Orthopedic Injury

Orthopedic injuries, or injuries to bones, joints, ligaments, and more, can be painful, long-lasting, and inconvenient. Victims of orthopedic injury may experience discomfort and pain when performing daily activities, including job duties. Whether your injury is minor or severe, you have a right to medical care through workers’ compensation, followed by ongoing treatments and therapy. 

Learn more about the causes and common types of orthopedic injuries and how our lawyers can help maximize your recovery.

Understanding Orthopedic Injuries

Most often, orthopedic injuries occur at jobs with physical labor, but they can happen anywhere where repetitive, prolonged, or hard tasks happen regularly.

Common orthopedic injuries include: 

• Muscle Strains and Sprains. Common in jobs requiring heavy physical labor, strains and sprains happen when lifting heavy objects, not lifting them correctly, or twisting suddenly.
• Fractures. Bone fractures in the limbs and spine happen after falls, collisions, or heavy machinery-related accidents. 
• Back, Neck, and Spine Injuries. Heavy lifting, repetitive bending, or prolonged periods of sitting can contribute to back, neck, and spine injuries like herniated discs or lower back strain.
• Joint Injuries. Athletes, construction workers, and manual laborers are more prone to joint injuries, like dislocations or tears.
• Impact Injuries. Impact injuries can affect all body parts, especially the limbs and head. Falling objects or machinery accidents typically cause them.
• Tendon and Ligament Injuries. Stressed or forceful movements can cause tendon and ligament injuries, like tendonitis or ligament sprains.
• Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI). Overuse or repetitive movements can cause injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, and tendonitis.
• Musculoskeletal Disorders. Musculoskeletal disorders include several conditions affecting muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissues, like rotator cuff injuries.

Causes of Orthopedic Injuries

There are several causes for orthopedic injuries, including:

• Poor posture and ergonomics. Poor posture for long periods can cause discomfort, pain, and lasting effects. Bad ergonomics, like the wrong desk or chair height, emphasize poor posture. 
• Repetitive movements. Continuous and repetitive motions can cause overuse injuries, like strained muscles, tendonitis, or carpal tunnel syndrome. 
• Falls. Slips, trips, and falls can cause fractures, sprains, and breaks.
• Heavy machinery accidents. Operating heavy machines increases the risk of accidents. Industrial machinery accidents are more likely if employees lack the training they need to protect themselves.
• Forceful exertion. Pushing, pulling, and lifting heavy objects increase the risk of orthopedic injury, especially if these activities are routine and required.
• Fatigue, stress, and mental health. Fatigue and stress can impair judgment, physical abilities, and muscle tension, increasing the risk of orthopedic injury.

Implications of Orthopedic Injuries

Orthopedic injuries can cause several side effects, including:

• Pain, swelling, and bruising. Pain, swelling, and bruising are likely after orthopedic injuries, and they can range from mild to severe and acute to chronic.
• Limited range of motion and reduced ability to complete tasks. Depending on the severity, joint or limb damage can temporarily or permanently restrict the normal range of motion. Limited range of motion can severely affect one’s ability to complete daily work or personal tasks.
• Weakness, nerve damage, and instability. After orthopedic injury, injured muscles may weaken due to limited use or nerve damage. Standing, supporting weight, and maintaining balance may become difficult or impossible, and numbness or tingling may occur.
• Deformity. Severe orthopedic injuries, like fractures or dislocations, may cause deformities in the injured area’s look and function.
• Psychological challenges. Dealing with injuries is stressful. Anxiety, depression, overwhelm, or frustration may occur after an injury.

Recovery for Orthopedic Injuries

Recovery from orthopedic injuries ranges depending on severity, accountable parties, and complications. An experienced lawyer can help you maximize compensation.

Damages awarded typically include:

• Past and future medical costs
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
• Rehabilitation expenses
• Ongoing pain and suffering

Who is Responsible for Orthopedic Injuries?

Preventing workplace injuries involves safety measures, training, ergonomic equipment, and adherence to regulations. Employers can be held responsible for workplace injuries if they do not take these steps to protect employees.

When work injuries result from negligence, such as violating an OSHA safety standard, seeking legal help is vital to hold negligent parties responsible. 

If no one is responsible, you can still recover damages from workers’ compensation.

How We Can Help

If you or a loved one has suffered from a work-related  injury, Golitko & Daly can help. Our experienced lawyers fight for the compensation you deserve and hold the responsible parties accountable.

To schedule a free consultation, call us at 317-566-9600 (Indianapolis), 765-865-9300 (Bloomington), or 812-566-2600 (Kokomo), or complete our online inquiry form to schedule an appointment* with one of our work injury attorneys who will review your case.