Pikeville Work Injury Lawyer

Our Pikeville Work Injury Lawyer Can Help Protect Your Rights

When Injured at Work, Get the Legal Help You Need

If you have been injured at work, you are likely feeling overwhelmed. Your concerns regarding your health, your recovery, and when (and in what capacity) you will be able to return to your job may be considerable. You are probably also worried about your medical bills and lost compensation. Without a doubt, work injuries are stressful.

Many employers go the extra mile to ensure their employees are safe while on the job. However, despite the advances in technology and workplace standards, thousands of on-the-job injuries still occur in Kentucky every year. Some jobs remain inherently dangerous, while others are rendered unsafe by improper protocols or oversight.

In either case, those who are hurt are may be entitled, by law, to compensation for a range of things, including medical expenses and lost wages.

The insurance companies who provide workers’ compensation benefits have attorneys protecting their rights, and so should you. The Pikeville work injury attorney Billy Johnson has extensive experience and is well-prepared to get you the benefits to which you are entitled. Contact him today at 606-437-4488 to schedule a consultation.

Workplace Injuries Can Be Frustrating and Confusing

Our Work Accident Lawyer in Pikeville Addresses Some Common Concerns

Every workplace accident is unique and the hurt-on-the-job lawyer at our firm understands this. As such, we place a premium on providing each client with caring and personal service. We listen carefully to you, as gaining a complete understanding of what happened is critical. We take the time to answer your questions, providing specific answers that apply directly to you. We firmly believe that there are no “dumb” questions — all of your concerns are valid.

While the correct responses to many questions must be tailored in order to be valuable, a number of more general issues arise on a regular basis. Below we have shared some of those most frequently asked, as well as our work injury lawyer’s answers to them.

Work injuries and illness can change the scope of your life. If you were injured at work, you likely have even more questions. Contact the Johnson Law Firm today at 606-437-4488 to learn more about compensation for your medical bills, time missed at work, and other expenses. We will review your situation and provide guidance on how you should proceed. When you work with us, your issues are our issues, and we will work tirelessly to maximize your compensation.

Risky Business: Danger in the Workplace

Injuries While at Work are Commonplace

While we would like to believe that work injuries are a rarity, sadly they are not. They happen all of the time.

While work-related injury and illness can happen in any workplace, some industries are simply riskier than others. Here in Eastern Kentucky, we are well aware of the dangers of coal mining. Additionally, oil and gas companies are considering our area as they seek new locations for fracking operations (drilling through layers of rock and injecting water mixed with chemicals to release hidden pockets of underground fuel). Much like mining, fracking uses heavy equipment and exposes workers to numerous health risks. Below we have shared additional industries that have higher rates of workplace illness and injury.

• Construction and Manufacturing: Construction sites are home to significant numbers of people working on multiple projects that may involve heights, machinery, and the movement of very large and heavy items. Manufacturing jobs also place workers at high levels of risk, due primarily to the heavy machinery leveraged in their operations. As we see increased growth in Appalachia as a result of the heightened number of construction and manufacturing injuries the Johnson Law Firm is poised to help folks who suffer an injury while working to build our communities.
• Healthcare: Here in Pike County, Kentucky, we’re blessed to have the Appalachian Regional Hospital (ARH), Pikeville Medical Center, and numerous home health care agencies. The care they provide is invaluable. The Kentucky Workers’ Claims report indicates that the three most common causes of work-related injuries are falls, slips and trips; lifting; and strains. Healthcare workers are especially susceptible to these types of injuries in their efforts to transfer patients in and out of beds and wheelchairs. The Johnson Law Firm is pleased to offer legal assistance to injured healthcare workers in Eastern Kentucky.

Certain Things Can Result in Injury

Injuries happen everywhere. While other industries may not be not as fundamentally dangerous, they still may be prone to a high incidence of workplace injury. Below we have shared some examples of injuries workers may suffer.

• Repetitive Stress Injuries: Jobs that require repetitive motions, for example, put workers at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome and similar repetitive motion injuries. These types of injuries are suffered by assembly line workers, grocery store scanners, and painters, among many others. One of Pike County’s largest employers is the University of Pikeville, where hundreds of office workers are at risk of repetitive strain from using computer keyboards.
• Transportation Injuries: Injuries from vehicular accidents are a threat to almost everyone. For those whose jobs involve a great deal of driving (like bus or truck drivers and delivery people), this is not surprising, However, other professionals (like salespeople and individuals who commute long distances) are also at risk each and every day.
• Negligent Actions: Other workplaces can be made unsafe by negligence on the part of the employer or a third party. Any job dealing with hazardous materials can become unsafe, and even seemingly benign work environments are dangerous when the facilities (stairwells, floors, etc.) are not properly maintained.

Additional causes of workplace injury and illness may include exposure to heat, electricity, toxic chemicals, and even workplace violence. The Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Workers’ Claims publishes an annual report that includes statistical information on a variety of topics, such as distribution of claims by body part, work-related fatalities, and first reports of injury by industrial classification. A brief review of their statistics shows that workers in all industries can fall victim to workplace injuries and illness.

Workplace Injuries and Illness Can Be Serious

While some workplace injuries or illnesses are minor in nature and have relatively short recovery times, others can be incredibly severe, result in costly medical treatment and negatively impact the individual’s ability to work or live life as they had become accustomed.

Some frequently seen injuries like this include traumatic brain injury, spinal cord and neck injuries, severe burns, loss of limb, and exposure illnesses. Sometimes people even lose their lives as a result of workplace illness and injury. Should you or someone you love be suffering, the work accident lawyer at the Johnson Law Firm can help you determine your next steps. Contact the firm today at 606-437-4488.

Workers’ Compensation or Work Injury Lawsuit?

Work Accident Lawyer in Pikeville Explains the Difference

Were you injured at work while performing your daily duties? Or were you injured by a third party while on the job? These situations are similar, but with different contexts.

Perhaps you were injured by a machine that you use every day. Or maybe you’re a construction worker repairing a road and were hit by a passing car. Both of these situations may allow you to be eligible for compensation, but they require separate approaches to how your claim is handled.

The workers’ compensation and work injury lawyers at the Johnson Law Firm have experience dealing with both types of cases and can help you identify which approach is best for you.

The Johnson Law Firm Can Help You

Tell Our Pikeville Work Injury Lawyer What Happened

If you have been injured or become ill at work, you need legal help. Because each case is different, it is always advisable to seek the counsel of an experienced Pikeville, KY, work injury lawyer. Furthermore, despite the protections of workers’ compensation, there remains the potential for improper (and sometimes illegal) handling of a workplace injury. Due in part to the rising cost of workers’ compensation insurance, some employers engage in tactics to try to minimize an individual’s injury or claim.

When you work with us, we will listen carefully to your experience. We know this is a difficult time and you are worried about your future. Once we have a complete understanding of your story, we can provide advice and counsel as to how to get the compensation you need and deserve. If we believe you have a claim that extends beyond workers’ compensation, we can help with third-party personal injury lawsuits and expand the scope of your case.

We Are Ready to Go to Work for You Now!

We understand Kentucky law, have experience working in the local courts and are dedicated to pursuing justice for our clients. We all deserve to be safe at work, and when injury or illness occurs our employers should be held responsible.