In mid-October, emergency responders were called to loading docks near a store in Fort Drum to assist a maintenance mechanic who was working on a circuit panel.
Worker Airlifted To The Hospital
At around 8 a.m. while working on the panel, something went horrible wrong and the panel burst into flames. The flames spread to the mechanic and he sustained serious burns. The decision was made to airlift him to the hospital for treatment. There has been no update regarding his condition.
Burns: One Of The Worst Injuries
Burns are one of the most painful and debilitating injuries that any worker can sustain. As most people know, burns can be:
1. 1st-Degree
2. 2nd-Degree
3. 3rd-Degree
What isn't commonly known is that there are actually 4th-Degree burns that extend so far below the skin's surface that even the bones can be burned. In most cases, if the burn is on a limb, the limb must be amputated.
Skin and muscle that has been burned can require more than a year of treatment and often the patient is required to stay in the hospital while they undergo extensive surgeries and skin grafts. In many cases, secondary medical conditions such as serious infections are developed, slowing the healing process and even putting the patient's life in danger.
The good news is that this worker should be covered through workers' compensation which will pay for his medical treatments and a portion of his lost wages. Although this won't change the physical and emotional trauma he has suffered, it will go a long way to make sure that he is able to remain financially stable.
The bad news is that workers compensation claims are denied regularly by adjusters who have been trained to save the insurance company money. But help is available and our workers' compensation attorneys are dedicated, passionate, and ready to assist throughout the workers' comp process.
