Filing a Claim for Crush Injuries

Crush injuries can be devastating. It’s not uncommon for crush injuries to occur in almost every profession, but there are some more common than others. Crush injuries can change your life in an instant, preventing you from going to work and providing for your family.

A crush injury happens when pressure is applied to a body part, most often when that body part is crushed between two objects. Crush injuries can lead to any of the following problems:

• Bruising
• Bleeding
• Compartment syndrome
• Loss of body parts
• Fractures
• Lacerations
• Infections
• Nerve injuries

Loss of limb is one of the most serious effects of a crush injury, but compartment syndrome is just as likely, and just as dangerous. This occurs when increased pressure is applied to a limb to the point where severe damage to the nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and tissues occurs. Compartment syndrome can lead to infections, increasing the risk of sepsis, and may necessitate an amputation.

Where do crush injuries occur?

A crush injury is not limited to just one or two industries. However, they are most common in professions where heavy equipment or machinery is used. For example, farming, manufacturing, industrial, and delivery professionals are prone to suffering crush injuries. These industries utilize automated machines, tractors, trucks, conveyor belts, and other machines that can easily crush a worker’s arms, legs, feet, or head.

Workers’ compensation benefits for crush injuries

The Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Act gives employees in the state the right to seek workers’ compensation benefits when injured performing the duties related to their employment.

Employers are required to provide workers’ compensation benefits to their employees if they are injured on the job so long as the employee reports the accident and subsequent injury. If you are injured in a workplace accident that crushes a body part, be sure to seek medical care immediately and inform your employer.

You should then file for workers’ compensation benefits. That’s why it’s important to speak with an attorney before making this decision as you might be eligible for more compensation via a lawsuit.

Filing a third-party claim

If your crush injury was caused by the negligence of a contractor, vendor, or customer of your employer, or because of a defective product, you might be eligible to file a third-party injury claim. Under Tennessee law, you could be eligible for up to $750,000.00 in non-economic compensation if you lost both hands, both feet, or one of each in an accident, because these are considered catastrophic claims.

Suffering an injury on the job in Tennessee changes your life in an instant. The inability to provide for your family makes life very stressful. If you have suffered a crush injury in Chattanooga or anywhere else in the state, it is important that you speak with a workers’ compensation attorney from Wagner & Wagner Attorneys at Law. Call our office at 423-756-7923, or complete a contact form online to schedule a consultation today. We provide compassionate legal representation for those in North Georgia, Cleveland, TN, and surrounding areas.