Nashville Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Representing Medical Professionals
Helping nurses, doctors, EMTs, home health aides, and others secure Tennessee workers’ compensation benefits
Healthcare and medical professionals perform some of the most important work in the United States. Naturally, we associate doctors, nurses, technicians, and other professionals with health and wellness. However, if you work in the medical field, you know that your job is also hazardous. And, just like every other employee, when you’re injured at work, you deserve workers’ compensation benefits.
OSHA reports that hospital workers are more likely to miss work due to injury than construction or manufacturing employees – two industries you’d think would be more dangerous. At Rocky McElhaney Law Group, we understand how devastating it can be to not be able to do your job. Some injures can take months or years to fully heal. Other injures may leave a nurse, doctor, or other healthcare worker permanently unable to do their job.
We fight to get injured healthcare workers and medical professionals payment for their medical bills and their share of weekly wages. We also negotiate lump sum settlements. Our Nashville workers’ compensation attorneys are ready to stand up to the insurance companies who will fight your every request. We also work to prove the injured healthcare worker is an employee who’s eligible for all benefits allowed by law.
"When I was a teenager, Dad got hurt. Insurance company wouldn't pay. We lost our house. But, Dad got a lawyer and we got justice. That's the moment I decided to become an attorney. As a lawyer, I have dedicated my life to helping injury victims."
~ Rocky
Who can file a Nashville workers’ compensation claim?
Healthcare industry work can be extremely demanding and risky. It can encompass a wide variety of jobs — from home healthcare worker to nurse to phlebotomist — all with their own particular risks. Workers' compensation is designed to protect you in the event you’re injured while performing your job duties.
Healthcare injuries and illnesses affect many types of medical workers, including:
- Ambulance drivers
- Doctors
- Emergency medical transport workers
- Emergency room personnel
- Home health aides
- Medical assistants
- Medical technicians
- Nurses
- Paramedics
- Physical, vocational, and occupational therapists
- Surgeons
If you sustain an injury on the job, whether it's sudden or develops over time, you deserve compensation. Workers’ comp should pay for your medical bills and, if you’re unable to work while you’re injured, assist with your wages.
What types of accidents are common to healthcare workers?
Some of the possible types of events that can lead a healthcare worker to file a workers’ compensation claim include:
- Exposure. Healthcare workers can be exposed to airborne and blood borne diseases, radioactive materials, hazardous waste, dangerous drugs, and chemicals. Nurses or practitioners can suffer an accidental needle stick or fluid spill, exposing themselves to body fluids or toxic materials.
- Slips and falls. Slips and falls are common in doctor’s offices and hospitals due to the chaotic nature of medicine and emergency situations. Focusing on the patient means the medical worker may not be always focusing on their own well being.
- Patient-handling injuries. Moving a patient into a chair, a bed, or around the hospital can cause nurses or other workers to wrench their back or result in other soft tissue injuries.
- Repetitive task injuries. Administrative staff or anyone who works with computers can suffer carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and other repetitive stress injuries that can cause long-term chronic pain. Any technician who repeats the same tasks can suffer a repetitive workplace injury.
- Workplace violence. ER staff must often work with people who have been shot, stabbed, or attacked in some way. Sometimes these patients or their friends may attack a member of the medical staff. Also, many patients brought to the emergency room may be suffering from drug overdose or mental illness that can cause them to become violent.
- Auto accidents. Ambulance drivers and EMT staff must often rush through traffic to take a patient to the hospital. When other motorists fail to pay attention to sirens and flashing lights, ambulances and emergency vehicles can be involved in serious accidents.
- Stress, depression, and anxiety. It’s hard working with people who are ill. The daily grind can cause burnout and psychological injuries. These injuries are just as damaging as physical trauma and which may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits – especially if they are accompanied by a physical injury.
Other accidents and workplace conditions that can cause healthcare injuries include occupational illnesses and defective products. Understaffing can also lead to overexertion injuries, as many nurses, practitioners and doctors work long hours. Interns and residents are also well known for working excessively long shifts.
What injuries can Nashville medical professionals experience?
The Nashville area is home to many hospitals and medical facilities, including Vanderbilt University Medical Center, TriStar Centennial Medical Center, Saint Thomas West Hospital, and TriStar Skyline Medical Center.
Whether a healthcare worker is working in a hospital, medical office, ambulatory surgery center, clinic, on the road, or at someone’s home, they can easily suffer any of the following injuries or diseases:
- Infectious diseases. Healthcare workers need to be especially careful when working with patients who have HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, or other well-known infectious diseases.
- Upper back, lower back, and neck pain. These injuries can easily become chronic over time. Some workers never fully recover from neck and spinal injuries. Serious back pain may be due to a herniated disk.
- Broken bones. A slip and fall, an assault, or a car accident can cause broken bones, disfigurement, muscle damage, and other injuries.
- Sprains and strains. Many healthcare workers such as nurses and home health aides are constantly moving people and equipment that may be too heavy or too unwieldy. Just one wrong twist or turn can cause a sprain or strain in soft tissues and muscles.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI). A slip and fall or ambulance crash can cause a TBI, which affects a worker’s physical, emotional, and cognitive skills – often for the rest of their lives.
- Eye injuries. Constant computer work or work with other technical equipment can strain your eyes, causing headaches, migraines, or other vision-related injuries and conditions.
We know what it takes to build a successful workers’ comp claim, and we work to ensure you receive all the benefits you’re entitled to under law.
Do you have a workers’ compensation attorney near me?
Rocky McElhaney Law Firm has two offices in Nashville: one at 545 Mainstream Dr. (Suite 105) and one at 615 Main Street, B21. We also have state-of-the-art offices in Hendersonville and Clarksville. If you are too injured to come to us, we will make home and hospital visits, or schedule a phone or video consultation.
Speak with experienced Nashville workers’ compensation lawyers today
The Gladiators in Suits at Rocky McElhaney Law Firm have been fighting aggressively for injured healthcare workers and all workers for nearly 20 years. For help, please call our Nashville workers’ compensation lawyers at 615.425.2500 or use our contact form to schedule an appointment in Nashville, Hendersonville, or Clarksville.