Injuries that Seem Insignificant Can Be Serious or Can Lead to Substantial Health Problems
In many occupations, minor scratches and bruises are often just a part of the daily grind. But you need to be careful—what can seem like nothing can develop into a serious health concern and can put you out of work for a while. A few years ago, we represented a client who worked as a janitor and had some responsibilities for maintaining shrubbery and bushes outside the building. One day, while working outside, he sustained a minor cut from a thorn. Considering it a minor scratch, he ignored the injury. Unfortunately, the cut became infected and the infection spread throughout his body, eventually affecting his heart. As a result of the scratch and subsequent infection, he was declared permanently disabled by the Workers’ Compensation Board.
Under the workers’ compensation of New York, an injured worker may seek compensation not only for immediate and direct injuries sustained in a work accident, but for what are known as “consequential” injuries. Consequential injuries are any losses that arise directly or indirectly as a result of a work incident. For the injured custodian, we were able to show that the cut from the thorn, caused by his work, led to the infection that damaged his heart and made it impossible for him to work anymore.
Beware of Seemingly Minor Work Injuries!
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At Pyrros & Serres LLP, we provide comprehensive counsel to people with workers’ compensation and Social Security disability claims in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and across the greater New York City metropolitan area. Because of our reputation for effective advocacy, many of our new clients come to us as referrals from clients and other lawyers.
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