Thanks to federal and state legislation that governs employees’ rights in the event of injury and illness caused in the workplace, you can usually expect to be fairly compensated for your medical expenses, economic loss, and, if you are the survivor of someone killed in a workplace accident, death benefits as well.

Workers comp actually protects employers, too. Although you are compensated for lost wages during your convalescence and reimbursed for medical expenses, you lose the right to file suit against the employer for punitive damages.

Immediately upon reporting an accident, you should be assured that your employer has initiated the paperwork required to start your workers comp benefits. Workers comp will cover your medical bills and will provide you with a percentage of your salary on a tax-free basis during your convalescence.

If it is determined that your injury or illness resulted in permanent disability, workers comp provides for permanent disability payments and continued reimbursement of your medical expenses. Alternatively, in some states, disabled workers may be entitled to a lump sum payment.

If you were off the job at the time of the accident but performing tasks related to your job, you may still qualify for workers comp coverage. This might include incidents occurring while you are traveling for work, running job-related errands, or attending an after-hours company function.

Some injuries aren’t covered by workers comp, even if they happened on the job. If the accident occurred due to your own negligence, for example, or if you own a business or are self-employed, work on a farm, or perform domestic labor in someone else’s home, workers comp does not apply.

You cannot bring suit against your employer if you are receiving workers comp benefits, but some situations allow you to bypass workers comp and sue for damages. If the employer’s negligence was responsible for conditions leading up to the accident or if the company failed to carry workers comp insurance, you may have grounds to sue.

Since each state establishes and implements its own legislation governing workers comp, be sure to contact your state workers comp board for more information. If you think your employer has violated your rights or was culpable in the accident that caused your injury, you may want to discuss the circumstances with a qualified workers comp attorney who can evaluate your case and recommend options. Many attorneys offer this initial meeting at no cost and will not charge a fee unless a settlement is awarded to you.

At the Nahon Firm, PLC, we will fight to help you win. Our Nashville work injury attorneys will treat you with the utmost compassion and respect.  You can count on compassion, dedication, and determination towards your case.  Call us today and speak with a Nashville accident lawyer to discuss the details of your case. Call (615) 324-2000.

Many people currently suffer from a lung disease which was caused by a hazardous substance. Such lung diseases can affect the breathing mechanisms causing symptoms such as shortness of breath, chronic cough, chest pain and difficulty breathing. When a person is afflicted with this type of disease in their lungs, they may become incapable of enjoying the activities they once did, or working in the same career field. Occupational lung diseases are brought on by workplace exposure.

In some instances the place you work can contain any number of harmful substances such as coal or asbestos, leading to serious diseases such as Mesothelioma, black lung, asbestosis or silicosis. People who have spent their lives working in the mining industry or other high-risk occupations may have been exposed to hazardous workplace substances such as asbestos or radon gas. Such long-term exposure is a major cause of lung diseases which can be life-altering.

What You May Have Been Exposed To at Work

If you work in any type of employment sector in which asbestos is present, your employer should ensure sure you are fully protected through the use of a facial mask or other protective gear. Many people are exposed constantly to dust particles and damaging chemical fumes in the workplace and must take advantage of such protective safety gear. There are many hazardous substances workers may encounter such as diesel fumes, asbestos, wood dust, silica, heavy metals, radon, solvents, ether, mustard gas and even second-hand smoke which can severely damage the lungs.  Those who are employed in such industries as textile factories, car garages, uranium mines, iron or steel foundries, painting companies, printing companies, glass manufacturing companies or nail salons—just to name a few—are likely exposed to certain levels of harmful chemicals.

Indications of Lung Disease

Those who have been repeatedly exposed to hazardous workplace substances can begin having shortness of breath, with symptoms which steadily escalate such as abnormal breathing patterns, chest pain and coughing. If you suspect you have been exposed to hazardous chemicals in your workplace you should immediately consult a medical professional who will likely send you for chest x-rays and other tests such as a test to determine pulmonary functions, tissue and lung fluid testing and cellular and bio-chemical studies of chest fluids.  Doctors determine the course of treatment depending on your current age, previous medical history and overall state of health as well as the specific type of lung disease you have and how far the disease has progressed.

