Injured workers can claim compensation for hip injuries in Cornelius, NC. Hip injury settlements pay compensation based on the right to workers’ compensation benefits.
Horton & Mendez, Injury & Car Accident Attorneys, explain Cornelius workers’ compensation hip injury settlements and how an experienced Cornelius workers’ compensation lawyer can help with your case.
Understanding Cornelius Workers’ Comp Hip Injury Settlements
If you’ve suffered a workplace hip injury, you should know the following:
- You may qualify to receive workers’ compensation benefits for your hip injury.
- A claim for benefits may be resolved by settlement.
- Claims fall under the North Carolina workers’ compensation law.
- You don’t have to prove the employer caused the accident. There are standards to meet to qualify for workers’ comp, but employer fault is not required.
- Hip injury settlements vary because of the amount of medical intervention required and how much work the person misses during recovery.
- If the insurance company doesn’t calculate benefits correctly or if they refuse medical care or make other errors, you can challenge your right to compensation.
- A Cornelius workers’ compensation lawyer can represent you to seek a workers’ comp settlement for a hip injury.
Although workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, insurance companies still delay and deny legitimate claims. A lawyer for hip injury settlements can pursue your case.
Common Causes of Hip Injuries in the Workplace
Common causes of hip injuries in the workplace may include:
- Crushing: The body ends up under an object and is run over by a vehicle or otherwise crushed.
- Falls: Falling from an elevated height or the same height may result in trauma to the hip.
- Stuck between incidents: If a person becomes stuck between objects or between an object and the wall, the hip may be crushed, pulled, or stretched.
- Repetitive trauma: Straining the hip on a repeated basis may result in trauma.
- Explosion: A person may be thrown because of an explosion or other sudden force.
- Sharp object: A sharp object may cause lacerations and other injuries.
- Blunt trauma: When a person is struck by an object, broken bones, bruising, and soft tissue damage may occur.
There may be contributing and underlying causes for hip injuries. For example, the company may not provide sufficient personal protective equipment. There may be an overall poor safety culture. Workers may be expected to work too quickly or without the necessary equipment. Poor lifting techniques can contribute to hip trauma. An injury may occur suddenly or result from repetitive movement.
Short-Term vs. Long-Term Impact of Hip Injuries
Short-term impact of hip injury may include:
- The need to rest and, therefore, lose work
- Physical pain, a dull ache, or radiating pain with movement
- Poor mobility
- Swelling
- Popping or grinding
- Feeling unstable, loss of strength, and balance
When a hip injury occurs, the pain may be immediate and severe.
Hip injuries may also result in long-term complications. The person may experience a permanent loss of function or strength. The joint may become stiff, with limited mobility or pain with movement. In addition, bone death may cause hip deformity and abnormal contact of the joint.
Average Settlement Amounts for Hip Injuries in NC
If you’ve injured your hip on the job, you may wonder about average settlement amounts for hip injuries in Cornelius, NC. There is no automatic or guaranteed settlement amount for a hip injury. Damage to the hip can vary significantly in terms of what medical intervention is necessary, what physical therapy is required, and the resulting disability.
What’s important is that you receive the appropriate amount of compensation based on workers’ compensation laws. Your award may be more or less than average. Our Cornelius, NC, lawyers for hip injuries on the job can evaluate your case.
How Permanent Disability Ratings Affect Settlement Value
An important factor in determining your workers’ compensation hip injury settlement is the permanent disability rating. The rating is a measure of the disability that remains after your medical care and healing. To the extent that you are permanently harmed by your workplace injury, you deserve fair compensation. The amount you receive is based on the severity of impairment and your wages before injury. There are guidelines for the physician to follow when determining a person’s injury rating.
The disability rating is only one part of your compensation calculation. If you disagree with your rating, you may challenge it.
Steps To Take After a Work-Related Hip Injury
When you hurt your hip at work, report it to your employer immediately. Make the report in writing and file Form 18 – Notice of Accident to Employer and Claim to establish a legal claim and protect your rights. Provide your employer with a copy of the form.
Seek medical attention, and if it is an emergency, call 911. You can go to an emergency room, urgent care, or accept help from first responders and EMTs. After the emergency is over, you must seek medical care from the provider chosen by your employer.
Continue to receive your medical care, and evaluate your benefits. An attorney can protect your rights and pursue your settlement.
Horton & Mendez, Injury & Car Accident Attorneys, represent injured workers seeking hip injury settlements.
Challenges With Workers’ Comp Hip Injury Claims
Workers’ comp hip injury claims may be challenging in several ways:
- Fashioning the settlement and whether to pursue a Compromise Settlement Agreement (clincher) or other structure for your settlement
- Fighting a disability impairment rating that is too low
- Challenging the determination of medical care
- Miscalculation of your weekly wage
- Disqualification from benefits, termination of benefits
- Following the procedural steps
- Gathering medical evidence
Our lawyers identify the most important issues for our clients and fight for justice.
When To Consult a Cornelius Workers’ Compensation Attorney
If you’ve been hurt at work and you don’t know what to do next, it’s a good time to contact us.
We can assist you from the beginning of your case or if you’ve reached a difficult point and need legal help. Contact us to see how a Cornelius workers’ compensation attorney can assist you.
Contact
If you have been hurt on the job, you can talk to a lawyer for hip injury settlements. Call or message Horton & Mendez, Injury & Car Accident Attorneys.
