South Jersey Workers’ Comp Lawyers Helping Injured Workers Obtain Benefits for Broken Bones

Broken bones and fractures are common workplace injuries that can have serious implications for your health and livelihood. If you suffered broken bones on the job, it is crucial to understand your rights to receive workers’ compensation for medical expenses and lost wages while you heal. The experienced South Jersey workers’ compensation attorneys at Petrillo & Goldberg are here to help ensure you receive the benefits you deserve.

What Causes Broken Bones and Fractures at Work?

Broken bones and fractures can occur due to various workplace accidents. Broken wrists are commonly seen in falls, while broken ribs can result from impacts to the chest. Fractured fingers or toes often occur when they are crushed or caught in machinery. Pelvic fractures are serious injuries that can happen due to falls or high-impact accidents. Additionally, vertebral fractures in the spine are frequently caused by falls or heavy lifting.

Here are some common causes of broken bones in South Jersey workplaces:

Falls: Wet floors, uneven surfaces, and falls from heights like ladders or scaffolding are common culprits for broken bones.

Heavy machinery accidents: Operating or being around malfunctioning machinery can cause crushed limbs and broken bones. Incidents may involve forklifts, cranes, or other heavy equipment.

Repetitive stress: Lifting heavy objects, forceful twisting movements, or repetitive motions can lead to stress fractures over time, especially in physically demanding jobs.

Vehicle accidents: Collisions involving work vehicles or during transportation duties can result in fractures. Delivery drivers, construction workers, and others may be involved in crashes.

Falling objects: Workers in construction, manufacturing, and warehousing can be struck by tools, materials, debris, or equipment falling from above.

Types of Broken Bones

The type of fracture a worker suffers depends on the force and direction of the impact. Closed fractures, or simple fractures, occur when the bone breaks but does not pierce the skin. Open fractures, also known as compound fractures, consist of a broken bone protruding through the skin. Open fractures are typically more serious than closed fractures due to the risk of infection.

Fracture patterns:

Transverse fracture: A clean break straight across the bone.

Comminuted fracture: The bone shatters into multiple pieces.

Oblique fracture: The break occurs at an angle.

Spiral fracture: The break twists around the bone, often caused by a twisting motion.

Greenstick fracture: One side of the bone bends but does not break completely.

Segmental fracture: The bone is broken in two or more places, creating at least one detached segment.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 74,610 fracture cases in 2020 required employees to take days away from work. The lower extremities consisting of the knee, ankle, and foot accounted for the majority of fracture injuries with 30,740 cases. The second most common type of fractures involved the upper extremities consisting of the wrist, hand, arm, and shoulder with 28,540 cases. Fractures involving the head and trunk were less commonly reported.

The Impact of Broken Bones

A broken bone can significantly affect your ability to work and perform daily activities. Broken bones require immediate medical attention and can take months to heal. Without prompt treatment, you may suffer permanent impairments if the fracture does not set properly. In severe cases, such as those that involve multiple broken bones, the patient may be bedridden for several weeks. They are likely to require surgeries and physical rehabilitation to recover completely.

Injured workers incur medical expenses for surgery, physical therapy, and follow-up doctor’s visits. Broken bones may also result in lost wages due to having to take time off work for recovery. From 2021 to 2022, fractures accounted for 5.7 percent of all work injuries and illnesses that required days away from work, job restriction, or transfer. In serious cases, a broken bone can lead to permanent disability.

Obtaining Workers’ Compensation

If your broken bone is work-related and occurred during the scope of employment, you may be entitled to benefits through New Jersey’s workers’ compensation system. Workers’ compensation is designed to cover the injury-related costs of medical care, temporary total disability, and permanent partial or total disability.

Unfortunately, obtaining workers’ compensation is not always a smooth process. For example, when a worker suffers a stress fracture, their employer may question whether the injury is work-related. In other cases, an employee may not get the full benefits they deserve.

At Petrillo & Goldberg, we understand the physical and financial challenges that can arise from a broken bone work injury. Our experienced South Jersey workers’ compensation attorneys are here to help you get the full benefits you deserve.

Steps to Take After a Broken Bones Work Injury

Seek medical attention: Your health and well-being are the priority. Immediately seek medical help to assess and treat your injury.

Report the injury: Notify your employer about the injury as soon as possible, following their established procedures. This is crucial for initiating your workers’ compensation claim.

Document everything: Keep detailed records of the accident, medical treatments, and communications with your employer about the work injury.

Consult a South Jersey work injury lawyer: Contact a skilled attorney to understand your legal rights for obtaining workers’ compensation.

How Petrillo & Goldberg Can Help

At Petrillo & Goldberg, we represent workers who have suffered broken bones and other serious injuries on the job. Our dedicated South Jersey workers’ compensation attorneys will thoroughly investigate the circumstances leading to your work injury. If we find that someone besides your employer was responsible for your broken bones, we will explore potential third-party liability claims for additional compensation.

Your lawyer will ensure all necessary paperwork for your workers’ compensation claim is completed accurately and on time. Petrillo & Goldberg will handle communications and negotiations with insurance companies to secure fair compensation.

Contact Petrillo & Goldberg Today

If you have suffered a broken bone at work, do not navigate this challenging time alone. Reach out to Petrillo & Goldberg today for a free consultation. Our compassionate and knowledgeable team of South Jersey workers’ compensation attorneys is committed to fighting for your rights and helping you recover the compensation you need to move forward.