Claim for COPD

Your doctor may diagnose you with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease if your job has exposed you to hazardous working conditions which include gases, chemicals or dust. This is a serious lung condition in which the lungs become irritated and inflamed, causing serious difficulties in breathing. COPD in turn can lead to asthma, emphysema, silicosis, bronchitis, and other potentially life-threatening diseases. If you are suffering from work-related COPD, you are eligible for a compensation claim under the industrial injuries and illness provision.

Get Help from an Experienced Attorney

If you have suffered lung exposure from hazardous substances in your work environment, you need help in filing a claim, and you need an aggressive advocate in your corner to handle the legal issues while you concentrate on your medical care and your future. You must have knowledgeable legal advice in order to get the compensation you are due from hazardous substance exposure. You may have huge amounts of medical bills which continue to pile up, and are facing future medical bills for a long period of time. You may be unable to work because of your lung conditions, and are facing a very uncertain future. Don’t wait to contact a lawyer in your area who has extensive experience in lung diseases caused by workplace hazards.

At the Nahon Firm, PLC, we will fight to help you win. Our Nashville personal injury attorneys will treat you with the utmost compassion and respect.  You can count on compassion, dedication, and determination towards your case.  Call us today and speak with a Nashville accident lawyer to discuss the details of your case. Call (615) 324-2000.

The most recent numbers show that in 2009 there were 3,277,700 recordable, non-fatal accidents in private industry workplaces.  Of those, nearly 52 percent involved sprains and strains, most often involving the back, and nearly a million of these injuries caused significant time away from work. If you add bruises, contusions, cuts, lacerations and fractures to the list, you have accounted for almost two-thirds of the accidents which lead to days away from work.

Where Do These Sprains and Strains Occur?

Over a third of the strains and sprains which occur in the workplace take place in the trade, transportation and utilities industry, while 19 percent occur in the education and health services industry sector. Occupationally, the greatest number of injuries occurred in laborers, movers and truck drivers due to overexertion or contact with heavy objects and equipment. Nursing aides, orderlies and attendants suffered sprains and strains to the back due to lifting and moving patients.

How Do Sprains and Strains Happen?

Falls from a height are one primary way sprains and strains occur. Many times unstable equipment, wet or greasy floors, uneven surfaces or simple loss of balance can contribute to a fall, and, in fact, falls are a leading cause of work-related deaths, especially among construction workers and those in agriculture, forestry, and fishing and mining industries. Additionally, those who work in retail are also at risk for falls due to climbing ladders to reach something in less than ideal conditions.  A fall will usually result in a sprain, strain or tear—injuries which can be very painful, not to mention long lasting, leading to lost work days.

Lifting as a Cause of Workplace Sprains and Strains

At least a third of workplace sprain and strain injuries are due to lifting an object which is too heavy, or from lifting any object improperly. Your mother really did know what she was talking about when she cautioned you to always lift with your legs rather than your back! Lifting injuries will generally lead to longer work absences than falls, and back and muscle pain is a common result. While anyone is at risk of suffering a sprain or strain from lifting, those in jobs such as nursing, transportation and manufacturing are much more likely to suffer such an injury. Those who suffer an injury from lifting can have pain in the neck, upper and lower back, as well as pain which radiates to other limbs. Even when back surgery is recommended, recovery from such an injury can potentially take a very long time.

The Impact of Heavy Equipment in Sprains and Strains

Many jobs, especially in the construction and manufacturing industries, require the use of complex, heavy equipment. Although these machines certainly make the work easier when properly maintained and correctly used, they can make the workplace increasingly dangerous, and are responsible for numerous workplace sprains, strains and tears. When heavy equipment is improperly used, injuries can occur, and many such injuries occur when getting in or out of the equipment. Often the worker lands wrong, twisting his back or neck, or pulls a muscle when attempting to get into the heavy equipment, causing long-term damage to the neck and back muscles.

