South Carolina Medical Worker Injury Lawyer

The medical and healthcare sector is one of the fastest-growing areas of the U.S. economy. According to the most recent data from the South Carolina Office for Healthcare Workforce, there are over 13,000 physicians, 43,000 nurses, and 30,000 other healthcare professionals in the state. Unfortunately, despite major advancements in medicine, many health workers face serious risks of injury at hospitals and nursing homes.

At the Steinberg Law Firm, our dedicated team of personal injury and workers’ compensation lawyers have over 95 years of experience helping injured workers obtain compensation due to an on-the-job injury. We provide free consultations, during which we will explain the recovery process, outline your options, and explain what we can do to help obtain the compensation you need to get your life back on track after a workplace injury. 

How Common Are Medical Field Worker Injuries?

Healthcare worker injuries are extremely common. In fact, the healthcare sector has one of the highest rates of nonfatal injuries and illnesses. For example, in 2021, over 623,000 employees in the “healthcare and social services” industry experienced an occupational injury or illness. And while many of these injuries and illnesses were minor, more than 276,000 workers missed at least one day of work as a result of a workplace injury or illness. Put another way, there are approximately 5.5 work-related injuries in the healthcare sector for every 100 full-time employees. This figure is about twice as high as the average injury rate among all jobs in the United States. 

Hazards Confronting Healthcare Professionals

Healthcare professionals face many work-related risks and hazards that other types of workers are not confronted with. For example, some of the most common types of medical worker workplace injuries and illnesses include:

• Sprains, 
• Strains,
• Slipped, herniated, or bulging discs, 
• Back injuries,
• Puncture wounds,
• Broken bones, and
• Head trauma.

What Are the Top Causes of Medical Worker Injuries?

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, most healthcare worker injuries are the result of a few well-known hazards, including the following:

• Overexertion and bodily reaction account for 48 percent of all hospital worker injuries.
• Slips, trips, and falls account for 25 percent of all hospital worker injuries.
• Contact with objects accounts for 25 percent of all hospital worker injuries.
• Workplace violence accounts for 9 percent of all hospital worker injuries.

These causes are so common that all other causes of workplace accidents make up less than one percent of the total number of incidents. 

By far, the largest single cause of medical worker injuries is overexertion. Overexertion injuries are often the result of seemingly routine or harmless motions that a worker makes over and over again. Alternatively, they can also happen when a worker physically pushes themselves too hard. In the context of medical workers, the majority of overexertion injuries occur while moving or repositioning patients. One study that surveyed workers in approximately 1,000 hospitals found that roughly 25 percent of all workers’ compensation claims in the healthcare industry could be traced back to patient-handling injuries. 

The same study found that the average claim amount for a medical worker who suffered a patient-handling injury incurred medical expenses and lost wages of $15,600. Experts also believe that the severity and frequency of medical worker injuries are one of the primary reasons why the industry has such a high turnover rate. 

Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Injured Healthcare Professionals

Medical workers who suffer any work-related injury or illness may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. The workers’ compensation program covers the cost of an injured worker’s medical expenses and provides them with wage-loss benefits. Unlike a traditional personal injury lawsuit, however, there is no requirement that an injured medical worker proves anyone else was responsible for their injuries. 

Healthcare professionals can usually qualify for benefits even if they were partially responsible for their own injuries or could have done more to prevent their injuries. For example, not wearing a recommended back brace or moving a patient without assistance typically will not preclude a medical worker from obtaining workers’ compensation benefits. 

Has a Recent Workplace Injury Impacted Your Ability to Work?

If you or a loved one work as a healthcare professional and recently suffered serious injuries or were diagnosed with a work-related health condition, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. The Steinberg Law Firm was founded more than 95 years ago to help injured workers. In fact, our firm’s founder, Irving Steinberg, was instrumental in getting the first Workers’ Compensation laws in the state on the books in South Carolina. In the decades since then, our attorneys have recovered compensation on behalf of countless workers, helping them overcome their injuries and get back to work so they can continue living their lives and supporting their families. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation today, call the Steinberg Law Firm at 843-720-2800. You can also reach us through our secure online contact form. Calling is free, and we take all workers’ compensation cases on a contingency basis, meaning we will not charge for our services unless we secure financial compensation for you.