Orthopedic injuries or injuries that affect the muscles and bones may happen in any workplace. They may occur as the result of a traumatic incident such as a car accident or a fall, or they may occur due to repetitive stress on a certain part of the body. Regardless, these types of injuries can result in an employee having to take time off work or even having to quit his or her job because of chronic pain or permanent disabilities.
The experienced Glendale workers’ compensation attorneys at ODG LAW GROUP help those in need of Orthopedic workers’ compensation benefits. The time period in the aftermath of an injury can be challenging for injured workers and their families. Call us at 818-230-2428 to obtain more information about protecting your legal rights.
Understanding Orthopedic Injuries
Orthopedic injuries at the workplace are common and often debilitating. They may happen due to high-risk jobs, lack of safety devices or training and repetitive stress or job duties. In most workplaces, repetitive stress injuries occur frequently. Orthopedic injuries at the workplace may affect any part of the body, most often the soft tissues of the neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hands and fingers. Some of the conditions that may occur as a result of on-the-job musculoskeletal injuries to the upper extremities include cartilage damage, joint dislocations and stress fractures.
These types of injuries may also cause damage to the nerves, result in inflammation, loss of muscle control or even loss of sensation. Such workplace injuries are diagnosed using X-rays, CT scans and MRI scans and the orthopedic surgeon will decide the best course of treatment for you, which include pain medications, rest, therapy or surgery, etc. Injured workers may also require extensive rehabilitation that includes both occupational therapy and physiotherapy in order to promote a quick and complete recovery.
Common Orthopedic Work Injuries
Here are some of the most common orthopedic injuries we see injured workers sustain in the workplace.
- Rotator cuff tears: A rotator cuff tear is a common cause of pain and disability among U.S. adults. This injury may weaken the shoulder and make it difficult for you to perform everyday activities such as combing your hair or getting dressed.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: This is a condition that causes pain, numbness and tingling in the hand and arm. It occurs when one of the major nerves to the hand, the median nerve, is compressed. If not treated right away, it can lead to nerve damage or might even require surgery. Repeating the same hand or wrist motions or activities over a prolonged period of time may aggravate the tendons in the wrist. This in turn causes swelling and pressure on the nerve.
- Neck injuries: These are some of the most common orthopedic injuries suffered by workers on the job. The neck is extremely vulnerable to injury. A neck injury in the workplace may occur in an auto accident or during a fall. The most common neck injuries involve the muscles and ligaments (soft tissues). Severe neck injuries with a fracture or dislocation of the neck may even result in spinal cord damage and cause paralysis.
- Shoulder pain: Injury to the shoulder may also occur during a fall, a car accident or while lifting objects or patients. Tendon damage may result in chronic pain and even extended disability.
- Wrist sprain: There are several ligaments in the wrist that may be stretched or torn, resulting in a sprain. This might occur when the wrist is bent forcefully during a fall onto an outstretched arm.
- Back injuries: These are also some of the most common orthopedic injuries sustained on the job. A severe spinal cord injury may result in paralysis and permanent disabilities.
- Knee injuries: These injuries can arise from stress to the knee joint over a period of time such as repetitive heavy lifting or kneeling on hard or uneven surfaces. Common work-related injuries to the knee include muscle and tendon damage, sprains, ligament tears, meniscal tears and dislocated or broken bones.
Any of these injuries may take several weeks or even months to heal and often require extensive rehabilitation for the employee to regain strength and mobility. Sometimes, even with treatment and therapy, workers might not recover completely from these injuries. Many victims are left with chronic pain or lifelong disabilities.
Need Help With Your Orthopedic Workers Compensation Benefits? We’re Here For You
If you have suffered orthopedic injuries on the job, you can seek workers’ compensation benefits from your employer, which will help pay medical and rehabilitation expenses as well as a portion of wages lost while you recover from your injuries. Under California law, it is important that you report the injury right away to an employer or supervisor and file your workers’ compensation claim within 30 days of the incident. If your claim is denied, you have the right to file for an appeal.
Injured workers may find the paperwork required for filing workers’ compensation claims to be confusing, challenging and intimidating. Failure to properly follow the procedures involved or failing to provide adequate supporting medical documents may result in the denial of your claim, leaving you without much needed benefits and monetary support.
If you or a loved one has suffered orthopedic injuries on the job and is in need of help and guidance, the experienced Glendale workers’ compensation attorneys at ODG LAW GROUP can help you better understand your legal rights and options. We can also look into filing a third-party claim on your behalf. This is essentially a claim against a party other than the employer or a co-employee who may have caused or contributed to your injury. Examples of third parties include other drivers, contractors or sub-contractors, property owners, property managers and manufacturers of defective products, etc.
Our lawyers will explore all avenues of compensation so you get the monetary support you need and deserve. We provide skilled and compassionate representation to all our injured clients and their families. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay any fees until we secure compensation for you. Please call us at (818) 230-2428 for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation and case evaluation.