Automobile Accidents

Finally, those workers who use company vehicles in the commission of their employment report sprains and strains as a result of automobile accidents leading to injuries of this nature. Especially at risk are employees such as pizza delivery drivers, or salesmen who spend large amounts of time in their vehicles.

If you have suffered any type of muscle sprain or strain as a result of a workplace accident, it is imperative you take action immediately. Call and talk to a reputable, experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your options as well as your future actions. Don’t let a workplace accident cost you your future!

At the Nahon Firm, PLC, we will fight to help you win. Our Nashville personal injury attorneys will treat you with the utmost compassion and respect.  You can count on compassion, dedication, and determination towards your case.  Call us today and speak with a Nashville accident lawyer to discuss the details of your case. Call (615) 324-2000.

Workplace injury procedure will vary from state to state and business to business, however if you’ve suffered an injury at your workplace through no fault of your own, there are certain universal rules which should be followed. Your first priority will be to seek appropriate medical attention. Even if you are unsure of the extent of your injury, don’t wait to report it until you’ve determined how badly you are hurt. A medical professional will know how to ensure your injuries do not become worse and will document the full extent of your injuries as well.

Enlist a co-worker’s assistance in calling for emergency help. If your workplace has policies in place that detail how you should handle a workplace accident with injury, your co-worker can probably handle the details while you are being looked at by medical personnel. Just make sure you’ve designated someone who is absolutely trustworthy and will take care of all the details for you so they don’t get neglected, costing you in the end.

Report Your Injury Promptly

The second most important thing you can do following a workplace accident is to report the incident and all facts surrounding it to your immediate supervisor as quickly as possible. Many people fail to notify their supervisor or management in the hopes the injury will improve over time and it won’t be necessary, or because they are worried they will be fired should they seek worker’s compensation for a workplace injury. Be aware that there are specific time limits on how long you wait to file a workplace injury claim, and if you should wait too long to notify your employer they may be able to successfully dispute your claim.

If you are not too badly hurt, you should notify your employer even before you are seen by a doctor, but don’t jeopardize your health to do so. It may also be necessary to report your injury prior to seeing a doctor if your employer has specific company doctors they require employees to see in the event of an accident. In some cases you may be able to see your own doctor and be reimbursed, however some health insurance companies refuse to pay medical expenses arising from workplace injuries, demanding instead that the employer pay.  If you happen to be management and are injured in the workplace, you will have a company-established procedure for dealing with workplace injuries which may include contacting your company’s insurance rep.

Document Everything

Even the smallest detail can make a huge difference should your worker’s comp claim be disputed, so keep every single piece of paper related to your case, and write down all pertinent details before you forget them. You are responsible for following through with your claim, so do not expect your employer to take care of the details. Make copies of your initial claim, the accident report, all medical, hospital and prescription drug bills and any correspondence with your employer, your supervisor and the insurance company. Be organized, and keep these documents filed and easy to find.

Hire an Experienced Worker’s Comp Attorney

It is almost always in the best interests of your future to hire a knowledgeable Worker’s Comp Attorney who can aggressively defend your rights as well as explaining complex laws and answering any questions you may have. Your employer may refuse to send you to a doctor, may deny your injury was workplace-related, or deny the extent of your injuries. Even if your employer agrees to pay you for medical treatment and lost wages, don’t settle until you have spoken with an attorney who can determine if you have received all compensation you are legally entitled to.

At the Nahon Firm, PLC, we will fight to help you win. Our Nashville personal injury attorneys will treat you with the utmost compassion and respect. Call us today and speak with a Nashville accident lawyer to discuss the details of your case. Call (615) 324-2000.