New Jersey CNA Hospital Injury Attorneys

Are You a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Who Was Injured While Working in New Jersey?

As part of the population enters their older years, loved ones may face the pressures of caring for their elder relatives. Healthcare industry nurses often encounter dangerous working conditions at hospitals, long-term residential facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and adult daycare centers. Many certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are tasked with physically and emotionally grueling work that can lead to serious bodily injuries. CNAs who sustain injuries at these various facilities should immediately seek medical attention. To ensure your rights are protected, as soon as possible, contact the New Jersey Personal Injury Attorneys at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm. With over 35 years of experience, our attorneys represent injured hospital workers, nurses, nursing assistants, home health care aides, etc. for personal injury and workers’ compensation matters. 

The Dangers CNAs Face at New Jersey Hospitals, Nursing Homes, and Rehab Centers

Nearly 1.5 million older and disabled Americans reside in nursing homes, and CNAs provide most of their care. CNAs working in direct-care facilities are subject to various types of dangers every day. They engage in many physically taxing activities, such as lifting heavy equipment, working in awkward positions, and transferring fragile patients. 

According to HealthGrades’ recent hospital rating report, University Hospital, located in Newark, received a C Rating for Fall 2022. The report indicated low scores in communication with doctors, nurses, and staff responsiveness. Harmful events and discharge miscommunication were noted for this location as well. Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, and Trinitas Regional Medical Center RWJBH in Elizabeth also received C ratings. 

CNAs face unique dangers when handling patients who experience chronic pain, troubled recovery time, mental illness, a cognitive decline, or unpredictable behavior. Also, with poor internal communication among fellow CNAs, doctors, and administrative personnel, stress levels can remain high and cause hospital workers to make mistakes. The increased pressure to deliver the best hospitality care quickly can lead to dangerous accidents, such as slipping and falling, hitting one’s head, injuring a back, shoulder, arm or neck while helping a patient, and other bodily injuries. 

What Causes a CNA To Sustain Injuries at a New Jersey Hospital

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that healthcare workers, such as CNAs, face many job-related hazards. The most common causes of CNA injuries include the following: 

• Repetitive physical tasks, like bathing, feeding, and transporting heavy patients;
• Slip-and-falls because of wet floors;
• Being struck by falling objects in supply rooms or patient areas;
• Acts of violence by patients or their visitors;
• Chemical exposure from cleaning supplies, medications, and diagnostic substances.

Although hospitals have the means to prevent or reduce these dangers, healthcare institutions often prioritize their financial standing and refuse to take steps to mitigate the harms their workers face.

The Different Types of New Jersey Hospital Injuries CNAs Sustain

CNA worker injuries sustained at hospitals, long-term residential facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and adult daycare centers, often correlate with staffing levels and skills. Many of these facilities demand efficiency from CNAs, which leads to high turnover, lower staffing levels, and higher CNA patient loads. As a result, CNAs are at risk for various types of injuries, such as the following: 

• Musculoskeletal injury, like tendinitis, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tension neck syndrome;
• Sharps injury – a penetrating stab wound from a needle, scalpel, or other sharp object – which presents a risk of bloodborne pathogen exposure, including Hepatitis B and C, and HIV;
• Chemical and drug exposure, which can lead to physical symptoms like headache, nausea, and reproductive problems; 
• Violence from a patient of visitor, which can cause a wide range of physical and psychological issues; and 
• Stress can affect a CNA’s physical and mental well-being, which can, in turn, result in them missing work or making mistakes. 

CNAs who experience the above injuries at a hospital should consult with an experienced New Jersey hospital injury attorney to discuss their legal rights.

CNA Injury Claims and Lawsuits in New Jersey

Research indicates that the growth rate of these injuries has important implications for staff retention. However, many CNAs experience significant pain and difficulties because they fear retaliation and risk losing their income. 

In these cases, a New Jersey workers’ compensation and personal injury lawyer can help injured workers recover the compensation they deserve and ensure their rights are protected. Generally, depending on the type of incident or injury, CNAs can file a workers’ compensation and/or a personal injury claim to recover compensation for their damages. 

It’s best to immediately see a doctor to treat your injuries. Next, contact the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm to discuss your situation. Often, a hospital is not going to have a certified nursing assistant, registered nurse, or other healthcare professional’s best interests in mind. Let us help you develop a treatment plan and determine the best approach for your unique case. 

CNA Workers’ Compensation Claims in New Jersey 

The New Jersey workers’ compensation program provides specific benefits to CNAs who experience job-related injuries or illnesses. These benefits are available regardless of who is at fault; however, the injury must stem from a job-related task or duty. Under the law, CNAs may be entitled to medical benefits, temporary total disability benefits, permanent disability benefits, or death benefits. 

Injured CNAs should notify their employers of their on-the-job injury as soon as possible. Although the notice does not need to be in writing, it is best to begin creating a paper trail for your communication. After an employer receives notification of a worker’s injury, they must notify their workers’ compensation insurance carrier. The carrier should file a “first injury report” with the state. 

If there is a dispute between an injured CNA and their employer, the worker should consult with an attorney to file a formal claim petition or request an informal hearing. Further, an attorney can help claimants in cases where they are experiencing discrimination or retaliation for filing a claim, or if their employer does not maintain worker’s compensation insurance. 

CNA Third-Party Personal Injury Claims

In some cases, a CNA’s injuries may result from the negligent acts of a third party, such as an outside vendor, contractor, or property owner. In these cases, the workers and their families may seek compensation through a third-party personal injury lawsuit. For example, if someone other than your employer caused your injuries, you may also have a personal injury claim against that negligent party. A workers’ compensation lawyer can determine if you have a third-party personal injury claim, and help you effectively prepare a claim against the third-party.

Contact a Workers’ Compensation Attorney at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm

If you are employed as a nurse, nursing assistant, hospital worker, or home health care aide and were recently injured while working, you may have questions about how to receive help covering your accident-related costs. Our dedicated CNA workplace injury lawyers at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm are here to help. For over three decades, Todd J. Leonard and his team of workers’ compensation and personal injury lawyers have provided injured workers with skilled, compassionate, and effective representation, helping them recover meaningful compensation for their injuries. If you decide to allow us to bring a claim on your behalf, we won’t bill you for our services unless we can recover compensation on your behalf. The Todd J. Leonard Law Firm has over 35 years of experience handling all types of personal injury claims throughout New Jersey. Todd J. Leonard is Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney. We have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Please give us a call today at (973) 920-7900 to request a Free Confidential Consultation. There is never a fee unless you win. We have offices conveniently located in Denville and Morristown.