Getting Workers’ Compensation for Back Injuries

Many of us are familiar with back pain. You probably have one at your lower back that causes you to reconsider bending too low to pick up things. Or maybe you get jokingly called an older man often when you hang out with your friends because you wince while trying to bend.

However, some kinds of back pain come not as a result of old age but from back injuries. Back injuries are some of the most common work injuries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2016, back injury accounted for 38.5 percent of all work-related musculoskeletal disorders. 

What Are the Consequences of a Back Injury?

A back injury is just a back injury, and it will heal with time. Right? Not really. There are severe consequences of back injuries on the injured and even on their family members and dependents. These include:

• Lost Wages or Reduced Income

If you have to miss some time from work to heal up from your back injury, then you would lose some of your wages for that period. Of course, if dependents would need you to provide financial assistance for something important, they would be losing that. In cases where the back injury is sustained for a long time, you might have to take another job where you do less. 

Less work might mean that you have a reduced income. In some cases, you might even need to change your whole career entirely because you have become incapable of continuing because of your injury. That’s a fire consequence that could change your life and that of your dependents forever. A workers’ comp attorney in Charlotte, NC, can help you regain lost wages. 

• Medical Bills

The treatment that follows a back injury has to be paid for. Sometimes, you might need to undergo surgery for a chronic back injury. Without the right financial plans in place, you might run into debt worth thousands of dollars.

• Pain

In some unfortunate cases, back surgeries fail. The result is that the patient has to live life with a lot of pain until a doctor can resolve the surgery complications. You might also never get completely healed from the pain, and you would need further medical treatment. You might even need to get on prescription medication for a while.  In some very severe cases, you may lose the use of some of your limbs.

• Mental Trauma

Due to all the other consequences of back injuries, you could go through bouts of anxiety and depression. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder might even set in, causing you to lose out on what your life could have been. To get help for this, you might need to see a counselor, a therapist, or a psychiatrist. While you can quantify the cost for these, you cannot quantify the cost of the stress you would go through. 

At What Jobs Am I More Likely To Sustain Back Injuries?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the following jobs are quite prone to back injuries:

• Nurses and Nursing Assistants
• Janitors and cleaners
• Stork clerks and order fillers
• Maintenance and repair workers
• Heavy-truck drivers
• Laborers and hand material movers

What To Do When You Sustain a Work-Related Back Injury

Here is what you should do if you suffer a back injury on the job:

• Seek Medical Treatment

The first step to take after a work injury is always to seek medical treatment. You should ensure that you keep your medical records and bills for reference purposes. Hand them over to your Charlotte workers’ comp lawyer during the claims process.

• File a Claim for Workers’ Comp Benefits

You must report the incident to your employers as soon as you can and file a claim to receive workers’ compensation for the incident. Your employer should have an insurance company in charge of that, and they should reach out to you.

• Contact a North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Some insurance carriers try to make the process of claiming your benefits unnecessarily hard. They draw out the process, try to pay you less than you deserve, or refuse to accept your claim without a hearing. In such cases, you need a Charlotte workers’ compensation attorney to stand by you and ensure that you get adequate compensation for your back injury.

Let Charlotte Workers’ Comp Attorneys Help You Get Started

Have you sustained a work-related back injury? Or do you know anyone in those shoes? Let us help you get the compensation you deserve for your pains, the stress, and whatever amount you have spent or will likely spend. 

You don’t have to worry about paying upfront fees or paying for a consultation. The consultation sessions with our North Carolina workers’ comp lawyers are free. We also accept payment only after your pay-out has been made. Contact us today and let us help you get started.