Back Injury Suffered on the Job

Back injuries are extremely common on the job. Such injuries can occur when a worker is lifting something heavy or when a worker suffers a fall. These are also painful injuries whose effects can last a long time and affect your ability to return to work.

In the state of Florida, injured employees have few options for medical care. It is critical that you obtain adequate medical attention to recover quickly! Insurance firms frequently delay treatments, refuse to test, and press doctors to return wounded workers to work. They frequently compel people to return to work before they are ready or postpone obtaining diagnostic testing. If you or a loved one has sustained a back injury on the job, please contact an experienced Florida workers' compensation attorney to better understand your legal rights and options.

Florida workplace injuries can happen anywhere. Construction workers and roadway crews are in constant danger of getting into serious accidents. This does not mean, however, that a job needs to be inherently dangerous for workers' compensation benefits to be available for the injured worker. In Florida, all businesses with four or more employees must provide workers' compensation benefits in case of an accident. A typical workers' compensation claim will provide two-thirds of lost wages while unable to work and compensation for all medical expenses related to the accident.

Even minor back injuries can be debilitating. Serious back injuries and spinal cord injuries can lead to a lifetime of disability and financial hardship. Here are some of the different types of back injuries that are commonly sustained on the job:

• Lower Back Strain: This is known as lumbar strain and torn or stretched muscles in the lower back cause it. Having to lift heavy items at work can cause serious lower back pain. Delivery, stockroom, and retail workers who have to lift heavy items all day commonly suffer from this type of painful back injury.
• Herniated Discs: When the spongy discs between the bones of the vertebrae shift, herniated or slipped discs can occur on any part of the spine. Seriously slipped discs can cause constant pain, numbness, and weakness.
• Quadriplegia: This is a paralysis of the limbs and torso. This is typically caused by a serious injury to the spinal cord between the C1 and C7 vertebrae in the upper back. Car accidents and serious falls have been known to cause permanent quadriplegia.
• Paraplegia: This is the impairment of the lower extremities. This type of disability is typically caused by a serious injury to the lower spinal cord.

To receive fair compensation for a serious back injury, victims would be well-advised to discuss their case with an experienced personal injury attorney.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious back injuries on the job, the reputed attorneys at the Law Office of Ruth E. Johnson can help. We work to protect the rights of all Florida workers. Our goal is to help you obtain fair and full compensation for all your injuries, damages, and losses. Call us today for a free consultation and comprehensive claim evaluation.