Many workplace injuries require a few trips to the doctor and possibly a few days off work before you return to the job. In such situations, a workers’ compensation claim can prove relatively simple, assuming that your employer complies with Connecticut law. Such cases, however, can become extremely complex and serious if you sustain a catastrophic injury at work.
Types of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries leave life-altering damage, especially those involving your neurological functioning. Catastrophic injuries include:
- Severe traumatic brain injuries - Serious trauma to the head can result in a severe TBI, which can cause loss of consciousness and often, a coma. A victim who wakes up often has permanent cognitive, physical, and behavioral impairments from the brain damage.
- Spinal cord injuries - Damage to the spinal cord can completely cut off functioning in the body below the point where the victim sustained the injury. For example, a complete spinal injury in the lower back willparalyze someone from the waist down and cause the loss of all motor and sensory abilities.
- Amputations - Many workplaces use heavy equipment or sharp and dangerous tools that can easily cut through limbs. Losing a limb can result in a highly traumatic experience. Even with the best prosthetics, a person’s life will still completely change.
Dangerous Workplace Accidents
Many workplaces accidents have the potential to cause catastrophic injuries. Some such accidents include:
- Falls from heights
- Scaffolding or structure collapses
- Getting crushed by materials or in heavy machinery
- Having a heavy object fall on you
- Getting caught in between materials
If you suffered a severe injury from such an accident, your employer should immediately call for an ambulance to take you to a hospital for emergency trauma care. Such injuries require immediate stabilization and maybe even extended hospital stays, surgeries, and other extensive treatments.
Complex Workers’ Compensation Cases
Workers’ compensation benefits generally cover an injured employee’s medical expenses and, if they missed work because of their injuries, lost wages. In the case of a catastrophic workplace injury, victims may never return to work again. Their medical expenses can rise into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, leaving them with permanent disabilities.
Workers’ compensation can provide permanent disability benefits, but you must undergo a complicatedprocess to sufficiently prove that your disability prevents you from working. Your employer will surely try to avoid as much liability as possible, so hire an experienced workers’ compensation law firm to represent you.
Our Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Are Here to Help You
The lawyers at Leighton, Katz & Drapeau know how a catastrophic injury can completely damage your life. We let you focus on your physical recovery and adjustments while we handle every step of your workers’ compensation claim. You never pay a dime unless we are successful in your case, so please call (860) 875-7000 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation.
