Helping Clients Who Sustained Serious Cuts and Lacerations on the Job

When you think of a serious injury, you likely do not first consider cuts. After all, many cuts are relatively minor and might only require some first aid to heal. Many people do not need professional medical help or emergency treatment for cuts or lacerations. On the other hand, cuts and lacerations can be very serious and might need immediate medical attention. Sometimes, it can be difficult to determine whether or not you might need stitches or medical intervention for a cut or laceration. If you suffered your injury on the job, it is always worth it to get your cut or laceration professionally cleaned and assessed by a medical professional. This can prevent infection, limit scarring, and speed up the healing process. If you believe you need medical attention for a cut or laceration, your employer's workers' compensation insurance should cover your medical expenses and other injury-related losses. If your laceration was more severe, you might deserve disability benefits. You should ensure that your wound is stabilized and then speak with a Missouri workers' compensation cuts and lacerations lawyer at The Law Firm of Webster & Carlton.

Work-Related Lacerations

A laceration is a tear of the skin, commonly referred to as a "cut." Lacerations can happen anywhere on the body - usually from contact with a blade or another sharp object. Some common causes of lacerations at work include:

• Power tool accidents
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Heavy machinery accidents
• Manufacturing equipment accidents
• Falls
• Getting hit by a falling object

Even a piece of paper can slice your finger and cause a laceration, though cuts from serious falls or equipment-related accidents can be significantly more severe.

Seeking Treatment for Your Job-Related Laceration

Depending on the location and the severity of the laceration, it can often affect more than just the skin. Some possible complications from lacerations include:

• Infections when the wound is not cleaned properly
• Fractured bones from the impact of a sharp object, including in the face
• Torn tendons, ligaments, or muscles
• Organ damage from very deep lacerations in the abdomen
• Traumatic brain injury from lacerations that pierce the skull
• Spinal cord injury and paralysis from lacerations that damage spinal tissue

In many cases, a laceration will need stitches, sutures, or medical adhesive to close the wound, though you only have a few hours during which you can get such treatment. In cases of serious lacerations, you might need surgery to repair tissue or organs underneath the skin.

Discuss Your Next Steps with a Springfield and Joplin Cuts and Lacerations Lawyer

Cuts and lacerations can be as minor as a paper cut, though they can also cause impairments, disfigurement, and might even be fatal in some cases. The workers' compensation attorneys at The Law Firm of Webster & Carlton help clients obtain the benefits they need after this type of injury. To reach our Springfield office, call 417-890-4600 or call our Joplin office at 417-781-5690. You can also reach out to our team online, and someone will be in touch with you shortly.