Arm injury

Arm injuries are surprisingly common in the workplace regardless of what kind of work is done there. However, in the majority of cases, they aren’t all that serious. Though more severe instances of arm injuries can leave a person unable to work. Plus, they may require weeks away from work to recover fully. That’s why arm injuries are covered under the US Workers’ Compensation law.

We use our hands and arms for everything from lifting objects to typing on the computer. Hence there is a myriad of arm injuries which range from fractures to wrist sprains and joint problems. While more severe arm injuries are usually sustained at dangerous workplaces like construction sites and factories, they can happen at any workplace for that matter.

Someone who suffers from arm injuries should do the following:

• Get a doctors’ opinion on what kind of injury it is and how long it will take to heal.
• Take the number of days off as recommended and inform their supervisor.
• If the injury was caused by an accident at the workplace, then a supervisor should be immediately informed in writing.

What arm injury compensation can you expect?

Workers’ Compensation does cover arm injuries sustained in the workplace. Even though workers’ compensation may appear to be some type of personal injury, in reality, it only covers the pain and suffering of a worker hurt on the job and not necessarily the damages. That said workers’ compensation does provide an array of benefits for those who have injured their arm when working. However, the first step to seeking injury compensation is to file a claim. Filing a claim can be done by filling out a form via the business’s Human Resource (HR) department.

Most disability checks are set at around 80% percent of the employee’s earnings each week which covers permanent, and temporary disability. Perhaps at some point, the doctor may allow for the worker to resume their duties at which point they will return but do light duty for a while. This will usually entail not lifting heavy loads.

Common benefits for arm injuries include:

• Assistance with medical expenses associated with the injury – If a worker breaks their arm when working, they are helped with medical bills, doctors’ visits, prescriptions, physical therapy, and surgery. You can also visit doctors (on their list) for no charge.
• Wage replacement – If you happen to work in an industry that requires using both your arms, then there is a good chance that an injury to one or more than one arm means you can’t work. So, workers’ compensation will provide you with a portion of the wages you lose.
• Job training – In cases where you can’t return to what you used to do even after recovering from the injury you will receive job training for a new type of job. If anything it helps you pick up a new skill.

How to file an injury compensation claim?

The key to making a successful injury claim is to act fast and take the right steps. Workers’ compensation does cover your injury but the longer you take to claim compensation the more difficult it becomes. All the variables that go into proving your claim become harder to prove as time goes on which is why you need to act fast. If your arm was injured in an accident at work, it should be reported immediately as mentioned above. Then seek medical attention.

You will want to take the steps listed below to file your claim. However, some steps may differ depending on which city you’re living in and your line of work.

• What caused your injury? How was it caused and where did the accident take place? All of this needs to be recorded in an incidence report.
• Visit a doctor listed by your company since they are covered by the workers’ compensation insurance. So, any and all documents created as a result will work to substantiate your claim.
• Get a few witnesses onboard who saw the accident happen.

If for some reason you have not been able to do any of the above yet, or are unable to do it then get in touch with an attorney. In severe injury cases, the worker may not even be able to sign their name. An attorney should be able to work through all the angles to file a strong case for your claim. Also, if the claim is denied, they can move on to other legal steps required to get the compensation you deserve.