Work accidents happen. Whether your place of work is an office space or a construction yard, mistakes can occur that can inflict serious damage on workers. In some cases, these accidents are very mild causing minor injuries that can be solved with simple at-home remedies, a band-aid, or plenty of rest. However, in some cases, severe accidents can occur which can in turn cause more severe injuries. One of these incredibly damaging injuries that can occur after a work accident is elbow injuries. Elbow injuries can range from minor strains to debilitating elbow fractures. When people experience work accidents and complain of elbow pain, this pain is often correlated with some elbow injury. In this article, we will cover the causes of these elbow injuries, some common elbow injuries that can happen at your job, the treatment for elbow pains suffered after a work-related accident, and what you can do to receive compensation for the damages that you have had to endure. If you have further questions, reach out to an experienced attorney at the top-rated Normandie Law Firm. One of our accomplished lawyers with experience handling workplace accident claims will be able to take your call.
Work Accidents
A work accident can include anything from a minor slip and fall accident to a truly damaging car accident. In all of these accidents, an elbow injury can still occur. While the elbow may appear to be a sturdy point of the body, it is still a bone, and all bones have a breaking point. There are also soft tissues, tendons, and sensitive joints that can be damaged as a result of an accident. Fortunately, under federal law employers are expected to provide adequate workers compensation insurance for their employees. These insurance benefits are put in place to pay for things like medical bills, a loss of wages, a potential loss of future wages, and even emotional distress caused by accident. However, how much you receive for your worker’s compensation insurance benefits depends on the severity of your injuries and the specific injuries that you have endured. For more information, contact a skilled attorney with expertise in elbow injury lawsuits.
How The Elbow Breaks & Common Elbow Injuries At The Work Place
As mentioned prior, the elbow is a sturdy point in the body, but just like all points in the body, there is a crucial breaking point wherein the bone, tendons, and soft tissues give under pressure. A work-related elbow injury can occur as a result of falling and bracing yourself using your elbow or having a heavy object fall on you. Essentially an elbow injury at work can occur whenever the elbow is put under tremendous pressure. When suffering from elbow pain, it is important to understand the possible cause of this elbow pain. Listed below are some of the common damages an elbow can suffer after a work accident:
- Elbow Radial Heal Fracture: This form of elbow injury is caused by a break in the radius bone in the forearm just beneath the elbow joint, and can occur when an individual is bracing themselves, either in a car accident or a slip and fall accident, with an outstretched hand.
- Medical Elbow Ligament Sprain: Otherwise known as the MCL, the medial collateral ligament in the elbow is located in the inner elbow and provides stability to the area. This joint can be damaged as a result of a high force impact.
- Elbow Avulsion Fracture: An avulsion fracture occurs when the tendon comes away from the bone, and takes part of the bone with it. These injuries can be incredibly challenging to recover from and can require the assistance of a medical professional.
- Broken Elbow: This form of elbow injury occurs where there is a break in one of the bones below the elbow joint. Three different bones could be broken: The Humerus (upper arm bone), Ulna and Radius (two forearm bones). This can occur as a result of intense pressure being applied to the area.
- Dislocated Elbow: Like the shoulder joint, the elbow joint can be dislocated as a result of intense force. Although, unlike the shoulder, the elbow is an incredibly stable joint and requires a high amount of force to dislocate it.
These injuries, if left untreated can result in further damages. The more you use a pained elbow, and fail to seek appropriate medical attention, the more likely it is your elbow will suffer more and even potentially permanent damage. In some cases, the pain from these injuries isn’t even felt right away, as the damage develops more and more over the passing days. This is precisely why; it is highly recommended that after any work accident you go in to seek the consultation of a doctor, nurse, or other trained physician. For a recommendation for an adequate medical professional, call one of our qualified attorneys with experience in elbow injury cases.
