A crushed hand in heavy machinery is a very serious injury requiring ongoing medical treatment until the hand has healed. This means time off work will take place and the chance of financial hardship occurring while the crushed hand is treated and returns to its normal function is real. Fortunately, most employers are required to cover their employees with worker’s compensation insurance so that when an employee crushes his/her hand in heavy machinery s/he may be eligible for worker’s compensation. Causes of Crushed Hand in Machinery Workers all over the country are employed in industries where heavy machinery is present. The sorts of equipment that routinely causes a crushed hand include: electric saws; industrial hammers; moving machinery on a conveyor belt; cranes; mining machinery; movement of concrete blocks. When a hand is crushed it can cause pain, swelling, limited hand movement and stiffness. The first thing a victim needs to do is inform their supervisor of the injury. This should be completed within 24 hours of this happening. Medical treatment should not be delayed and if it is left too long you could lose the use of your hand completely. As soon as you have the proof the hand injury took place at work you can start your WC claim. Calculation for the Value of a Crushed Hand in Heavy Machinery Workers’ compensation claims typically include a temporary total disability payment and medical bills payments. If your hand injury is unlikely to heal fully and will require ongoing medical treatment your employer’s WC insurer should allocate a lifetime medical award, as well as vocational rehabilitation designed for the hand injury. On top of this is two thirds of your normal wage paid on a weekly basis. Certain key information will be asked before finalizing a WC claim. These include the following: the employee’s average weekly earnings prior to the hand injury; whether hand surgery was used to treat the injury; if the hand is permanently or partially damaged due to the hand injury and if the victim has to experience ongoing pain due to the hand injury. Other factors may be taken into consideration before finalizing a WC claim and that is if any other injuries took place at the time of the hand injury. The calculation may also include an amount for permanent partial disability, which will be added to the WC claim and is sometimes paid as a lump sum payment. In some states for a hand injury it is 150 weeks of compensation. You May Need a Worker’s Compensation Attorney To help you get the WC you deserve for your hand injury suffered at work, you should ask a WC attorney to work on your behalf. An attorney has a higher chance of getting the best WC claim that you deserve and will relieve any financial burden that may have been created due to your hand injury. Additional Resources Crushed Hand by Heavy Machinery and Workers' Compensation Del Monte Foods
