Hoyer Lift and Patient Transfer Injuries on the Job

Injured Using a Hoyer Lift or During a Patient Transfer? Know Your Rights.

As a nurse injured during a patient transfer, you may qualify for workers comp benefits and have a third-party civil action if a defective Hoyer Lift caused you harm.

As a nurse, you dedicate your days to helping others. But that commitment comes with physical risks.

One of the most common sources of injury in the nursing profession is patient transfers, particularly when using equipment such as Hoyer lifts. Whether you’re repositioning an immobile patient in bed, assisting them to a chair, or transferring them with a lift device, even a single misstep or equipment failure can result in serious injury to both you and the patient.

If you get hurt while transferring a patient in Virginia, you may qualify for workers compensation benefits or a lump sum payout. Understanding your rights under Virginia law—and the steps to take after an injury—can protect your health, your income, and your future.

What is a Hoyer Lift?

Hoyer Lifts are devices found in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities to help with patient transfers when the patient has limited mobility.

The Hoyer Lift facilitates the transfer of patients from a chair, wheelchair, or floor to a bed and vice versa.

Improperly Used or Maintained Hoyer Lifts Can Cause Harm

Your employer must train you on how to use the Hoyer Lift for patient transfers.

Additionally, your employer or the product manufacturer should ensure the proper maintenance of the lift. Otherwise, you are at risk of suffering an injury during a patient transfer despite using the Hoyer Lift.

Common reasons that nurses suffer injuries when using a Hoyer Lift to move a patient include the following:

• • The wheelchair or hospital bed to which you transfer the patient is not locked in position, and the movement causes an unexpected weight shift or exertion, potentially resulting in harm.

• • Missing parts, such as missing slings, straps, or chains.

• • An unlocked boom or mast that causes the lift to act unexpectedly.

• • Missing nuts or bolts that hold the lift together

• • An incompletely closed pressure release knob causes the jack to lower while the patient is suspended.

• • Leaking oil from the machine causes you to slip and fall.

• • The patient exceeds the weight capacity for the lift used.

• • Obstacles near the lift’s casters can cause you to trip or make it difficult to transfer the patient as intended.

• • Transferring or moving the patient over an uneven surface causes a shift in weight.

• • Incorrectly positioning the patient can cause the lift to fail or make the transfer more challenging for you physically.

The exact cause of the injury determines whether you are limited to workers comp or can also bring a third-party civil action against the product manufacturer or company responsible for the lift’s maintenance.

Common Injuries from Hoyer Lifts and Patient Transfers

Even with assistive devices like Hoyer lifts, patient transfers are physically demanding. These devices reduce strain and lower the risk of harm, but they’re not foolproof. Mechanical malfunctions, lack of staff support, or improper training can quickly lead to injury.

Some of the most common injuries you might experience when using a Hoyer lift include:

• • Lower back injuries – such as muscle strains, herniated discs, or chronic pain caused by sudden twists, heavy lifting, or repetitive movements.

• • Shoulder damage – including rotator cuff tears, biceps tendon tears, or impingements from overextension.

• • Knee injuries – often from awkward postures or sudden shifts during transfers.

• • Wrist and elbow injuries – particularly common if you’re bearing a patient’s weight during a fall or struggling with faulty equipment.

• • Traumatic injuries – like head injuries, fractures, or bruises from being pulled down during a failed lift or patient collapse.

These injuries aren’t just painful—they can force you off the job, sometimes permanently.

You’re Not Alone: Statistics Show the Risk of Injury When Transferring Patients Is Real

If you suffer an injury while completing a patient transfer, with or without a Hoyer Lift, know that you’re not alone. The statistics are clear:

• • Nearly 25% of healthcare worker injuries are related to nursing.

• • Back injuries account for 30% of all nursing injuries.

• • Patient handling and transfers are among the leading causes of injury in the healthcare sector.

• • A study found that 83% of musculoskeletal injuries from patient handling involved nurses or aides.

