The vast majority of employers must carry workers’ compensation coverage in the state of Nevada as a matter of law. So, if you are injured on the job, you should receive benefits to pay for your medical care and other eligible costs.
You should promptly seek medical treatment after a workplace injury in Las Vegas. If your employer is giving you trouble after you tried to report an injury, or you simply need assistance navigating the workers’ compensation claims process, our experienced attorneys at Shook & Stone could help.
Frequently Reported Workplace Injuries
One common reason you might need to seek medical treatment for a job-related injury in Las Vegas is because of a slip or trip and fall at work. Employees who have to regularly lift or carry boxes or other heavy items during the daily course of work could also be at risk of suffering an injury.
Even seemingly mundane tasks—such as sitting at your computer for long periods of time typing or doing any repetitive motion that engages areas of the body like your shoulder, elbow, or wrist—could result in injuries from that continued strain. If you work in an environment with heavy machinery or equipment, such as a factory floor or construction site, the risk of an accident can be very high.
Exposure to loud noises, inhalation of toxic fumes or materials, and acts of workplace violence are other leading causes of injuries in the workplace. Physical injuries like broken or fractured bones, lacerations, and strained or torn muscles are frequently reported in a wide range of workplace conditions. Some work injuries can be catastrophic, such as:
However, workplace injuries can also be more nuanced, including occupational diseases that develop over a long period of time.
Workplace injuries may occur because someone was careless or simply because of an unfortunate accident. Regardless of fault, you should receive workers’ compensation benefits if you are injured on the job. Shook & Stone could help you seek those benefits while offering unwavering guidance to help you through the complexities of the worker’s compensation claims process.
Securing Medical Treatment and Benefits for a Workplace Injury
No matter how safe your workplace is and the precautions your employer takes, injuries can still happen. When you are injured at work, in addition to formally reporting the incident to your employer in a timely fashion (Nevada law gives you just seven days to do so), you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
You should get to the closest doctor or hospital if you need emergency care. For non-emergency care services, you need to see an authorized medical provider that falls within your employer’s workers’ compensation plan.
Workers’ comp benefits should cover all your necessary medical care at no cost to you, but if you see a doctor who is not included in your employer’s plan, this may not be the case. While you must see a doctor who is included in your company’s workers’ compensation plan, you may try different doctors within that covered system if you find that the first one is not a good fit.
Benefits for medical treatment related to a work injury in Las Vegas can include costs such as:
- Physical therapy
- Surgical expenses
- Doctor visits
- Occupational therapy
Workers’ compensation benefits can also cover other costs beyond your medical treatment.
If you need to miss time from work because of your injury, you could qualify for temporary disability payments covering a portion of your lost wages. If you suffer from an impairment that permanently affects your ability to perform your job, you could qualify for permanent partial or permanent total disability payments.
Workers’ compensation coverage can cover the cost of training for new employment or vocational rehabilitation if your injury prevents you from returning to prior work. These benefits can also reimburse you for mileage costs incurred from going back and forth to your doctor’s appointments for covered medical care.
In some situations, a workplace injury may be attributable to someone’s actions other than your employer. You cannot sue your employer in most cases, but Nevada law does all you to sue a negligent third party whose actions caused or contributed to your workplace accident. Our Shook & Stone work injury attorneys could evaluate whether you have cause to file a workers’ comp or personal injury claim after getting hurt at work.
A Las Vegas Attorney Could Help You Seek Medical Treatment After a Workplace Injury
When it comes to getting proper medical treatment after a workplace injury in Las Vegas, we could help you get the benefits you need, interact with the workers’ comp carrier and other related entities on your behalf, and represent you at administrative or board hearings. Sometimes, even when the claims process starts out smoothly, the employer may grow impatient and want the employee to return to the normal work cadence before medical treatment is finished.
If you are concerned about how the insurance company or your employer is handling your workers’ compensation claim, do not hesitate to reach out to Shook & Stone for assistance. Our dedicated attorneys can help you avoid mistakes that could lead to your claim being denied, ensure you get proper medical treatment, and seek the full benefits that you are entitled to receive. To schedule your free, confidential case evaluation, contact us today.
