Nurses Injuries

Over the  years, I have represented many nurses in work injury claims against both hospitals and personal care homes.  Most of these cases involve back injuries that arise when my client attempts to lift or move a heavy patient.   My clients are correctly focused on keeping their patients from hitting the floor and when a medicated or unconscious patient starts to slip, instinct takes over and my client tries to keep the patient from falling.

Just a few years ago, I represented a nurse assistant who received a needle stick when the patient she was treating began to thrash about.  The patient was infected with a harmful virus – fortunately my client did not get infected but we had to push the insurance carrier to provide anti-viral treatment as well as psychological care for the trauma.

Accidents to nurses can sometimes be an issue for two reasons: first, many of the lifting and other back injuries are unwitnessed, and insurance companies try to argue that my client’s back condition was pre-existing.  Secondly, injuries to nurses, nurses aides and associated health care workers sometimes occur in a trauma setting and my client  may not realize that she is injured until a day or two later, when the adrenaline rush wears off.

In my experience nursing professionals sometime fail to report their injuries in a timely manner (although within the time limits set out under the workers’ comp statute) and we can sometimes have a fight on our hands.

If you work as a nurse or work in a related health care position and you injure your back, shoulder, hands, or experience a needle stick or an injury from a belligerent patient, please call me to discuss how the workers’ comp. law may be available to you.   My direct line is 770-351-0801.