• • Nurses can lift the equivalent of 1.8 tons per shift due to the frequency with which they must handle, transfer, or lift immobile patients.

Even with proper training, the sheer frequency and physical demand of these tasks make injuries likely over time.

Can You File for Workers Compensation After an Injury During a Patient Transfer?

Yes, and you should. Virginia workers compensation law protects employees—nurses included—when they suffer an injury on the job.

According to the Virginia Workers Compensation Act, if you are injured while transferring a patient or using a Hoyer lift, you may be entitled to:

Medical Coverage

A workers comp award letter covers all necessary medical treatment for life, including hospital visits, surgeries, physical therapy, medications, and assistive devices. You’ll need to choose from a panel of doctors provided by your employer, but the treatment itself should cost you nothing out of pocket.

Lost Wages (Wage Replacement)

If you suffer an injury while transferring a patient or using a Hoyer lift and cannot do your pre-injury nursing job, you may receive two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to the state maximum.

There are different types of wage replacement:

• • Temporary Total Disability (TTD) – If you can’t work at all for a period.

• • Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) – If you can work, but at reduced hours or pay.

• • Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) – If you suffer permanent impairment to a specific body part.

• • Permanent Total Disability (PTD) – If you’re permanently unable to work due to a catastrophic injury (such as paralysis or severe brain injury).

Vocational Rehabilitation

If you can’t return to your prior nursing role after an injury involving a patient transfer or Hoyer Lift, you may be eligible for vocational training. Examples of vocational training include job placement services or assistance in finding a new career that fits your permanent work restrictions.

What if the Insurer Denies Your Claim?

It’s not uncommon for nurses to face challenges when filing workers comp claims after patient transfer injuries. Employers or insurers might argue that:

• • You violated a safety rule or established lifting protocol by not using or misusing the Hoyer Lift. I have seen this defense raised more frequently over the past five years.

• • Your injury wasn’t serious.

• • It didn’t happen at work.

• • You have a pre-existing condition (degenerative disc disease or past lumbar fusion or total knee replacement) that was only temporarily aggravated or exacerbated by the transfer of the patient.

That’s where legal representation makes a difference. A workers compensation attorney familiar with Virginia’s laws can fight back on your behalf—gathering medical records, challenging unfair denials, and pushing for the full benefits you deserve. 

Steps to Take After a Hoyer Lift or Patient Transfer Injury

After an injury from a patient transfer or while using a lift, here’s what to do:

• • Report the injury immediately: Virginia law requires you to notify your employer of the incident within 30 days. Here’s a sample letter for reporting a work accident.

• • Get medical attention – Visit a doctor from your employer’s approved panel and follow all treatment recommendations.

• • Document everything – Keep detailed notes on how the injury happened, your symptoms, and any restrictions placed by your doctor.

• • File a Claim for Benefits – Submit the proper form to the Virginia Workers Compensation Commission within two years of the injury.

• • Speak with a workers comp attorney – The process can be complex. A lawyer can help you avoid costly mistakes and advocate for your rights.

Your Rights as a Nurse Matter

You’ve spent your career helping others—now it’s time someone helps you.

Our law firm represents nurses across Virginia who have suffered injuries during patient transfers and the use of lift equipment. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial stress you’re facing, and we’re here to fight for the benefits you rightly deserve.

We offer free consultations and only get paid if we win your case.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

If you’ve been hurt in a patient transfer or while using a Hoyer lift, don’t wait. CALL US NOW OR EMAIL: 804-251-1620 or 757-810-5614, cpollardjba@gmail.com. Virginia’s nurses and frontline healthcare workers count on us to secure every penny they deserve and negotiate top-dollar workers compensation settlement payouts. 

Sources

Read the following articles to learn more about injuries from patient handling in hospitals, nursing homes, and medical practices:

Safety analysis of patient transfers and handling tasks – PubMed

Musculoskeletal injuries resulting from patient handling tasks among hospital workers – PubMed

Nursing Injuries Statistics: Market Data Report 2025

Occupational injuries and illnesses among registered nurses : Monthly Labor Review: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics