Domino Effect Injuries: Am I Covered Under Workers’ Comp in Tampa?

A “domino effect injury” is something that many injured workers have experienced. If you experience one kind of injury, it may cause knock-on effects throughout your body, potentially leading to other injuries. Not only is this highly frustrating for people who are trying to heal, but it might also complicate your workers’ comp claim in Tampa.

Examples of Domino Effect Injuries

One of the classic examples of a domino effect injury is an ankle issue that causes someone to walk with a slight limp or altered gait. This, in turn, makes other injuries more likely, such as spinal misalignment. Physiotherapists and chiropractors are well aware of the “domino effect” in the context of injuries, and many have seen countless examples of this over the years.

The domino effect often leads to chronic pain. This type of issue can be difficult and treat and diagnose because the patient often cannot explain how their injuries occurred. They may be completely confused as to why their shoulder is hurting just a few weeks after suffering a knee injury, for example.

Doctors will tell you that the human body is like a jigsaw puzzle. When one piece is damaged or destroyed, the “bigger picture” is affected. You might also describe the human body as a complex machine that involves many moving parts. When one part stops working effectively, the “performance” of this engine begins to suffer.

Does Workers’ Comp in Florida Cover Domino Effect Injuries?

Yes, workers’ compensation should cover all injuries that occur as a direct result of an initial workplace accident. The key phrase in this discussion is “major contributing cause” (MCC). As long as you can establish that the first injury was the major factor that triggered the subsequent injury, you should receive benefits for these knock-on effects as well as the original injuries.

However, these kinds of claims may be subject to higher degrees of scrutiny from insurers and the workers’ comp board. A doctor may need to examine you and determine whether the secondary injury was truly triggered by the initial workplace injury. This should be easy, and you can ask your own family doctor to provide their medical opinion about the “causational chain” involved in your domino effect injuries.

If you have received a denied claim for a domino effect injury, consider speaking with a workers’ comp lawyer in Florida about your next steps. If an initial accident is causing additional injuries, you should receive fair compensation.

Can a Tampa Workers’ Comp Lawyer Help Me?

A Tampa workers’ comp lawyer may be able to help if you’re recovering from a domino effect injury. Each injury is slightly different, and it may be difficult to access targeted guidance from online research alone. Domino effect injuries should be compensable under workers’ comp, but it all depends on your unique circumstances. For further guidance, consider contacting The Franco Law Firm today.

Sources: 

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11605029/

dynamicphysio.co.nz/the-domino-effect-how-one-injury-can-trigger-another/