You spend your shifts taking care of everyone else. When you get hurt doing that job, you deserve the same care in return. Instead, many hospital workers find themselves fighting their own employer’s insurance company just to get treatment and a paycheck. Philly Injury Lawyer stands up for nurses, CNAs, techs, transporters, environmental services staff and everyone else who keeps Philadelphia’s hospitals running.
Philadelphia Runs on Its Hospitals
Philadelphia is one of the biggest health care cities in the country. Tens of thousands of people work in hospitals in University City, North Philadelphia, Center City, the Northeast and the surrounding suburbs, along with rehab centers, nursing homes and home health agencies. Those jobs are among the most physically demanding in the city.
Common Hospital Work Injuries
- Patient lifting and transfer injuries to the back, neck and shoulders
- Needlestick and sharps injuries and exposure to blood and body fluids
- Assaults by patients or visitors, especially in emergency, behavioral health and security roles
- Slips and falls on wet floors and in crowded hallways
- Infectious disease exposure on the job
- Repetitive strain from charting, lab work and long shifts
- Stress and trauma after violent or traumatic events at work
Your Workers’ Comp Rights
If you’re hurt at work, workers’ comp should pay your medical treatment and part of your lost wages, even if nobody did anything wrong. Many large hospital systems handle their own claims, which means the people deciding your claim may work for your employer. That’s a good reason to have someone on your side.
Report your injury in writing right away, including needlesticks, even if you feel fine. Some exposures don’t show problems until later, and an early report protects you. See How to Report a Work Injury.
When Someone Else Is to Blame
Some hospital injuries come with a claim against someone other than your employer:
- A visitor or outside person who assaulted you
- The maker of a defective patient lift, bed or safety needle
- A contractor who left a hazard in your work area
- A driver who hit you while you were doing home visits
See Workers’ Comp and Third-Party Injury Claims.
How Philly Injury Lawyer Helps Health Care Workers
We file and fight your workers’ comp claim, check that your weekly rate includes overtime and extra shifts, push back on denials, and look for any third-party claim. Call (215) 735-4800 for a free consultation. We Win or It’s Free®.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a needlestick covered by workers’ comp?
Yes. Testing, preventive treatment and any illness that results from a work exposure should be covered. Report it right away.
Can I get workers’ comp if a patient attacked me?
Yes. An injury from an assault at work is generally covered, and you may also have a claim against the attacker or others.
Does workers’ comp cover burnout or PTSD?
Mental injuries can be covered, but Pennsylvania sets a higher bar when there’s no physical injury. A traumatic event at work can help support the claim.
Pennsylvania Law in Plain English
Pennsylvania’s workers’ comp system, run by the Department of Labor & Industry, covers hospital employees the same as any other worker, including occupational illnesses. The federal OSHA health care page explains the safety hazards hospitals must address, which can help show how an injury happened.
