Workplace injuries are a common occurrence. Even if you take all the necessary safety precautions, an employee can suffer an injury at work, especially hand injuries. In fact, over 100,000 workers suffer injuries to their hands each year. So, if you're here reading this blog, it's likely you suffer a hand injury at work and want to know how much money you will get.
That isn't an easy question. Settlements can vary depending on the specifics of your case. However, this article will look at the typical settlement amount for wrist and hand injuries.
After a hand injury at work, you should immediately report the accident and seek medical care. And, we encourage you to seek legal advice. The NY workers compensation attorneys at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law have the experience to ensure you are fairly compensated for your injuries.
You are not alone and we are here to help.
Typical Settlements For Hand Injuries at Work in NY
Unfortunately, there is no blanket method to determine how much money a hand injury settlement will be. A hand injury's value is different for each case and is impacted by various factors. The severity of the injury is always going to be the biggest factor.
Injuries to the hands can be serious and significantly affect your capacity to work and engage in everyday life. Almost everything we do requires the use of our hands, including typing, driving, gripping, and manual labor. Very few jobs don't include using your hands in some way. So, if you suffer a permanent injury to your hands, this could lead to total or partial disability.
A hand injury is one of the most common injuries that occur at work. Hand injuries are the second most common type of workplace injury, after back injuries. Furthermore, hand injuries account for about 20% of all hospital emergency room visits.
The value can include insurance coverage limits, if a personal injury lawsuit is filed, and/or if workers compensation is the only source of coverage. In New York, workers comp follows the no fault system, which allows for benefits to be paid out quickly, but prevents the injured worker from filing a lawsuit against the company. However, third party lawsuits may be filed if other parties are at fault.
Settlement Value for Hand Injuries
The average verdict reward for a hand injury nationwide is around $630,000. However, the median verdict is substantially less, at $70,000. The large difference between the two is because there is a very small number of hand injury cases that have long-lasting, permanent effects. Because of this, the average settlement or compensation for a hand injury is better represented by the median verdict award.
Determining The Value of a Hand Injury
An injury to the hand can have different effects on different people. The severity of an injury can be affected by a number of factors, including an individual's age, general health, lifestyle, and place of employment. A hand injury, for instance, could cause a professional musician greater financial losses and psychological distress than it would a profession where your hand isn't utilized so closely.
When determining the amount of compensation for a hand injury, judges, insurance adjusters, attorneys, and juries consider the following:
Cost of Medical Care
When calculating a settlement amount for a hand injury lawsuit, the medical costs come first. This will include every expense related to your care, including any necessary medical equipment or assistive devices, hospital expenses, surgery, doctor visits, prescription drugs, physical therapy, and any other related costs.
Future Medical Costs
If the patient requires long-term physical therapy, future operations, ongoing care and medicine, or adaptive equipment, these costs are included in your settlement as well. Sometimes, experts may be consulted to determine what these future costs will be.
Lost Wages and Missed Work
The income you have lost or will continue to lose as a result of your hand should be taken into account when calculating your settlement. This will include lost workdays or any decreased earning potential as a result of the injury. Documenting your working history and any changes in your ability to work is important since it should account for both past and future lost pay.
Pain and Suffering
It is difficult to envision a serious hand injury in which pain and suffering do not account for the largest portion of the settlement amount. However, putting a number on non-economic damages like pain and suffering can be challenging.
In order to calculate the amount of pain and suffering, settlements frequently include a multiplier that is applied to your economic damages; however, the exact amount will depend on the details of your case. In some cases, the costs of the medical care and other financial losses are not significant. When this is the case, your attorney may not present your medical expenses as proof.
Another important factor in determining pain and suffering damages is the extent of your disability. If the injury caused a permanent impairment, this will be a major factor in determining damages.
Need Legal Help For A Hand Injury at Work in NY?
Should you suffer a hand injury at work, you are entitled to workers' compensation benefits. In some cases, there may be other parties at fault and you could file a personal injury lawsuit for damages. Allow the workers comp lawyers at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law determine the extent of your injuries, the at-fault parties and what legal options you have.
To learn more about your claim, get in contact with us today.