Work injuries can be debilitating, but few injuries are more severe than amputation injuries that result in the loss of a limb or digit. Companies and machine manufacturers have many safety procedures in place to prevent these types of injuries, but they still happen more often than they should. Most of these injuries are to the fingers or toes, but no matter what part of your body you lose as part of a work accident, you need to seek counsel and file an injury claim. We show you how to do just that in today’s blog.
Hand Or Finger Loss In Minnesota
Although amputation injuries only affect a very small portion of the working population in Minnesota, the effects of those injuries can be devastating and life changing. Despite new safety techniques being put in place by many employers, a recent press release from the Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration revealed a recent spike in amputation injuries. Since the end of the third quarter last year, the state’s OSHA branch has dealt with 15 reports of amputation injuries. We typically only average 13 such injuries each year, so we’ve surpassed that number and still have more than a month to go in this reporting year.
The report went on to highlight machine guarding, or lack thereof, as a common factor associated with amputation injuries in the workplace. Unguarded or inadequately guarded equipment consistently ranks in the top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety violations each year, with more than 4,000 such violations over the last two years. So if your machines don’t have adequate guards to prevent fingers and hands from potentially slipping into the path of a blade or other dangerous surface, bring it to the attention of your employer or overseeing body, as it is an accident waiting to happen.
Getting Compensation
If you suffer a serious work injury that results in an amputation of a finger or limb, you need to speak with a lawyer about your compensation options. The main reason why you should seek out professional help is because you may be eligible for a wide variety of compensation packages, and if you try to handle the claim on your own, you may be leaving money on the table, and that’s especially problematic after severe injuries that will jeopardize your future earnings potential.
Some types of compensation you are eligible for may include:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages
- Lost future earnings capacity
- Emotional trauma
- Pain and suffering
- Disability and disfigurement
- Quality of life changes
Make sure you have an attorney look over all the factors of your case and determine every potential compensation option. If you don’t, you could be leaving tens of thousands of dollars or more on the table. Because a lawyer can earn you a larger award amount, it’s easy to see how they can often pay for their services many times over while saving you the headache of meeting deadlines and filing paperwork.
At Margolis Law Firm, we’ve helped navigate the complex litigation process that follows an amputation injury. OSHA and insurance companies will be looking for answers while you are trying to recover from a traumatic experience, and it can all become overwhelming when you add in your pursuit of compensation. Let us take something off your plate and get you a bigger award than you could achieve on your own. For more information, or for answers to any questions you might have, contact Dean and the team at Margolis Law Firm today.
