Common Back Injuries at Work

Anybody who has ever injured their back knows that the pain of a back injury can be excruciating. If you are suffering from the spasms and misery of a back injury that occurred on the job, you may feel like you’re all alone, but in fact you’re in very good and expansive company – back injuries are the second most common injury that happens in the workplace. Workplace back injuries can range from minor to crippling, and can be the result of overexertion or overextension, a fall, or even sitting in an unhealthy position for an extended period of time. Whether your back injury requires extensive surgery and permanent disability or simply needs a bit of therapy and pain medication, you are entitled to workers’ compensation to cover your medical expenses and to provide replacement income for any lost wages that result from needing time off from work. It is important that you report your injury to your employer immediately to give them the opportunity to provide you with the compensation to which you are entitled. If they respond with a denial of your claim, contact the attorneys at Vanasse Law to give yourself the benefit of a powerful legal advocate.

The back injuries that most commonly occur at work include:

• Lower back strain
• Slipped, herniated, or bulging discs
• Pinched nerves
• Fractured vertebrae
• Spinal cord damage

These injuries can occur in a number of different ways, ranging from simply lifting a box the wrong way to being involved in a catastrophic automobile accident while on the job. Repetitive motions can cause back injuries, a slip and fall can cause a back injury, and even standing or sitting for too long in an awkward position can lead to damage to your back.

If you injure your back while on the job, you are entitled to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance policy that employers provide to their employees in exchange for employees not filing personal injury lawsuits against them. In theory, workers’ compensation should be a relatively straightforward process,  but many employers or their insurance carriers deny claims, questioning whether a worker is actually injured, or whether the injury is actually work related. As experienced workers’ compensation attorneys, the Lancaster, Pennsylvania law firm of Vanasse Law has extensive experience in representing workers whose workers’ compensation claims have been denied.  If you have reported your injury to your employer within the mandated time period and they have responded with a denial of claims, then you will need to file an appeal of this denial, and this is a complex process. Having a knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney working as your advocate and representative will give you the advantage of being certain that all deadlines are met, all documentation is in order, and that you have an impressive array of medical experts providing testimony on your behalf. Getting compensation for your work-related back injury is a complex, serious process. Contact the attorneys at Vanasse Law to make sure that you’re in competent, confident hands.