Maison Law is dedicated to helping injury victims across California, whether the injury happens on the job or in everyday life. Crush injuries can be devastating, especially in workplaces with heavy machinery or dangerous equipment. If you’ve suffered a crush injury at work, you have options for recovery. Contact us today for a free consultation to explore how we can help.
Should You Get a Lawyer After a Crush Injury?
Suffering a crush injury at work can be overwhelming. Not only are you dealing with severe pain and trauma, but you may also face medical treatment, surgery, and missed time from work. While these injuries often happen suddenly, they have long-lasting effects that require attention. You’re not required to have a lawyer, but handling the claims process on your own can be stressful. That’s why you should work with our team. We can:
- Collect evidence, talk to witnesses, and consult experts to strengthen your case.
- Work with doctors to evaluate your injuries and plan your recovery.
- Develop a legal strategy, whether it’s negotiating, filing a workers’ compensation claim, or filing a lawsuit.
- Negotiate for fair workers’ compensation benefits to cover medical costs, lost income, and other damages.
Throughout the process, we keep you informed and work toward getting the best possible outcome, helping you get back on your feet.
What Do You Need to Do If You Suffer a Crush Injury at Work?
In a lot of ways, a crush injury at work isn’t all that different from it happening in any other type of accident. What you need to focus on is getting medical care and then worrying about getting evidence and information for a potential claim. So, here’s what you need to do after suffering a crush injury at work:
- Get medical care right away – Your health comes first. Call 911 or go to a hospital or urgent care immediately. If your employer offers first aid, use it until professional help arrives.
- Report the accident – Let your supervisor or manager know about the accident and your injuries as soon as possible. You have 30 days to report a workplace injury under California law.
- File for workers’ compensation – Most crush injuries are covered by workers’ comp. Ask for the form, fill it out, and give it to your employer. Keep a copy for yourself.
- Investigation – The workers’ comp insurance will look into your claim, which may include checking your medical records and talking to witnesses.
- Medical evaluation – You might have to see a doctor chosen by the insurance company to assess your injuries and decide on your treatment plan.
- Disability decision – The insurance company will decide if your claim is valid and what benefits you can receive, such as medical care or disability payments.
- Disputes – If there’s a disagreement about your injury or claim, you may need to go through mediation or a hearing to resolve it.
- Returning to work – If you’re able to return to work, your employer may offer a job that fits your medical limits. If not, you could get help finding new work.
While every situation is different, these steps will help you take care of your medical needs for your crush injuries. Then, there’s the added benefit of protecting your job and taking care of your short-term needs. Still, it’s important to be prepared, and part of that is knowing how these injuries happen.
How Do Crush Injuries Happen in Workplaces?
Like most injuries at work, crush injuries can happen when someone is negligent. As you might expect, though, crush injuries are a bit more serious. According to MedlinePlus, a crush injury is one where:
- A body part is crushed by excessive force, like a heavy object falling or getting stuck in machinery. This generally results in broken bones, nerve damage, and other complications.
What’s worse, they can happen in virtually any workplace in California–especially when negligence is involved. Usually, though, they happen because of the following:
- Lack of training – Workers who haven’t been properly trained on safety procedures or how to use equipment may be more likely to experience a crush injury.
- Unsafe conditions – Cluttered work areas or poorly maintained equipment can create risks for crush injuries.
- Heavy machinery – Workers using or near heavy equipment like forklifts can get hurt if they’re hit by the machine or caught between moving parts.
- Construction sites – At construction sites, workers may be crushed by falling tools or materials or by structures that collapse.
- Warehouses – In warehouses, items stacked too high can fall over and pin a worker, leading to crush injuries.
- Loading docks – Workers on loading docks risk getting crushed by moving trucks or forklifts if safety rules aren’t followed.
- Factories – In factories, workers can be caught in machines that aren’t properly maintained or guarded.
- Vehicle accidents – Crush injuries can also occur in accidents where workers are hit by vehicles or caught between a vehicle and something else.
Knowing how these injuries happen can help you and your coworkers reduce the chances that you’ll experience one. But remember, it’s ultimately up to your employer to keep the work environment safe. When that doesn’t happen, you can reach out to our team for legal guidance and support.
Legal Support From Maison Law After a Crush Injury
Getting hurt at work, especially from a crush injury, can be really stressful. Whether you work in a dangerous job or not, there’s always a chance of getting injured. When it happens, it’s important to know how to seek help. You basically have two options:
- Filing a workers’ compensation claim
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit
At Maison Law, we can help you with both of these options. Our main goal is to help you recover the money you deserve for your injuries, which can include things like:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages or loss of earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Repair/replacement costs for damaged property
- Reduced quality of life
Our California workers’ compensation lawyers are experienced and ready to guide you through the claims process. Contact us today for a free consultation to start your case.
