Jackson Healthcare Worker Injury Lawyer
The healthcare industry is very demanding all across the county and Mississippi is no exception. It’s also dangerous. Hundreds of thousands of healthcare workers suffer injuries or illnesses in the workplace every year. Nurses face the brunt of these injuries. In fact, 75% of nursing injuries affected nurses between the ages of 35 and 64.
Injured while working in a healthcare facility? Let the Jackson healthcare worker injury lawyer at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC help you understand your legal rights so you can obtain as much compensation as possible.
Common Hazards in the Healthcare Industry
Healthcare workers work in many different roles. They work in clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms, operating rooms, and laboratories. They also work with many types of equipment and deal with patients with all kinds of injuries and illnesses, so they can be impacted by various injuries, accidents, and occupational ailments. Doctors, nurses, physicians’ assistants, therapists, and lab technicians can suffer from:
- Diseases related to transmission of infectious agents
- Exposure to drugs and chemicals
- Back injuries and overexertion due to lifting patients, supplies, and equipment
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Sharps injuries
- Latex allergies
- Exposure to radiation from X-rays
- Workplace violence
Healthcare workers are covered under Mississippi’s workers’ compensation program. This no-fault program does not require you to prove liability on behalf of your employer. You only need to prove that you are a covered worker who was injured as a result of workplace conditions.
Under the state’s workers’ compensation law, you are entitled to compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses (doctor’s visits, emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, medications, medical devices, physical therapy, etc.)
- Wage replacement for time away from work
- Total or partial disability, on a permanent or temporary basis
- Death benefits for surviving family members if you die due to a workplace medical condition.
Preventing Healthcare Worker Injuries
There are several ways in which injuries in the healthcare industry can be reduced. Ergonomics is key. Healthcare workers can use ergonomics for computer work and patient-handling techniques, which would promote the use of proper equipment. When moving patients, nurses should combine ergonomics and proper lifting techniques to prevent injuries.
Slips and falls can be prevented by installing textured floors, requiring slip-resistant shoes, and making improvements in housekeeping practices, such as faster cleanup of spills. Workplace violence is one of the most serious issues and can be prevented in several ways. Hospitals and other medical facilities should have workplace violence prevention programs in place. Workers should receive training on workplace violence and all reports should be documented and investigated as soon as possible.
Contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC Today
Healthcare workers play an important role in society. Doctors and nurses take care of the sick and injured, but they have a high risk of getting sick and injured themselves, which can be very frustrating.
If you have been injured in the workplace, seek legal help. The Jackson healthcare worker injury lawyer at Lunsford, Baskin, & Priebe, PLLC can help you understand what rights you have in Mississippi. Fill out the online form or call (601) 488-3975 to schedule a consultation.
