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Workers’ Compensation: 3 Reasons Nurses Should File

Nurses usually dedicate most of their lives to helping people heal. However, they’re not immune from sustaining injuries while still taking care of others. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded that over 20,000 registered nurses reported injuries in 2019. Additionally, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration shared that the most dangerous workplace is a hospital. If you were injured while working in a hospital or any healthcare facility, you should file for workers’ compensation.

Nurses are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if they suffer a job-related injury. You will receive coverage for medical bills, lost wages, and even disability benefits if you’re eligible. In this article, the Waple & Houk, PLLC workers’ compensation lawyers will provide you with top reasons why nurses should file for workers’ comp.

Reasons Why Nurses Should File for Workers’ Compensation

Most employers need workers’ compensation insurance because of the law. It includes clinics, hospitals, surgical centers, and other healthcare facilities. If you’re a nurse and perform duties at any of these facilities, you can file a claim for workers’ comp. If you’re looking for a reason why you should file for workers’ comp, below are three reasons why.

  • Protection of Your Health and Your Patients

It will help you protect your health and your patient’s health. When you’re trying to work through an injury without taking time to heal, you’ll put nurses, patients, and the hospital as a whole at risk. When fatigued or stressed because of an injury, you could cause medication error and infection. This error could lead to a malpractice lawsuit for you and the hospital.

  • Medical Bills Are Huge

The medical cost for different injuries can be huge. If you sustain an injury while working, the medical bills could put a dent in your pocket. However, workers’ comp benefits will cover your medical expenses for the job-related injury. When you choose not to file, you would be left paying the bills out-of-pocket.

  • You Don’t Have to Prove Fault

As a nurse, you don’t have to worry about proving whether you’re negligent and caused the injury or not. Although you need to provide strong evidence that your injury happened at work, there’s no need to show fault. Once you have proof that it was work-related, you are eligible for compensation. However, you will not receive your benefits if you intentionally caused an accident that injured you.

Common Workplace Hazards That Nurses Face

Nursing is a dangerous profession. Nurses face several dangers while working in healthcare facilities; below are some of them.

Infectious Diseases

Nurses are exposed to several infectious diseases. The COVID-19 crisis highlighted how exposed nurses are in the course of their duty. If you have patients hospitalized for bacterial infections, you are at risk of contracting skin infections, respiratory or blood infections. You should seek workers’ comp benefits to cover the medical bills in such cases.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Some common occurrences in healthcare facilities are spills, newly mopped floors, and even unsteady patients. Such situations usually put nurses at significant risk of being involved in a slip and fall accident. A common injury that nurses experience when they slip and fall is head injury. If you suffer any injury because of slip and fall accidents, you shouldn’t hesitate to file a workers’ comp claim.

Overexertion

Nurses can also suffer injuries due to overexertion. It occurs due to moving, lifting, or repositioning patients. That’s why sprains and strains are among the frequently reported injuries among healthcare workers. Overexertion injuries usually affect the lower back and shoulder. A hibernated disc is a common injury when transferring or lifting patients.

Needle Injuries

Sharp injuries occur when you puncture a part of your body with a needle or other sharp objects. Nurses use needles to administer drugs, place catheters and even draw blood. Nurses are also at risk of needle sticks while performing their duties. If a non-sterile needle pricks you, you’re at risk of infectious disease and should seek compensation.

Contact Our Experienced Charlotte Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Although you cannot sue your boss for a work injury, you can file a workers’ compensation claim. This ensures that you have coverage for medical bills, lost wages, and even disability benefits if you have one. The exciting part is that there’s no reason to prove fault; you just need to prove that the injuries are work-related.

However, you need to prepare for insurance carriers trying to oppose your claim. In such cases, you need an expert Charlotte workers’ compensation lawyer. Our workers’ comp lawyers at Waple & Houk, PLLC have years of experience dealing with workers’ comp cases. We will help you file a successful claim and get you the compensation you deserve. Contact our office for a free case review today.

For more information, read our dedicated page to workers’ compensation for nurses.