As a nurse, LPN or CNA, you know of the potential you have for injuring yourself as you care for others. Whether you work in a hospital, nursing home, medical office, or home care setting, your duties expose you to hazards that could lead to an injury that leaves you unable to work as you recover. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), hospital workers are more likely to miss work due to injury than workers in the construction or manufacturing industries.
Missouri workers’ comp attorney Jason Krebs has helped nurses LPN’s and CNA’s at Cox Hospital, Mercy Health System, Manor Care and numerous other nursing homes in Missouri apply for the benefits they needed and deserved following a workplace injury.
The Risks Nurses, LPN’s and CNA’s Face Every Day
As Nurses, LPN’s and CNA’s complete their nursing duties each day, you may:
- Lift and move patients. Caring for incapacitated patients requires nurses to lift them as they attend to wounds and personal needs and move them into wheelchairs and onto gurneys, putting themselves at risk for back, hip, and knee injuries.
- Fall. Wet floors, electrical cords, and medical equipment creating slipping and tripping hazards for nurses in hospital rooms and clinics.
Come into contact with dangerous substances. - Assault by violent patients. Patients suffering from dementia or the side effects of medications may become violent and attack their caregivers. Nurses are frequently the victims of assault.
Because of these hazards, nurses, LPN’s and CNA’s may suffer from serious injuries including, but not limited to, severe sprains, strains, broken bones. These injuries and illnesses will require medical treatment and time away from work. Because the incident that caused the injury occurred at work, you should receive Missouri workers’ comp benefits to cover your losses.
Notifying Your Employer
Failing to notify your employer immediately is the single biggest mistake nurses, LPN’s and CNA’s make.
Do it in writing (email is fine, just don’t forget to print and save a copy at home).
In Missouri, you have 30 days to notify your employer of your injury in written form. What’s more, it’s always a good idea to provide the appropriate paperwork sooner rather than later. Why? Insurance companies are not usually forgiving when it comes to delayed filing. Failure to file (or to notify your employer) in a timely manner can lead to all sorts of complications down the line. Your boss and their insurance company can use your lack of immediate action against you, arguing that your injuries may not be as serious as you say they are. In this way, they can effectively diminish the value of your claim.
Protect Your Benefits With a Workers Compensation Attorney in Missouri
The employer may look for any excuse to deny your workers’ comp claim and assume that you will back down and accept whatever decision they make. You have too much at stake to do this.
If you are a nurse, LPN or CNA injured while performing job duties, you should have treatment and benefits under Missouri workers’ compensation law. Missouri Work Comp Lawyer Jason Krebs will help you get the benefits to which you are entitled.
Should you qualify for a consultation you will get the opportunity to personally speak with Jason Krebs the workers compensation attorney in Missouri who will personally handle your claim (instead of paralegal), we will take a personal interest in your case as we advise you of your rights and make sure you are treated fairly.
You can learn about workers’ compensation benefits right now by reading a free copy of his book,Understanding Your Missouri Workers Compensation Case.
(Don’t worry we won’t sell or give your email to anyone)
If you or a family member was injured at work or in an on the job accident, The Krebs Law Firm LLC offers a free case evaluation if you have questions. Many people may be worried that they do not have the money to pay for a work comp attorney when they were injured at work but we only handle work comp, accident cases and Social Security Cases on a contingent fee basis. In other words, there is no fee unless we are successful in getting you the benefits that you deserve. Simply call (417) 883-5886 or statewide 1-800-345-0535 for your free case evaluation today.