Have you suffered an ankle injury at work? The good news is that Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system could provide benefits that pay for your medical care and offset a large portion of your missing wages while you cannot work. The bad news is that this system is complicated, bureaucratic, and frustrating – and a single mistake could jeopardize the benefits you deserve. Fortunately, it’s not something you have to navigate alone.
Enlisting the services of a workers’ comp ankle injury lawyer from Calhoon and Kaminsky P.C. can minimize your stress while more effectively pursuing the compensation you’re owed. Contact us today for a free consultation, and we’ll tell you how we can help you with your workers’ comp ankle surgery settlement.
Common Types of Work-Related Ankle Injuries
Many workers perform physically demanding tasks daily, making ankle injuries some of the most common job-related medical conditions. Common ankle injuries employees sustain include:
- Sprains – Stretching or tearing of ligaments
- Fractures – Broken ankle bones
- Dislocations – Bone displacement at a joint
- Tendonitis – Swelling or irritation of tendons
- Arthritis – Inflammation and joint damage
Injuries range from mild ligament sprains to complex fractures requiring surgery. Symptoms also vary and may include swelling, bruising, stiffness, numbness, or intense pain.
Common Causes of Work-Related Ankle Injuries
Ankle injuries frequently occur from:
- Twisting or rolling – Stepping awkwardly on uneven ground or wrenching the ankle when falling may cause an ankle injury.
- Impact – Dropped objects landing on the ankle or crush accidents between heavy machinery can result in ankle injuries.
- Repetitive stress – Performing motions like climbing on ladders may strain tendons over time.
Construction workers, firefighters, warehouse staff, delivery drivers, and other workers whose duties involve a lot of movement are at greater risk of these injuries. Identifying the accident’s cause is essential when filing an ankle injury claim.
What to Do After Sustaining an Ankle Injury at Work
The steps you take after a work-related accident will determine whether you can receive the workers’ compensation benefits you’re entitled to. If you suffer injuries at work, you can protect your case by:
- Seeking medical care – Prompt medical care documents the injury and establishes the treatments you need to reach maximum medical recovery.
- Reporting the injury to your employer – Alert your supervisors immediately per your company’s policy. Pennsylvania law requires you to notify your employer within 120 days of the accident to be eligible for benefits. However, you should report within 21 days for full benefits.
- Recording details – Note the time and cause of the accident, as well as any witnesses who saw it happen. Take photos of the accident scene and your injuries, if possible.
- Completing paperwork – Fill out the necessary forms to report the incident and file a claim with your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer.
- Contacting an attorney – An experienced attorney can help you through the claims process and any ensuing settlement battles.
Taking prompt action ensures your rights are protected when pursuing benefits down the road.
Average Workers’ Compensation Settlements for Ankle Injuries
Your workers’ compensation settlement will be based on several factors, including:
- The specific nature of your injury
- The cost of the medical care to treat your injury
- The injury’s long-term effects on your income
- Any future care you might need to treat your injury and its effects
- Whether you need to train for a new job in a different career
Given all the unique considerations in play, settlements vary widely. An ankle injury settlement may range from a few thousand dollars for simple sprains up to six figures for severe surgical cases with lasting disabilities.
How Compensation Can Help Following Ankle Injuries
Workers’ compensation provides the following benefits:
- Medical expenses – Workers’ compensation will pay for all reasonable costs of your injury-related medical care, including ambulance rides, surgeries, physician’s visits, pharmaceuticals, and orthopedic devices or prosthetics.
- Lost wages – If you are completely unable to work because of your injury, workers’ compensation will pay you two-thirds of your average weekly wages from before the injury. If you can work in a reduced capacity, it will pay two-thirds of the difference between your pre- and post-accident wages. Both options are subject to a cap that’s adjusted regularly to reflect cost-of-living increases.
- Specific loss benefits – Workers’ compensation will pay you additional benefits if your ankle injury causes a permanent disability. The amount depends on how extensive the impairment is.
Injured employees can also negotiate workers’ comp ankle injury settlements to close out their cases and provide greater flexibility for the future. An experienced attorney can advise you on your options and negotiate a settlement on your behalf.
What If My Claim Is Denied?
Workers’ compensation denials can be incredibly frustrating for many people with legitimate job-related ankle injuries. Reasons for denials include:
- Contesting the injury occurred at work
- Alleging errors in your paperwork or notifying your employer of the injury
- Doubting the severity of the injury
- Arguing you are a contractor rather than an employee
If your workers’ comp claim gets denied, don’t panic. Consulting with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney at this stage is crucial, as proper representation can allow you to lodge a successful appeal. By substantiating your injury circumstances and aggressively advocating for the benefits you deserve, a skilled lawyer can often overturn poor judgment calls by insurers. You still have options to ultimately achieve a fair settlement.
Contact Our Workers’ Compensation Lawyers About Ankle Injuries
The experienced workers’ comp attorneys at Calhoon and Kaminsky P.C. understand how challenging life can feel after an on-the-job ankle injury. We are determined to protect the rights of injured Pennsylvanians and are prepared to do everything we can to seek the workers’ comp ankle injury settlement you deserve. If we take your case, we will look out for you both now and down the line.
Ready to demand the benefits that are yours by right under Pennsylvania law? Then contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you.