Treatment For Elbow Pain After A Work Accident
As stated prior the treatment for an elbow injury can vary depending on the injury itself and the severity of said injury. A trained physician will often use a combination of skilled evaluations, x-rays, and ultrasounds to determine the condition of their patients. This treatment can vary from easy to apply at-home remedies to incredibly intrusive elbow surgeries. For example, if your elbow was sprained or strained in some form or fashion, there are some recommended at-home treatments that you can try before visiting a doctor. Some of these at-home remedies are listed as follows:
- Resting the elbow and avoid moving the arm where the injury occurred.
- Ice the injured elbow for 15 to 20 minutes at a time around 3 to 4 times a day. It is recommended that you wrap the wounded area in an ice cloth, and do not place ice directly on the skin of the injured area.
- Compress the injured area by wrapping it in an elastic bandage or compression wrap
- Elevate the wounded elbow above your heart.
If the pain doesn’t subside, you can try administering over-the-counter pain-killer and anti-inflammatory medications like Advil, Motrin, Aleve, or Tylenol to reduce pain and swelling. However, even if your sprain or strain can be treated home, it is always in your best interest to seek medical consultation immediately after your accident as the faint pain you feel at first could be the telltale signs of a severe fracture or dislocation.
In cases of more severe elbow injuries, reparative elbow surgery may be necessary. Surgery can be a trying process as it includes several visits to the hospital, pre-op and post-op appointments, and often grueling physical therapy. Even then, there is no guarantee that full function in the elbow will be restored after this process. These hospital visits and professional medical treatments can be expensive and can be incredibly difficult to overcome even with suitable workers compensation insurance. Fortunately, there are other ways in which an elbow injury work accident victim can seek compensation for their damages.
If your employer fails to provide adequate workers compensation insurance or caused your injuries with intent to cause harm, you may be able to file a lawsuit against them for their negligence and misconduct. However, filing a lawsuit can be difficult without the right legal assistance on your side. With a lawyer with expertise in work injuries, you could find a positive outcome for your case. An expert attorney who has experience in work injury cases can guide you through the process of building a case, gathering the resources to file a claim, and collecting compensation for the damages that you have had to endure.
How Normandie Law Firm Can Help
Having the right lawyer on your side can make the difference between filing a successful claim for compensation and having your case dismissed from court entirely. If you or a loved one has experienced a fractured elbow, elbow dislocation, or any other form of elbow injury, our experienced lawyers at the top Normandie Law Firm can steer you in the right direction. Our attorneys are experienced in handling cases of this nature and can assist you in challenging your employer. Clients who file a claim with our Los Angeles Law Firm could find some if not all of the following damages compensable to them:
- Past and Future Medical Expenses
- Loss of Wages
- Potential Loss of Future Wages
- Pain and Suffering
- Emotional Distress (anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc…)
- Punitive Damages
Victims of elbow injuries from work accidents can contact our law offices to receive more information on how to receive adequate compensation for their damages. While our law firm is based in Los Angeles, our attorneys also practice in San Diego, Orange County, Riverside, Oakland, San Francisco, Sacramento, and throughout the state of California.
Free Second Opinions
Other attorneys will sign you up to their firm but will disappear once your name is on the paper as they are busy signing up more cases. In these instances, their business is based more on volume and will attempt to sign up as many cases as possible. In turn, they will spend less time on cases resulting in severely reduced settlements. Our firm will not treat you like a number. We will be in communication with you throughout our lawsuit and will treat you like family. So if you already have an attorney don’t worry, we’ll give you a second review of your case 100% free of charge. A lawyer experienced in workplace accident cases will help you.
Zero Fee Guarantee-No Upfront Fees Ever
If you contact our law offices today, we can walk you through the complicated process of filing your claim completely free of charge. As a show this commitment to you and your case we offer our clients the benefits of a zero fee guarantee policy. Under our zero fee policy, all clients don’t pay for our services until their case is won. If you feel in need of a second opinion, second opinion case reviews are also free under this policy. Please, feel free to give us a call, and a lawyer with experience handling elbow injury claims can guide you down the path of receiving proper compensation for your damages.
