Common Types of Work-Related Finger Injuries
There are multiple types of finger injuries that can occur on the job, either onsite in a hazardous workplace or offsite when performing various duties. Causes of finger injuries can include certain accidents such as slip and falls, heavy lifting, falling objects, car accidents, and others. Injuries may be immediate or develop over a period of time as a result of repeated stress on the various muscles, joints, or tendons that comprise the fingers.
Some of the most common types of finger injuries that occur include:
- Sprains
- Strains
- Bruises
- Tendon injuries such as mallet finger
- Dislocations
- Crushing injuries
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
How Work-Related Finger Injuries Occur
There are several potential causes of finger injuries in the workplace, from more immediate injuries resulting from accidents to injuries that develop symptoms over time as a result of repeated motions and stress. In many cases, employee or employer negligence or faulty machinery cause these injuries. In any case, injured employees may be able to seek compensation with a workers’ comp claim. Some finger injuries can occur when traveling offsite using company or personal vehicles to travel from one location to another, which can put employees at risk of traffic accidents. Even if an injury has no visible symptoms to begin with, they could become apparent over time long after the initial accident.
Regardless of the nature of a finger injury, a dependable workers’ compensation attorney may be able to help seek compensation in these cases.
Treatment for Finger Injuries in the Workplace
While in many instances workers won’t require more than a short period of rest and relaxation to recover from finger injuries, additional medical treatment may be necessary. Treatments could include various medications, cortisone injections, or supportive devices such as braces that help stabilize the fingers for proper healing. In more serious cases, treatment for finger injuries may entail surgery along with long periods of recovery to make a full recovery.
Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim for Work-Related Finger Injuries
Workers are often reluctant to file workers’ compensation claims for any type of work-related injury because of insufficient knowledge pertaining the filing process, but a reliable experienced attorney can help guide individuals through the process. In Illinois, you have the option of filing a claim with either the state or your employer.
To file a claim with an employer, individuals will need to submit a detailed written description of the incident within 45 days of sustaining the injury, with the exception of injuries that don’t develop symptoms until long after the initial accident. The employer will be able to either accept or deny the claim, but will need to explain the decision in a written description regardless. If the employer denies the claim, individuals can still file a claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC), which will investigate the case along with the employer’s decision.
If you suspect that your employer is likely to simply deny the claim, filing with the IWCC can help hasten the process. However, you will still need to provide a written description, the details of which will depend on the nature of the incident and injury.
Work with a Trustworthy Finger Injury Workers’ Comp Attorney
If you have sustained an injury on the job, whether it’s a finger injury or another type of injury or illness, you likely have one or more of the following concerns:
- When you can return to work
- How you’ll be able to support yourself and your family without the ability to return to work
- The amount of compensation you’re eligible to recover through a workers’ comp claim
- When you’ll be able to recover compensation to cover medical costs
Workers’ compensation can cover a variety of expenses, including:
- Doctors’ appointments
- Surgery
- Transportation to and from doctors’ appointments
- Hospital stays
- Rehabilitation
- Medical equipment
- Medications
At Vasilatos Injury Law, we have worked with many clients to help them seek compensation for many different types of workers’ comp cases, including claims for finger injuries. We understand how a finger injury can affect your daily life and we will help you restore your life to the wait it was prior to the injury.
Get the Help You Need with a Reliable Finger Injury Workers’ Comp Firm
When you work with the professionals here at Vasilatos Injury Law, we’ll work with you to file a finger injury workers’ compensation claim and provide representation either in or out of court. We work hard to cover every aspect of a case and can help you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Our experienced and knowledgeable attorneys will be able to provide an accurate assessment of your case and determine how your injury has impacted your life and abilities. If we determine that you have a viable case, we will help you recover the benefits you deserve, including compensation for all lost wages and treatment.
Our team will provide their full attention to understand your case and help your reach a favorable settlement.
Average Settlement for Finger Injuries
Compensation for finger injuries will depend on the case and the overall severity of the injury. Here are some client success stories from cases we’ve handled.