Workers' Compensation for Loss of Limb in Greensboro

Workers who operate heavy machinery or work in industrial environments are at a greater risk of suffering amputations or loss of limbs while on the job than other workers. Despite the risk that comes with their jobs, they are still entitled to reasonably safe work environments. Suffering an amputation or the catastrophic loss of a limb is a traumatizing event that may affect your ability to work and may cause permanent disabilities – not to mention pain, suffering, and emotional trauma.

Ward Black Law is committed to helping people who suffer amputations or loss of limbs in work accidents pursue the compensation they deserve. If you’ve suffered an amputation or limb-loss injury in the workplace, we want to help you pursue the benefits you’re entitled to under workers’ compensation law, as well as any third-party personal injury claims that could be available.

Contact our amputation and loss of limb lawyers today to discuss your case and learn how we can assist you in filing a workers’ compensation claim. The consultation is free and confidential.

What Is Amputation or Loss of Limb?

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, amputation is “the loss or removal of a body part, such as a finger, toe, hand, foot, hand, or leg,” that can affect your ability to work and live independently. Traumatic injury accounts for approximately 45 percent of all amputations.

Complications and Ongoing Treatments for Amputations

Traumatic and surgical amputations can result in complications depending on the circumstances, including the person’s age and overall health. Potential complications include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Pain
• Swelling
• Heart complications
• Psychological effects, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

According to the Cleveland Clinic, phantom limb pain is the most common complication following amputation. It occurs when the nerves at the amputation site send pain signals to the brain despite the limb no longer being there. Treatment, including physical therapy, can help reduce phantom limb pain.

In addition to various physical symptoms, a worker who suffers an amputation injury or loss of a limb may also need to seek counseling to address the emotional effects of such an injury. Occupational or vocational therapies may also be beneficial.

Common Causes of Workplace Amputations in Greensboro

Workers are especially at risk for workplace amputations when operating heavy equipment or machinery. Amputations may occur while the machines are in operation or workers are cleaning or clearing jams in the equipment.

Examples of the types of equipment that often cause workplace amputations include:

• Conveyors
• Drill presses
• Band saws
• Compactors
• Grinders and shears
• Milling machines

Workers are at an increased risk of devastating injuries for amputation or loss of a limb if this equipment is not properly guarded or installed.

Compensation for Workplace Amputations in Greensboro

Workers’ compensation benefits are usually available for workers who experience the loss of a limb or amputation while on the job in North Carolina. You may be eligible for medical benefits and partial-wage-replacement disability benefits.

• Medical benefits – The employer or its workers’ compensation insurance company must pay for your medical treatment related to your workplace injury. Because disputes may arise concerning the injury that occurred on the job and the extent of medical treatment that is needed, you should contact an amputation compensation attorney to assist with your workers’ comp claim.
• Disability benefits – Workers who lose wages due to an injury on the job are entitled to disability benefits in North Carolina. The amount of money you will receive depends on your average weekly wage and the nature of your injury, namely whether it is for partial or total disability and whether the disability is temporary or permanent. Because of the complexities of the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act, contacting an attorney to assist you in navigating this process is essential.

In some cases, you could have a personal injury claim against a non-employer third-party responsible for the amputation. For example, you might have a third-party claim if a defective piece of machinery led to your limb loss or if someone who works for a vendor or subcontractor was at fault for the accident. In that case, you could be able to recover compensation for all your lost income, pain, suffering, and other losses.

Our lawyers are ready to review your specific situation to determine every potential source of coverage to maximize the compensation you can recover.

How Does the Workers’ Compensation System Handle Amputations?

The North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act includes a schedule of work injuries that specifies the rate and period of compensation for each injury. For example, the workers’ comp payout for losing a finger depends on which finger was amputated while you were on the job. For instance, if your thumb was amputated in a work accident, you would receive 66 2/3% of your average weekly wages for 75 weeks. If you lost your index finger, you would be entitled to 66 2/3% of your average weekly wages for 45 weeks.

For more catastrophic injuries, such as the loss of both hands or both legs, the schedule states that such an injury constitutes a total and permanent disability and specifies the level of compensation that may be for the lifetime of the injured worker.

What to Do If You’ve Suffered an Amputation Injury on the Job in Greensboro

If you suffer an amputation injury in your workplace in North Carolina, you should seek immediate medical attention. When receiving emergency medical attention, you should indicate that you were hurt on the job. The medical provider that treats you will document your injury as having occurred at work, which is critical for your workers’ compensation claim.

You should report the accident to your employer as soon as possible. If you fail to report the accident within 30 days of its occurrence, you may be unable to receive workers’ compensation benefits. The timeline for filing a workers’ comp claim is two years from the date of the accident.

Given the statutory timelines involved in seeking workers’ compensation benefits in North Carolina, it is best to contact our workers’ compensation attorneys as soon as possible after the accident. We can help you complete the necessary Form 18 to be filed with the North Carolina Industrial Commission and begin building a solid case for maximum compensation.