An ankle injury might sound minor compared to other workplace injuries, but when you depend on your feet to do your job, even a bad sprain can put you out of work for weeks. Fractures and more serious ankle injuries can mean surgery, physical therapy, and a recovery that stretches on for months.
At Bangel, Cohen & Falconetti, we help Queens workers who’ve suffered ankle injuries at work get the workers’ compensation benefits they deserve. You shouldn’t have to fight the insurance company while you’re trying to heal.
How Ankle Injuries Happen at Queens Worksites
Queens is home to a wide range of industries where ankle injuries are common, including construction, food service, healthcare, and delivery work. These injuries typically happen when:
- Workers slip or trip on wet, cluttered, or uneven surfaces
- Ankles roll when stepping off a curb, ramp, or platform edge
- A fall from a ladder or elevated surface results in a forceful landing
- Insufficient footwear is worn on hazardous terrain
- Heavy objects fall on or near the ankle during work
Diagnosing the Full Extent of an Ankle Injury
One of the biggest mistakes injured workers make is underestimating an ankle injury. Sprains can mask more serious fractures. Ligament tears may not show up without an MRI. Getting the right imaging and evaluation is important for both your recovery and your workers’ comp claim.
Common ankle injuries that qualify for workers’ comp include:
- High and low ankle sprains
- Lateral, medial, or posterior malleolus fractures
- Ligament tears that may require surgical repair
- Peroneal tendon injuries
- Syndesmotic injuries from severe twisting trauma
When a Simple Sprain Turns Into Something More Serious
Workers who push through ankle pain without getting medical care sometimes make the injury significantly worse. What starts as a sprain can develop into chronic instability or arthritis if left untreated. If a supervisor told you to “walk it off,” that advice can harm both your health and your legal claim.
Seeing a doctor right away creates the medical record your claim depends on. Don’t skip this step.
Workers’ Comp Coverage for Ankle Injuries in New York
Your employer’s insurer must pay for reasonable and necessary treatment for a work-related ankle injury. If you’re unable to work during recovery, wage replacement benefits may be available under NY WCL § 15. If your ankle injury results in lasting instability or chronic pain that limits the type of work you can do, permanent disability benefits may also be on the table and should not be overlooked when resolving your claim.
As per NY WCL § 10, workers’ comp coverage applies regardless of fault. Whether you slipped because of a wet floor your employer ignored or stepped wrong while carrying a heavy item, you may have a valid claim.
Protecting Your Claim from the Start
- Report the injury to your employer the same day it happens
- Seek medical evaluation immediately and describe what happened at work
- Document the conditions of your workplace if possible
- Speak with our Queens workers’ compensation lawyers before signing any insurance paperwork
Call us at 718-446-4400 or contact us online today to talk through your situation.
