If you suffer a back injury on the job, you may be concerned about how to pay your medical bills, as well as other household expenses, while you are unable to work due to your injury. If you have sustained a workplace injury, your employer may be able to provide you with workers’ compensation benefits, which cover all medical expenses related to your back injury, lost wages, and other benefits such as vocational training, if applicable.
In addition to other losses, you can also claim non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering, in a third-party lawsuit, which workers’ compensation benefits do not cover. Due to the complexity of back injury claims, it is crucial that you contact an experienced work injury attorney as soon as possible so they can assist you in recovering maximum compensation for your losses.
Understanding The Structure of The Spine
There are 33 vertebrae or smaller bones making up the spinal column. While 24 of these vertebrae are mobile, nine are fused or joined. The spinal column extends from the cervical vertebrae to the coccyx. Each moving bone is separated by a fluid-filled disc that serves as a shock absorber for any type of back injury.
There is a risk of vertebral dislocation when performing lifting, pulling, pushing, and twisting tasks at work. In the event of a workplace fall, you run the risk of breaking one of these vertebrae. Disc displacement can also be triggered by a sudden injury to the back. This could cause the vertebrae to rub together, resulting in pain and discomfort.
Any injury to the spinal cord can be painful and impair a person’s mobility and ability to perform tasks. However, the most dangerous type of back injury that could occur at work is a spinal cord injury. The spinal cord is essentially a bundle of nerves that transmits signals from the brain to the rest of the body. A spinal cord injury may result in paralysis or even death.
Common Types of Work-Related Back Injury
While back injuries are typically not life-threatening, they can leave victims with chronic pain and other debilitating symptoms, resulting in lost productivity. It also renders you incapable of enjoying life. Workplace back injury can range from sprains and strains to herniated or bulging discs, fractured or dislocated vertebrae, and compressed nerves.
Injuries to the upper back (thoracic spine) and lower back (lumbar spine), herniated discs, and vertebral fractures are among the most common types of back injuries sustained on the job. In the worst-case scenario, a back injury sustained on the job could result in catastrophic injuries such as paralysis, in which case the worker may never be able to return to work and may require 24-hour care.
Conclusion
In addition to workers’ compensation benefits, your work injury attorney will determine if you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the party or entity (other than your employer) responsible for your back injury.
If you have sustained a back injury on the job, one of the first steps you should take is to contact an experienced work injury lawyer who will take immediate action to protect your rights and best interests. Contact Pistiolas Law to schedule a free consultation and a thorough evaluation of your case. Call us at (844) 414-1768.
