Warnken, LLC Obtained $1,029,245.27 for the Injured in June

Byron Warnken on July 31, 2020
Posted in Car Accidents, Personal Injury, Successes for Our Clients, Workers' Comp.

Though courts have remained closed in Maryland, Warnken, LLC continues to move our clients’ cases forward as best we can.  The Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission is open for business.  Please remember, our past successes for clients do not mean we will be successful in every case, even if the facts are similar.  What we can promise, however, is our best efforts.  To discuss your case, get in touch with us now.  Please see workers’ compensation and personal injury cases that concluded in June 2020 below.

 

• Injury: Cervical Spondylosis, Back Strain, Shoulder Strain and Contusion
• Body Part: Neck, Shoulder, Back
• Amount: $269,843.00
• Location: Annapolis, MD
• Claimant was working as a photographer and fell off a stool while setting up equipment. Claimant had MRIs performed to the neck and shoulder. Claimant underwent surgery to the cervical spine in the form of an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in order to address the spondylosis.  Claimant’s shoulder was treated with cortisone injections and physical therapy.  The Subsequent Injury Fund was implead into the case.

 

• Injury: Knee strain
• Body Part: Knee
• Amount: $5,049.00
• Claimant slipped and twisted the knee at work. Claimant had therapy and an injection. Claimant continued to work.

 

• Employer: State of Maryland
• Injury: Hearing Loss
• Body Part: Ears
• Amount: Undisclosed
• Claimant developed hearing loss as a result of a career in law enforcement.

 

• Employer: State of Maryland
• Injury: Tenosynovitis and partial thickness undersurface tear of the ulnar aspect of the TFCC
• Body Part: Wrist
• Amount: $55,000
• Claimant was injured after falling at work. Claimant had two surgeries to the wrist. Claimant went through vocational rehabilitation and was successful in finding new employment.

 

• Employer: State of Maryland
• Injury: Strain of the talofibular ligament
• Body Part: Ankle
• Amount: $7,440.00
• Claimant was injured after falling at work. Claimant had physical therapy and was able to return to pre-injury employment.

 

• Employer: State of Maryland
• Injury: Hip strain
• Body Part: Hip
• Amount: $1,335.00
• Claimant missed the chair while going to sit and fell to the ground. Claimant had a pre-existing hip condition. Claimant was treated with medication.

 

• Injury: Non-displaced fractures of the third and fourth metatarsal and lateral cuneiform
• Body Part: Foot
• Amount: $27,375.00
• A large object fell onto claimant’s foot causing injury. Claimant was treated with medications and bracing. Claimant went through vocational rehabilitation.

 

• Injury: PTSD & concussion
• Body Part: Psych & Head
• Amount: $15,000.00 (total over claim $20,220.00)
• Claimant was assaulted by a co-worker. Claimant received stitches for a laceration on the head and was diagnosed with a concussion. Claimant aggravated pre-existing depression and developed PTSD.

 

• Injury: Knee strain, back strain
• Body Part: Back and knee
• Amount: $7,480.00
• Claimant fell down some stairs while at work. Claimant received physical therapy and was able to return to pre-injury employment.

 

• Employer: A Maryland Law Enforcement Agency
• Injury: Hypertension
• Body Part: Heart
• Amount: Undisclosed
• Claimant developed hypertension due to career as police officer.

 

• Employer: A Maryland Law Enforcement Agency
• Injury: Cervical and lumbar strains
• Body Part: Back and neck
• Amount: $18,600.00
• Claimant was involved in a motor vehicle collision while working. Claimant was treated with therapy and medications and continued employment.

 

• Injury: Medial collateral ligament sprain
• Body Part: Left knee
• Amount: $14,000.00
• Claimant slipped and fell on water while at work. Claimant underwent physical therapy and bracing for the injury sustained.

