Compensation for puncture injuries

Compensation for puncture injuries?

In some cases, compensation for puncture injuries can amount to several million kroner.

What is a puncture injury?

A puncture injury occurs after accidents with syringes, knives, razor blades or other sharp objects.

What are the most common puncture injuries?

The most common puncture injuries occur in the head, eye, torso, shoulder, hand, finger or arm.

Which parts of the body are most susceptible to puncture injuries?

The most common puncture injuries occur in the head, eye, upper body, shoulder, arm or legs.

Puncture injuries can lead to, for example organ damage, arm injury, nerve damage, finger injury, hand injury, shoulder injury, head injury, muscle injury, tendon injury, paralyses, eye injury and infection.

Where are puncture injuries most common?

A needle stick injury is not uncommon among healthcare professionals who handle syringes or sharp objects at work. For healthcare professionals, a sharps injury can pose a risk of infection and transmission of, for example HIV, hepatitis or other diseases.

Healthcare professionals who work with patients with substance abuse problems and mental illnesses are also more likely to suffer stab wounds after attacks at work.

Needle-stick injuries are also a common injury among professional fishermen working at sea and among craftsmen and industrial workers.

You will find a list of occupational injuries that may entitle you to compensation here

Can puncture injuries lead to illness?

Answer. A stabbing injury at work can cause you to develop an occupational disease that leads to full or partial loss of ability to work.

You will find a List of occupational diseases that may entitle you to compensation here.

Am I entitled to compensation for puncture injuries?

Yes, you can. You may be entitled to compensation.

• If the injury occurred at work, you are probably entitled to compensation for occupational injury or occupational disease.
• If the damage occurred in traffic, you are probably entitled to compensation from the insurance company of the vehicle that injured you.
• If the injury occurred during leisure time you are entitled to compensation under accident insurances or travel accident insurance if you had such insurance.
• If the injury occurred in a boating accident, you can claim compensation under the boat's liability insurance, under the skipper's or boat owner's liability insurance, or directly from the skipper or boat owner.
• If the injury occurred in a plane crash you are covered by mandatory accident insurance that all airlines must take out.
• If the injury occurred due to violence, you may be entitled to compensation from the perpetrator, their liability insurance or from Office for Victim Compensation.
• If the injury occurred during medical treatment, you may be entitled to compensation from Norwegian Patient Injury Compensation.

Act on occupational injury insurance, Act on compensation for damages and Act on motor vehicle liability are the main laws that regulate sharps injuries.

What types of compensation am I entitled to?

You may be entitled to the following types of compensation:

• Trade compensation
• Incurred and future additional expenses
• Revenue loss incurred
• Future revenue loss
• Compensation for redress
• Incurred and future loss of ability to work at home
• Compensation for tax disadvantage

In addition, you may be entitled to compensation under accident insurances, and you may also be entitled to compensation under disability insurances if you are unable to work fully or partially as a result of the injury.

What should I do if I suffer a puncture injury?

It is important to report the injury to the relevant insurance companies as soon as possible. If the injury occurred at work, the injury must also be reported to NAV, and in severe cases also to Labour Inspection Authority and to The police.

How much can I receive in compensation?

The amount of compensation depends on the severity of the injury, the consequences it has for your ability to work and the expenses you have incurred as a result of the injury. personal injury.

The amount of compensation under accident insurance also depends on the insurance terms and conditions and the amount for which insurance has been taken out.

The compensation may amount to several million kroner, but should be assessed in more detail by a lawyer with expertise in tort law.

Is there a disability table for puncture injuries?

Yes. Disability table is the starting point for the assessment of what you are entitled to in terms of personal injury compensation after a stabbing injury.

The disability table is a separate regulation called «Regulations on workers' compensation for occupational injuries» but is also used to determine the degree of medical disability in compensation settlements for stab injuries.

The Disability Table sets out the medical disability percentage for a number of diagnoses, and this provides the framework for the assessment of your medical disability to be determined by a medical specialist.

Is the injury recognised as an occupational injury by NAV?

Answer. If the injury occurred at work for your employer at the workplace, and is the result of an accident, you can apply to NAV for recognition of the injury as an occupational injury.

If the injury occurred at work and you have suffered an illness as a result of the puncture injury, you can apply to NAV for recognition of the injury as an occupational disease.

«Recognised occupational injury»An «approved occupational injury» with NAV will automatically give you benefits in the NAV system. Among other things, you can avoid paying a deductible for treatment by a doctor and physiotherapist by presenting the decision on "approved occupational injury".

As a general rule, you can also be reimbursed for dental expenses, medicines and special medical equipment. You may also be entitled to compensation from NAV.

• Read also: How to apply for occupational injury compensation from NAV
• Read also: How NAV assesses whether you have an occupational injury
• Read also: How an occupational injury compensation case works

Do I need a lawyer?

Answer. Claiming compensation after a needle stick injury is a complicated process, both medically and legally. You should therefore not attempt to fight for compensation on your own.

We often see that clients who consult a lawyer achieve higher compensation than those who try to handle the compensation settlement on their own.

Do I have to pay for my lawyer myself?

No, it isn't. If the injury occurred at work or in traffic, it is normal for the insurance company to cover your legal expenses in the compensation case. You can also have your legal expenses covered through various legal expenses insurance.

Why should I choose Advokatfirmaet Halvorsen & Co?

Over 30 years, our clients have received billions of kroner in compensation. Our lawyers are specialised with extensive experience, and assists clients all over Norway following stab injuries.

Advokatfirmaet Halvorsen & Co always offers a free consultation about your compensation case. Get in touch with us today.