most businesses in North Carolina are required to make workers’ compensation coverage available to their full-time, part-time, and even seasonal employees, with some exceptions for companies with fewer than three employees. An experienced attorney can intervene if the employer fails to carry workers’ compensation insurance, which may constitute a violation of the law, depending on the nature and size of the business. An attorney can also help by:
- Challenging the evidence against the worker if the claim is denied improperly.
- Determining whether it is appropriate to explore other options for getting compensated, such as suing the manufacturer of a defective machine that causes an injury.
- Ensuring that the claim is prepared correctly and is filed in a timely manner.
- Gathering and interpreting complex medical evidence to strengthen the worker’s claim.
- Protecting the worker’s rights if their employer violates the law.
- Representing the worker at appeals if the claim is denied, or if the employer attempts to reduce, suspend, or terminate the worker’s benefits.
- Demanding appropriate medical treatment.
- Assessing the value of the claim.
- Negotiating payment for permanent injuries.
Payments are generally issued on a weekly basis if a claim is approved. Benefits are capped at a maximum of approximately 66.66% of the worker’s average weekly wage before becoming injured. For example, if a worker was earning $600 per week before the accident, the maximum weekly benefit would be calculated at approximately $400.
Benefits may continue for up to 500 weeks (approximately 9.5 years), or until the worker has healed sufficiently to rejoin the workforce. Most bone fractures require a minimum of anywhere from several weeks to several months to heal, depending on their severity and location.
To set up a free consultation about workers’ compensation for a bone fracture injury in North Carolina, call our law offices right away at (704) 376-1616. We will keep your information confidential.