 

• Injury: Lumbosacral disc bulge, Chronic posttraumatic headaches
• Body Part:      Back, Shoulder, Neck, Head
• Amount: $40,000
• Claimant sustained an injury when involved in an auto accident where they struck another car. Claimant was diagnosed with a lumbar strain, cervical strain, and shoulder strain. Claimant also underwent treatment for posttraumatic headaches. Claimant underwent pain management, physical therapy, and chiropractic treatment.  Claimant was unable to return to the previous employment due to weight restrictions placed on them by the physician.

 

 

• Injury: Cervicothoracic strain, lumbar disc bulge
• Body Part:      Back & Neck
• Amount: $8,235.00
• Claimant was driving a vehicle when they were involved in an auto accident. Claimant was initially treated at a hospital and the referred for an MRI, physical therapy, and chiropractic treatment.  The MRI revealed mild diffuse disc bulges for foraminal narrowing.  Following physical therapy, claimant was able to return to similar employment with a different employer.

 

 

• Injury: Meniscus Tear
• Body Part:      Knee
• Amount: $45,000
• Claimant was working in a restaurant when they fell on the stairs, causing an injury to the knee. Claimant was treated by an orthopedic specialist who obtained an MRI of the knee. The MRI revealed a meniscus tear.  Claimant underwent an arthroscopic partial lateral meniscectomy to repair the knee. Claimant underwent post-op physical therapy and returned to a similar job with a different employer.

 

• Injury: Lumbar Sprain with L4-5 Disc Protrusion
• Body Part:      Back
• Amount: $62,500
• Claimant was working as a laborer when lifting doors and lumber, injured their back. Claimant was treated by an orthopedic doctor.  An MRI revealed a disc bulge and protrusion at the L4/5 level. After physical therapy, claimant underwent a round of steroid injections to the lumbar spine area.  Unfortunately, claimant was released to medium duty work and was placed in a vocational rehabilitation program to find new employment with a different employer.

 

 

• Injury: Ruptured bicep tendon
• Body Part:      Arm
• Amount: $11,220 (Case is on appeal because the recovery was insufficient)
• Claimant was lifting an HVAC unit when they felt a pop in the bicep area. Claimant underwent an MRI which revealed a distal biceps tendon rupture.  Claimant received a surgical repair of the tendon, followed by post-operative physical therapy and medications.  Claimant was able to return to the same job at the same employer.

 

• Injury: Mildly displaced fractured at the base of the greater tuberosity of the shoulder; PTSD
• Body Part: Shoulder, Psychological and Chin Disfigurement.
• Amount: $7,568.00.
• Location: Baltimore County
• Employer: Baltimore County Public Schools
• Client was struck by a motor vehicle in the parking lot of the school where the injured employee worked. The injured worker sustained a mildly displaced fracture at the base of the greater tuberosity of the shoulder as well as injuries to the head, arm and foot.  As a result of the trauma, the injured worker developed post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety.  The psychological injuries were added to the claim.  After the fracture healed, the injured worker underwent occupational therapy.  The Claimant also received counseling for the mental health injuries.  Eventually the injured worker was able to return to work for the same employer in the same position.

 

• Injury: Aggravation of pre-existing 2 level lumbar fusion
• Body Part: Neck and Back
• Amount: $7,480.00
• Location: Baltimore County
• Employer: Johns Hopkins Health Systems
• The injured worker aggravated pre-existing neck and back injuries, most significantly where the worker had undergone a two-level lumbar fusion surgery approximately 10 years prior. The injured worker returned to the treatment pain management provider and neurosurgeon for the worsening of the condition.  After diagnostic studies determined that the fusion was still intact, the Claimant underwent conservative care and returned back to work for the same employer.

 

• Injury: Disfigurement
• Body Part: Leg
• Amount: 24 weeks of disfigurement.  $2,640.00 (low AWW)
• Location: Baltimore County
• Claimant was working as a waiter when a patron’s dog bit the lower leg. Claimant sought emergency care and then followed up with a plastic surgeon once the wound healed.

 

• Injury: Tear of the central portion of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus and fraying of the hamstring tendon
• Body Part: Knee and Hip
• Amount: $15,000.00
• Location: Baltimore City
• Employer: University of Maryland Rehabilitation
• Claimant slipped and fell on a wet floor when walking from a patient’s room. The injured worker did a “split” and sustained injuries to the hip and knee.  Diagnostic testing revealed a tear of the central portion of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus and mild tendinosis and fraying of the hamstring tendon.  The injured worker elected not to have surgery and underwent occupational therapy instead.  The Claimant underwent conservative care and returned back to work for the same employer.

 

 

• Injury: Fracture of the distal fibula, peroneal neuropathy, medical calcaneal branch neuropathy, Achilles tendonitis and then developed complex regional pain syndrome
• Body Part: Leg and Foot
• Amount: $37,500.00 settlement.
• Location: Cecil County
• Claimant sustained fracture of the distal fibula, peroneal neuropathy, medical calcaneal branch neuropathy, Achilles tendonitis and then developed complex regional pain syndrome after sustained a hyperextension injury when the foot became trapped between a metal grate and the forklift the worker was operating. After the fracture healed, the Claimant was able to begin occupational therapy.  During the recovery, the injured worker developed CRPS and received peroneal nerve block injections.  A functional capacity evaluation determined that the injured worker could not return to the pre-injury position.  After two period of vocational habilitation services, the Claimant elected to resolve his claim by settlement.

 

• Injury: Facial laceration and disfigurement
• Body Part: Face
• Amount: $15,000.00 indemnity and $4,762.35 for future medical benefits.
• Location: Baltimore City
• Claimant sustained a facial laceration when a piece of rebar struck the worker on the left side of the face. Claimant sought emergency care and then followed up with a plastic surgeon once the wound healed.

 

• Injury: Traumatic brain injury with migraines.
• Body Part: Head and Neck
• Amount: $17,500.00 settlement.
• Location: Harford County
• Claimant sustained a blow to the head when climbing a stool to reach boxes. The stool slipped out from under the worker and the worker’s forehead struck the machine.  Claimant sustained injuries to the head and neck, which aggravated the workers pre-existing migraine condition and fibromyalgia.  For the neck, the injured worker received cervical facet block injections.  For the head injury and migraines, the worker received Botox injections.   The Claimant returned to work for a different employer in a lighter duty position.

 

• Injury: Rib fractures, Back, Hip and Leg contusions and sprains superimposed over prior surgical sites.
• Body Part: Back, Chest/Ribs, Hip, and Leg.
• Amount: $37,200.00 indemnity settlement and payment of all post-injury medical bills.
• Location: Baltimore County
• Claimant tripped over a ladder while at a job site and fell, injuring the back, chest/ribs, hip, and leg. The back injury was superimposed on a prior back surgery the injured worker had years prior.  The hip injury was superimposed on two prior hip arthroplasty surgeries.  The Claimant also fractures two ribs as a result of the fall.  Other diagnostic tests did not reveal any further fractures or acute changes to the surgical locations.  After the rib fractures healed, the injured worker underwent therapy.  The insurance company challenged the claim and it was settled in a “contested” posture.

 

• Injury: Torn Superior Labrum
• Body Part: Shoulder
• Amount: $75,000.00 indemnity settlement and $1,277.92 for future medical costs.
• Location: Mary’s County
• Employer: Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
• Claimant sustained a torn shoulder rotator cuff while playing professional baseball. An MRI arthrogram revealed a torn labrum.  The injured worker underwent an arthroscopic repair of the superior labral.  After undergoing post-surgical occupational therapy, the injured worker returned to work, but not as a professional athlete.

 

• Injury: Sprain/Strain
• Body Part: Shoulder, Neck
• Amount: $35,000.00
• Location: Hagerstown, MD
• Claimant slipped and fell and injured the neck and arm. An MRI of the shoulder was performed which revealed moderate tendinosis of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus.  Treatment included physical therapy and a cortisone injection.

