When you think of workers’ compensation and workplace injuries, there’s a good chance that the image that comes to mind is of an employee with an injured back. There’s a good reason why this is what you think of first – according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), roughly twenty percent of all workplace injuries or illnesses involved the back, adding up to over one million back injuries every single year. Back injuries make up 25% of all workers’ compensation claims. Most back injuries that occur on the job come about as a result of lifting, and four out of five involve the lower back. If you have suffered a workplace back injury and need information about your rights as an injured worker, call the attorneys of Vanasse Law. We are experienced workers’ compensation lawyers in Lancaster, and we have a wealth of knowledge to support you in all aspects of the workers’ compensation applications and appeal process.
There are a number of common back injuries that are sustained in the workplace. These are divided into two different categories: non-accidental injuries that occur as a result of normal, non-strenuous activities, and accidental injuries that are the result of an unexpected action or strain. Back injuries may result from physically demanding jobs that require a good deal of lifting, straining, or twisting, but they can also come from the poor ergonomics provided by office chairs, standing for long periods of time, or working hunched over a computer all day. Where the former can come in the form of overextensions result in muscle strains, tears, and ruptures of the discs in the spine, the injuries from sitting are often more along the lines of neck strain and lower back pain.
The back is made up of bones, muscles, ligaments, vertebrae, disks, and connective tissue, and workplace back injuries can damage any of those. Though injuries can happen anywhere along the spinal column between the head and the tailbone, the majority of workplace back injuries involve the lower back. Perhaps the most common of these are disk problems, which result when one of the disks that act as a shock absorber between the vertebrae in our spinal column is suddenly compressed and ends up protruding out of its normal position. If this disk touches a spinal nerve it can result in severe pain. In most cases, this type of injury is the result of improper lifting. Other common injuries occur when the ligaments that support the connections between the vertebrae in our spine are pulled beyond their capacity as a result of twisting or turning. In most cases, back injuries are a result of exceeding the capacity of the back’s structures and can result in pain and disability that lasts a very long time.
If you have suffered a workplace back injury that requires medical attention or restricts you from doing your job, you would benefit from having a skilled workers’ compensation attorney helping you navigate through the workers’ compensation claims process. To set up an appointment to discuss your case, call Vanasse Law today.
Learn more about Workplace Back Injuries HERE.
We spend roughly one third of our lives at our workplace, so it is important for us to feel as secure and confident in our safety and well being when we are there as we do when we are in our own homes. Unfortunately, workplace accident statistics in Pennsylvania reveal that for many of us, our employment poses serious risks. No matter whether we are working in white collar office environments or in more notoriously risky construction or manufacturing sites, accidents can happen. Though some workplace injuries may amount to nothing more than bumps and bruises from which we can quickly return to work, others require extensive medical intervention, rehabilitation, and time away from the job. Some even result in death. Nearly all workers in Pennsylvania who are injured on the job are entitled to Workers’ Compensation, an insurance program that pays for medical expenses, lost wages and other benefits, regardless of where the fault for the accident lies, but sometimes this compensation can be denied by the insurer or employer. If you have been denied or workers’ compensation does not fully cover your injuries a Workers’ Comp lawyer from Vanasse Law can help.
Pennsylvania workplace accident statistics can be eye opening, as they shine a light on the extent of injuries suffered as well as under what circumstances they occur. Though many minor injuries — including many of those that require care by a health care provider or treatment in an emergency room setting — are not included in the records collected by the state, employers are required to report injuries and illnesses that result in loss of time beyond a day or shift of occurrence, as well as those that result in death or permanent impairment. Based upon information released by the Bureau of Worker’s Compensation in 2014, workplace fatalities are on the increase, and so are work injuries reported in the state. Here are just some of the workplace accident statistics for the state in 2014:
In addition to information regarding types of workplace injuries and the industries in which they take place, those who are injured should understand that only about one third of workers’ compensation claims are approved, and much of this is a result of the claim being improperly prepared. Having an experienced Workers’ Compensation attorney by your side and helping you through the process is the best way to maximize your chances of getting the compensation that you deserve. Call Vanasse Law to set up an appointment to discuss your situation and see how we can help.
Learn more about Workplace Accident Statistic HERE.
30 East Roseville Road, Suite C
Lancaster, PA 17601
Phone: 717-397-1010
Office Hours:
After Hours: 717-471-2168
Fax: 717-397-2644
Vanasse Law LLC is conveniently located just north of center city Lancaster just off Route 30. We are in Sterling Center just off Lititz Pike/Route 501. Our office has plenty of free parking and is handicapped accessible.
Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Vanasse Law LLC serves injured workers throughout Lancaster County and surrounding communities.
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