Common Back Injuries Claimed Under Workers’ Comp
Back pain, especially lower back pain, is the leading cause of workplace disability worldwide. Whether you’re struggling with chronic back injuries due to diesel engine vibrations or long-term computer use, every worker in every industry can suffer from back pain in Pleasantville, NJ.
Do not let workers’ compensation insurance companies claim your back injury was pre-existing or not work-related. Most chronic back injuries are sustained on the job. Discuss your disabling back and neck injuries with the experienced workers’ compensation lawyers at Matarazzo & Lubcher today.
Chronic Back and Overuse Injuries
Proving workers’ compensation claims for long-term back and neck issues can be complicated. Unlike sudden injuries, these conditions develop gradually as wear and tear damages the spine, nerves, or supporting tissues. Examples of chronic back injuries include:
- Sciatica
- Bulging discs
- Myelopathy
- Peripheral nerve entrapment
- Kyphosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spinal stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Osteoarthritis
These conditions often develop over time, particularly after years of performing repetitive workplace tasks, such as lifting, driving, and typing. As such, there is no ‘date of accident’ or triggering event to report to employers or your workers’ compensation insurer. You must show by medical evidence that the condition was job-related.
It’s also not uncommon for WC insurers to claim the condition was ‘age-related’ – a favored term used when denying benefits – rather than caused by workplace conditions. Experienced workers’ comp lawyers in Pleasantville may work with dedicated medical experts to help prove your entitlement to WC benefits due to chronic back and neck conditions.
Common Catastrophic Workplace Back Injuries in New Jersey
It’s often easier to prove your entitlement to workers’ compensation benefits if you suffer from a sudden and catastrophic back injury. These most commonly result from falls – the leading cause of preventable workplace injuries according to OSHA – and motor vehicle accidents. Construction workers, electricians, commercial truck drivers, delivery drivers, and heavy machinery operators have the highest risk of suffering from disabling back injuries in Pleasantville, NJ, which often include:
- Paraplegia
- Quadriplegia
- Multiple disc herniations
- Fractured vertebrae
- Traumatic brain stem (upper neck) injuries
Even if you’re not in a high-risk industry, anyone can slip in the break room or get into a serious car accident while running workplace errands. A dedicated workplace injury attorney can help you recover workers’ compensation benefits for back and neck injuries, including temporary benefits for disabling whiplash or permanent disability benefits for paralysis.
Trust Our Workers’ Comp Benefits Attorney in Pleasantville
Eligible claimants can recover temporary total disability benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, or permanent total disability benefits for work-related back injuries in New Jersey. These benefits must include any necessary and reasonable medical treatment with in-network providers and 70% of your weekly lost wages up to the state weekly maximum (approximately $1,500).
If you suffered from a disabling back injury at work, including paralysis, an experienced WC attorney from Matarazzo & Lubcher can negotiate a high-value WC settlement in your case. Schedule a free and confidential NJ workers’ compensation consultation with us today. Call (856) 460-5805 or contact us online.