Sanitation work includes any activity that involves keeping private or public facilities or places clean. Examples of sanitation work include picking up the trash at various garbage disposal sites and then dumping that trash at local dump site landfalls. Sanitation work also includes janitorial work and any type of waste disposal removal. Sanitation workers in Virginia and North Carolina help prevent diseases and illnesses.
At Joe Miller Ltd., our North Carolina and Virginia lawyer represents sanitation workers who suffer injuries or illnesses due to slip and fall accidents, lifting injuries, overexertion, and all other reasons. We’re ready to help injured sanitation workers who suffer injuries or occupational illnesses receive compensation for their medical bills and any temporary and/or permanent disabilities they suffer.
What types of injuries and illnesses do Sanitation Workers suffer in North Carolina and Virginia?
Virginia and North Carolina sanitation workers can suffer injuries in many different ways. At Joe Miller Ltd., we represent sanitation workers who are injured in the following ways, among others:
- Injuries that occur while garbage disposal vehicles are being driven on any road where the driver is on the way to pick up the trash or get rid of the trash.
- Injuries can occur while a driver or dump truck occupant is operating the machinery to pick up the trash from bins and containers.
- Injuries when they lift trash cans and hoist the contents into the dump track.
- Injure while sanitation workers use or repair any sanitation equipment.
Some of the possible types of injuries a sanitation may suffer include:
- Broken bones
- Head trauma and concussions
- Loss of fingers and hands
- Toxic exposures especially to cleaning detergents and agents
- Electrical injuries
- Burns
- Injuries due to traffic accidents
- Injuries due to compacting
- Bruises, cuts, and lacerations
- Herniated discs and other types of spinal cord injuries
- Neck, shoulder, and back injuries
- Muscle, ligament, and tendon injuries
- Nerve damage
- Carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive stress injuries
- Lifting injuries
- Overexertion injuries
Public and private employers can help ensure the safety of their employees by routinely inspecting the vehicles and equipment that sanitation workers use. Chemicals should be stored properly and employees should be warned about the possible dangers.
Drivers should be educated on the best way to drive, stop, and start their trucks while on the road.
What types of occupational illness claims can sanitation workers file in North Carolina and Virginia?
Our North Carolina and Virginia workers’ compensation lawyer represents sanitation workers who suffer an occupational illness due to their workplace requirements. Some of the occupational illnesses that sanitation workers may suffer include:
- Respiratory diseases
- Gastrointestinal health problems
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Mental health difficulties
Does workers’ compensation cover my medical bills?
Yes. Sanitation workers have the right to seek medical care for their injuries and illnesses. The insurance company for the employer or the employer (if the employer is self-insured) should pay for all your reasonable and necessary medical bills while you try to improve your health and to ensure your health doesn’t worsen once your injuries become stable – even if you need healthcare for the rest of your life for your workplace injuries or illnesses. Your healthcare providers should be paid in full for all the medical care you need including emergency transport, ER care, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, occupational therapy, vocational therapy, psychological counseling, assistive devices such as prosthetics, and medications. If your healthcare providers are not local, the medical compensation should also pay for some of your travel expenses.
What temporary and permanent disability benefits can North Carolina and Virginia sanitation workers receive?
Sanitation workers who cannot work due to their injuries or illness are paid a substantial part of their wages as follows:
- Temporary total disability compensation. You should be paid 2/3rds of your average weekly salary for up to 500 weeks after you were hurt or became ill on the job. You receive temporary disability benefits if your doctor says you cannot work and being treated for your injuries. If and when you recover from your injuries to the point that you are capable of returning to your pre-injury work, usually at the point of maximum medical improvement (MMI) – your wage benefits stop. You may then be examined to determine if you should receive any additional wage benefits because you have a permanent disability in your injured body parts.
- Permanent disability or impairment compensation. Sanitation workers can claim permanent disability benefits if they cannot work due to a permanent disability in an injured body part. These are benefits that may be payable even if you have returned to work at your pre-injury level or a light-duty job. You have a permanent disability or impairment if you have a specific type of injury covered by state workers’ compensation law.
- In Virginia, a permanent impairment includes such disorders as the loss of a specific finger or toe; or a hand, arm, foot, or leg. You also qualify if you lose your hearing, lose your sight, have a severe disfigurement, have pneumoconiosis (including but not limited to silicosis and asbestosis), or byssinosis. Other qualifying permanent disabilities include brain injuries and paralysis which may entitle you to lifetime benefits.
- In North Carolina, a permanent disability includes specific injuries as well – though the list is different from Virginia’s list as are the amounts paid. For instance, in North Carolina, the highest potential permanency rating is of the “back,” or spine, for up to 300 weeks. In Virginia, no permanent impairment is provided for any spinal injury.
- Normally a doctor reviews whether you have a medical disability. You will be assigned an impairment rating to determine the severity of your disability. Based on that impairment rating, you may be entitled to several more weeks of compensation payments.
Permanent disability benefits are normally paid at the same rate as your temporary disability benefits. You receive this average weekly payment for a specific number of weeks that depends on the type of disability you have and your impairment rating.
For instance, in North Carolina, if you underwent back or neck surgery and received a back impairment rating of 20%, you look to the statute, which provides up to 300 weeks of benefits. 20% of 300 is 60 weeks. If your comp rate is $450.00 per week, you would then be entitled to a potential payout to you of $27,000.00.
- Temporary Partial Disability. Some adjustments are made if you can return to work but, but in a lighter duty job due to your work restrictions as per your doctor, at a lower salary than what you earned as a sanitation worker employee before you were hurt, your benefits are reduced to 2/3rds of the difference between your pre-injury (or pre-illness) wages and your current wage level.
- Death Benefits. If a loved one dies as a result of a work injury, the spouse and dependents (and possibly others) may be entitled to death benefits on behalf of the sanitation worker. The ability to obtain money will typically deal with the level of dependence on the injured worker during his or her lifetime.
At Joe Miller Ltd., we understand that sanitation work is a necessary and respected job. Our North Carolina and Virginia workers’ compensation attorney is skilled at showing that your injuries or illness are job-related. We anticipate and counter all the arguments the insurance companies normally make to try to limit or terminate your benefits. To schedule a free consultation, call lawyer Joe Miller, Esq., at 888-667-8295 or fill out my online contact form.
Joe Miller Law Ltd. meets injured sanitation employees at his Virginia and North Carolina office.
Our law firm does have a way for you to provide your details of your accident and injuries if you simply want to do that electronically from the comfort and safety of your home at any time of day or night. To utilize this service, simply click here: New Electronic Case Review.
We’ll get back to you, typically within 24 hours to provide our response as to whether your situation is one where we can provide you with legal representation. If we require more information, we’ll contact you and ask for that information in order to make that determination as to whether we are the best folks to assist you. If we ultimately determine that we cannot represent or assist you, we will not leave you high and dry. We’ll do our best to provide you with other resources to assist you.
