Injuries

Discuss Your Legal Rights with an Experienced Miami or Fort Lauderdale Work Injury Lawyer

Accidents at work can cause all types of injuries. If you have been injured on the job, you should speak with a Miami or Fort Lauderdale work injury attorney about your legal rights. You may be entitled to benefits, and securing these benefits could be critical for moving on.

We Handle Workers’ Compensation Claims Involving All Types of Work Injuries

Work injuries can prove incredibly expensive. Medical costs are at an all-time high, and missing days, weeks, or months from work can often force employees into debt. Fortunately, many injured employees will be entitled to workers’ compensation, Social Security disability (SSD), or other benefits, and injured workers can hire an experienced Miami work injury lawyer to represent them at no out-of-pocket cost.

At The Gallagher Law Group, our attorneys represent employees who have suffered work injuries including:

Back Injuries

Lower back pain, herniated discs, pinched nerves, and vertebrae fractures are all common on-the-job injuries. Suffering a back injury can impact all aspects of your life—from forcing you to miss work to prevent you from spending meaningful time with your family. Whether you simply need time off or you need back surgery, if you are dealing with a job-related back injury, it will be important to make sure you receive the financial compensation you deserve.

Bone Fractures and Dislocations

Bone fractures and dislocations are also common job-related injuries. These injuries can result from a variety of causes—from collisions to falls. The treatment options and potential long-term effects of fractures and dislocations depend on the location and severity of the injury, with surgery being necessary in some cases. Open or compound fractures (those in which the bone pierces the skin) can present additional risks and require additional forms of treatment as well.

Brain Injuries

Hitting your head at work can have serious and potentially long-term consequences. While concussions are commonly referred to as “mild” brain injuries, rest is critical for preventing lasting effects. Too often, workers return to work too soon after suffering a concussion, and in doing so, they put their cognitive health at risk. Along with concussions, other types of brain injuries such as hematomas, hemorrhages, and diffuse axonal injuries (DAI) can present significant risks as well. If you are experiencing symptoms of a brain injury after an accident at work, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

Burns

Various types of accidents at work can result in first, second, third, or fourth-degree burns. While treatment needs can vary from topical creams to multiple skin graft surgeries, all types of burns can be painful and expensive for employees who cannot do their jobs. If you are unable to work, a Fort Lauderdale work injury attorney at The Gallagher Law Group can help you seek workers’ compensation, SSD, or other benefits. We represent employees who have suffered:

• Burns from fires and explosions
• Burns from exposure to extreme heat
• Chemical burns
• Electrical burns

Eye, Ear, and Nose Injuries

From flying debris to loud sounds and bright flashes of light, multiple common work hazards present risks for eye, ear, and nose injuries. From sensory impairments to physical disfigurement, these injuries can have a wide range of effects, and when these effects are permanent, injured workers can seek to collect long-term benefits with the help of an experienced Miami work injury lawyer.

Loss of Digits and Limbs

Losing a digit or limb is a highly traumatic experience. Unfortunately, it also comes with significant financial costs. Employees who suffer these injuries will often need multiple surgical procedures followed by inpatient care, and they will typically need extensive physical and occupational therapy. As a result, for workers who suffer these injuries, securing benefits is a crucial step in the recovery process.

Neck Injuries

From whiplash to chronic neck pain, neck injuries are common among employees in a broad range of occupations. Treatment needs can vary broadly as well, from rest and immobility to surgery and rehabilitation therapy. If you have suffered a neck injury at work, you need to take your injury seriously, and you should see a doctor and consult with a Fort Lauderdale work injury attorney as soon as possible.

Nerve Damage

Nerve damage can result from severe cuts and burns, impingement, internal damage caused by bone fractures, and a variety of other issues. While some forms of nerve damage are treatable, these injuries can also be permanent in some cases. Permanent nerve damage can result in loss of sensation and mobility, and this can leave employees unable to work while facing long-term medical needs and expenses.

Organ Damage

Trauma to the chest, abdomen, or pelvic region can cause organ damage with the potential for life-altering or life-threatening consequences. This includes both blunt-force trauma and penetrating trauma that pierces the organs beneath the skin. In some cases, organ damage will need to be treated as a medical emergency, but even if emergency surgery isn’t necessary, treatment and recovery can still be long (and expensive) processes.

Repetitive Stress Injuries

Repetitive stress is a common cause of chronic pain throughout the body. Workers who perform repetitive tasks commonly suffer injuries due to wear and tear in the back, neck, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, and hips. While workers’ compensation covers repetitive stress injuries, proving eligibility for these injuries can be challenging, so it is important to contact a Miami work injury lawyer as soon as you think you may have a claim.

Respiratory Injuries and Complications

Exposure to toxic fumes, substances, and particulates in the workplace can lead to a variety of respiratory injuries and complications. This includes everything from breathing difficulties to cancer. While employers are supposed to provide their employees with adequate respiratory protection, many do not, and as a result, these injuries and complications are far too common.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries are among the most common injuries for which employees seek workers’ compensation and SSD benefits. This includes injuries to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons throughout the body. While sprains and strains are injuries that will often (though not always) heal with rest, tears typically require surgery. Early symptoms include sharp pain and limited range of motion, and stopping work (and seeking treatment) promptly can be essential for preventing these injuries from getting worse.

What Qualifies as a “Work Injury?”

While injured workers can file for SSD benefits regardless of how they get injured (if they otherwise qualify), workers’ compensation only covers work injuries—or injuries suffered “within the scope of employment.” So, what qualifies as a “work injury?”

An injury is considered a “work injury” when it is suffered on the job. If you got injured while performing your job duties, you almost certainly have a work injury.

But work injuries can happen in other scenarios as well. For example, if you slipped on your way to the bathroom or tripped while walking to the cafeteria in your office building, both of these could still be considered work-related accidents. As long as you were acting within the scope of your employment (i.e., you weren’t engaging in horseplay, and you didn’t injure yourself intentionally), you will want to talk to a lawyer about filing a workers’ compensation claim if you got injured during your workday.

Work injuries can result from all types of on-the-job accidents, including:

• Being struck by falling or flying objects
• Collisions with stationary objects
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Lifting and carrying heavy objects
• Equipment and machinery accidents
• Hand tool and power tool accidents
• Exposure to hazardous substances or electricity  
• Prolonged exposure to sun or extreme heat
• Vehicle collisions (including commuting accidents in limited circumstances)
• Assaults and animal attacks (including dog attacks)
• Typing, using tools, and other forms of repetitive strain
• Other causes of injuries on the job

What Are the Costs of a Work Injury?

Getting injured on the job can lead to significant financial costs. Even relatively minor injuries can result in thousands of dollars in medical bills, and the costs of missing time from work can add up quickly. For many workers, these costs can far exceed what they can afford.

To make sure the financial burdens of your injury are no greater than necessary, you should speak with a Fort Lauderdale work injury attorney about your legal rights. You may be entitled to benefits, and if you are, you will need to work with an experienced attorney to make sure you receive the full benefits you deserve. Workers’ compensation claims and SSD claims both present challenges, and working with an experienced attorney will give you the best chance to secure maximum benefits as quickly as possible.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Miami or Fort Lauderdale Work Injury Attorney

Have you suffered a work injury? If so, our attorneys are here to help. To discuss your legal rights with an experienced Miami or Fort Lauderdale work injury attorney at The Gallagher Law Group in confidence, please call 954-530-7314 or tell us how we can reach you online today.