 

• Injury: Sprain/Strain
• Body Part: Neck, Back
• Amount: $7,400.00
• Location: Bel Air Road, Baltimore County, Maryland
• Plaintiff was involved in a motor vehicle collision sustaining injuries to the back and neck. Plaintiff was evaluated at the Emergency Room, where x-rays were performed and were normal.  Plaintiff also underwent physical therapy.

 

• Injury: Abdominal Wall Contusion, Musculoskeletal Strain
• Body Part: Stomach, Back, Ankle
• Amount: $7,150.00
• Location: Bel Air Road, Baltimore County, Maryland
• Plaintiff was a passenger in motor vehicle when involved in a motor vehicle collision sustaining injury to the stomach and low back. Plaintiff was evaluated at the Emergency Room, where x-rays were performed, and medication was prescribed.  Plaintiff also underwent physical therapy.

 

• Injury: Bulging disk
• Body Part: Back
• Amount: $7,320.00
• Location: Jessup, MD
• Claimant was at work picking up an order of wide panels when they sustained injury to the back. Claimant was treated with medication, physical therapy, and injections.  An MRI of the back was performed which showed a posterior central annular disc bulge.  Claimant ultimately returned to work full duty.

 

• Injury: Sprain/Strain
• Body Part: Back
• Amount: $11,220.00
• Employer: Sinai Hospital
• Location: Baltimore, MD
• Claimant was working as a registered nurse lifting and pulling a post-operative patient when they sustained injury to the back. Claimant was treated with physical therapy.

 

• Injury: Dog Bite
• Body Part: Forearm, Groin/Thigh, Shoulder
• Amount: $43,000.00
• Location: Baltimore, MD
• Plaintiffs were walking their dogs when attacked by a neighbor’s dog. Plaintiff was evaluated at an Urgent Care facility and given an antibiotic for the wounds. Plaintiff then followed up with their primary care physician and was advised to continue the mediation from Urgent Care. Due to shoulder and an MRI was performed.  Plaintiff was then treated with steroid injection into the shoulder.  Plaintiff was left with permanent scarring.

 

• Injury: Dog Bite
• Body Part: Forearm
• Amount: $35,000.00
• Location: Baltimore, MD
• Plaintiffs were walking their dogs when attacked by a neighbor’s dog. Plaintiff was treated at an Urgent Care facility for the bite on the forearm, and was given medication for pain and wound care.  Plaintiff then came under the care of their primary care physician and continued antibiotics.

 

• Injury: Partial Thickness Tear of the Ulnar Collateral Ligament
• Body Part: Thumb
• Amount: $20,000.00
• Location: Hagerstown, MD
• Claimant slipped and fell sustaining injury to the thumb. Claimant was initially treated with a cast.  Claimant ultimately underwent an MRI and required surgery in the form of MCP joint ulnar collateral ligament repair.  Claimant completed post-operative therapy at home.

 

• Injury: Fractures of the Foot
• Amount: $37,200.00
• Location: Southern Pennsylvania
• Claimant was unloading product from a truck when their foot got stuck between the lift gate and trailer. Claimant was evaluated at the Emergency Room and surgery was performed to repair the fracture. Claimant remained in a CAM boot for a period of time, and also underwent postoperative physical therapy.

 

• Injury: Partial tearing of the dorsal radioulnar ligament
• Body Part: Wrist
• Amount: $6,000.00
• Claimant sustained injury to the wrist while helping a client who lost their balance and fell. Claimant had an MRI which showed partial tearing of the dorsal radioulnar ligament.  Claimant was also treated with cortisone injections and physical therapy.

 

• Injury: Sprained Knee
• Amount: $1,750.00 new money (prior PPD award = $4,488)
• Location: Laurel, MD
• Claimant slipped and fell sustaining injury to the knee. Claimant was treated with medication and physical therapy.