Portland Workplace Broken Bones Injury Attorney
Broken bones are some of the most common injuries employees suffer in workplace accidents in Portland and throughout Oregon. If you suffered a broken bone while on the job in Portland, you could be entitled to benefits from your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy. However, obtaining the benefits you believe you’re entitled to can sometimes be more challenging than you might think.
What to Expect When Filing for Workers’ Compensation After a Broken Bone Injury in Portland
When you suffer a broken bone injury at work in Portland, you may be entitled to benefits from a workers’ compensation claim.
The process of filing for workers’ compensation involves the following steps:
- Notify your employer about your broken bone promptly by filling out Form 801 from Oregon’s Workers’ Compensation Division and submit it to them.
- Ensure your employer sends your completed Form 801 to their workers’ compensation insurance provider within five days of your notice.
- Seek prompt medical attention for your injury and work with your doctor to fill out a Form 827, which must also be sent to your employer’s insurer.
- Wait for your employer’s insurance carrier to notify you of their decision to accept or deny your claim, which they should provide within 60 days.
- Work with a knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney to begin the appeals process if your claim is denied or undervalued.
How An Attorney Can Help You Seek Compensation for Bone Fractures in Workplace Accidents
When you suffer a broken bone injury at work, hiring a Portland workers’ comp attorney is the best way to pursue the full benefits you need to recover. A trusted workers’ comp lawyer can help you by:
- Obtaining your medical records, arranging treatment you need with doctors or specialists, and gathering professional testimony from medical experts
- Consulting vocational experts who can describe your job requirements and how your injuries may affect your ability to return to work
- Representing you at workers’ compensation hearings when you are required to appear
- Negotiating a fair workers’ compensation settlement on your behalf that fully accounts for all of your medical expenses and other injury-related losses
Why Choose Our Attorney to Handle Your Workplace Broken Bone Claim?
Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C., is headed by a knowledgeable Portland attorney who has focused exclusively on workers’ compensation law for more than 20 years. Jodie Anne Phillips Polich is dedicated to helping injured workers and their families secure the compensation they need to recover from workplace broken bones and other types of on-the-job injuries.
Jodie brings unique insight into the workers’ compensation cases she handles. As a former member of the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board, she understands the inner workings of the workers’ comp claims process in Portland. Today, she is committed to using her extensive experience to tackle a wide variety of challenges for her clients.
Contact her online or call 503-451-6065 to set up a free and confidential consultation about your injury.
Most Common Workplace Accidents That Result in Broken Bones
Broken bones can occur for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common workplace accidents that result in bone fractures include:
- Slip-and-falls – This category includes slip-and-falls onto the same floor or falls from heights onto lower levels, the force of which can easily break human bones.
- Struck-by accidents – Bones can fracture when employees are struck by falling or flying objects such as ladders, tools, equipment, or heavy materials.
- Struck-against accidents – Workers can sustain broken bones when they are forced into or crushed against rigid structures or heavy machinery.
- Caught-in/compressed-by accidents – These accidents occur when limbs or digits become caught in machinery or tools that crush fragile bone structures.
- Motor vehicle accidents – Many workers use motor vehicles for job-related tasks, and vehicle accidents are a common cause of broken bones.
- Repetitive motion injuries – Over time, repetitive motion strain can cause stress fractures in bones or muscular atrophy that puts more pressure on the skeleton.
Types of Bone Fractures
There are many different types of broken bones, also known as bone fractures. Portland work accidents frequently result in the following types of bone fractures:
- Stable or simple fractures – A stable or simple fracture results from a clean break in which the ends of the broken bone still line up correctly.
- Open or compound fractures – An open or compound fracture occurs when the ends of the broken bone protrude from the skin or otherwise do not line up.
- Oblique fractures – Oblique fractures involve curved or angled breaks, often resulting in the bone splintering into fragments.
- Transverse fractures – Transverse fractures occur when a bone breaks along a line perpendicular to the bone’s shaft.
- Comminuted fractures – Comminuted fractures occur when a bone breaks or splinters into multiple pieces, often requiring surgical reconstruction to heal.
Treatment for Portland Workplace Broken Bone Injuries
Depending on the nature and severity of your broken bone injury, your healthcare team may recommend one or more of the following treatments:
- Casts – A cast is a particular type of bandage covered in a hard exterior that encases, immobilizes, and protects broken bones, allowing them to grow back together and heal over time.
- Splints – A splint is a supportive device that prevents a broken bone from moving without fully encasing it in bandages. Splints are typically used for smaller body parts such as fingers or toes that would be difficult to put into a cast.
- Traction – When doctors put patients in traction, they use systems of pulleys and weights to keep the body in specific positions and stretch certain muscles or tendons surrounding the broken bone to promote healing.
- Surgery – Healthcare providers may recommend surgery to reconstruct severely broken or splintered bones. Surgeons may implant metal rods, screws, or plates to keep the skeleton in place after surgery.
Contact Our Portland Workplace Broken Bones Injury Lawyer
At Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C., our workers’ compensation lawyer helps injured workers seek the benefits they deserve after workplace accidents. Jodie helps workers who’ve suffered broken and fractured bones on the job seek the benefits they’re entitled to, and she is ready to assist you.
Reach out online or by phone at 503-451-6065 for a free consultation.