If you hurt your back at work, you may seek money through a workers’ compensation claim. In some cases, those injured at work can file a lawsuit. Focus on healing your back and protecting your mental health and hire a workers’ comp lawyer to oversee your claim or lawsuit. Back injuries can leave you with little time to deal with insurance companies or handle the other aspects of your claim or lawsuit. Trust a proven Jeffersonville workers’ compensation attorney to seek the compensation you deserve.
What to Do After Injuring Your Back at Work
A back injury can happen in many professional fields, especially those involving rigorous physical exertion. Once you realize you have suffered an injury, take the following steps.Seek Medical Attention
Medical attention can’t wait, especially with an injury as complicated as yours. You should:- Go to an urgent care facility, hospital, or other medical provider
- Explain how your back injury happened
- Explain any symptoms you are experiencing
- Request medical imaging (this can provide irrefutable evidence of your injury and be necessary to provide an effective treatment plan)
- Request precise instructions from the doctor about how to treat and recover from the back injury
Inform Your Employer About the Injury
Your employer may need to file a workers’ compensation claim with their insurers.
You need to inform your employer of your injury so:
- Your employer can file the claim
- You establish exactly when and how your injury happened
- Your employer can create an official record of your injury
Find a Lawyer to Pursue Compensation for Your Losses
This is a critical step. Your health is vitally important, and you will consider your health by seeking medical attention. Your financial health is just as important. Hiring a lawyer will ensure you’re giving due attention to your financial recovery. Hire a lawyer as soon as possible because:- You should focus on your health rather than an insurance claim or lawsuit
- Your attorney will immediately protect you during the insurance or legal process
- Your attorney will work hard to obtain fair compensation as soon as possible
Keep Any Documentation of Your Accident or Injury
As you receive medical treatment and move forward from your accident, you may receive:- Incident reports related to your injury
- Medical bills
- Images of injuries
- Other evidence and documentation that is relevant to your claim or lawsuit
Types of Work-Related Back Injuries You Can Seek Compensation For
Some of the most common types of back injuries are:- Fractured vertebrae: Every type of vertebral fractures can cause immense pain. These injuries may require a significant recovery period or can even cause disabling symptoms.
- Sprains and strains: Overstretching muscles, tendons, or ligaments in your back is called strains or sprains. These injuries can cause a painful chain reaction of inflammation.
- Herniated discs: Also known as slipped or ruptured discs, herniations occur due to injuries in the padding between vertebrae, causing severe discomfort and pain.
The Importance of Hiring a Lawyer After a Work-Related Injury
Pain from back injuries can be debilitating, though each injured party’s experience can vary significantly. Even if you believe your pain is manageable, you can benefit from hiring a back injury lawyer because:The Insurance Company May Lowball or Deny You
While some injured workers undergo a smooth path to compensation, this is not always the case. Insurance companies have a business to run and may not think twice about lowballing you.
The insurance company can:
- Deny your claim based on policy-related reasons
- Claim that you caused your own injury through horseplay or impairment
- Refuse to cover certain losses (like medical treatment)
- Offer significantly less compensation than you deserve
You May Need to File a Lawsuit (or Even Go to Trial)
Some work injuries are the fault of negligent third parties. Victims of third-party negligence may sue those third parties. If you are one of those victims, your attorney can:- Draft and file your lawsuit
- Negotiate with liable parties
- Proceed to court, if necessary
Recovery Is Always the Priority
Whether you are disabled or you will recover from your injuries, nobody can care for your health like you can. If you don’t decide to prioritize your physical, psychological, and emotional health, you may find that recovery stalls or regresses. When you hire a back injury lawyer to help, you:- Have more time to pursue the many treatments for back injuries
- Can rest rather than worry about dealing with insurance companies or building your claim
- May recover more quickly because you are avoiding added stress and sticking to your treatment plan
Your Law Firm Will Support Your Case Financially
Work injuries can hurt. The financial uncertainty that results from an injury may cause just as much stress. Your chosen law firm will provide direct and indirect financial support for your case by:- Spending significant time and energy crafting your case
- Covering administrative expenses like filing fees
- Hiring experts to reconstruct your accident, testify about your injuries, or assist in other ways
- Covering the cost of a lawsuit and trial
You Can Lean on a Lawyer’s Experience with Back Injury Cases
Experience allows us to master our craft and overcome professional challenges. This is true of injury lawyers whose experience can greatly benefit your case. Injured workers deserve to focus on their health above all else. Let a proven lawyer take your case for compensation off your hands.Ways to Receive Compensation for a Work-Related Back Injury
Your workers’ compensation lawyer will consider the reason for your accident when they advise you to either:- File a workers’ compensation claim
- File a lawsuit
Damages That Can Result From a Third-Party Claim for a Back Injury
The effects of a back injury can limit your movement, cause severe pain, and diminish your quality of life. Your injury can also cause significant financial harm, and your lawyer’s mission is to obtain the compensation you deserve for economic and non-economic damages from any third parties who were negligent and caused your injuries.
Your recoverable damages may include:
Medical Bills
Back injury victims may need:- Ambulance transport from the scene of an accident
- Emergency medical care
- Back surgery
- Physical therapy
- Care from medical specialists
- Other medical services
Lost Income
Your back injury lawyer will measure the professional cost of your injury. Your lost income will be among the harm they seek compensation for.Diminished Earning Power
If you return to work in a limited or altered capacity, you may earn less compensation than before your back injury. Your attorney will evaluate any pay difference and seek appropriate compensation from the liable parties. If you have any other professional damages, such as the loss of opportunities for overtime pay and promotion, your attorney will include these damages in your case.Pain and Suffering
Back injuries can be intensely painful and affect virtually every aspect of your life. Your pain and suffering may include:- Acute and chronic pain from your back injury
- Psychological distress
- Emotional anguish
- Lost quality of life
- Depression (which may result from your chronic pain and inability to live life normally)
Disability-Related Damages
If your back injury is disabling, you may experience other economic and non-economic damages, including:- In-home caregiver services
- Long-term rehabilitation
- Medical equipment costs
- The cost of installing ramps or other features in your home
- The cost of a disability-friendly vehicle
How a Work Injury Lawyer Will Fight for You
Your attorney and their team will lead the fight for your financial recovery. You can rest while your lawyer:Obtains Evidence of How Your Work-Related Injury Happened
Your legal team will secure any evidence relevant to your workers’ compensation claim or lawsuit. Witness accounts of a work-related accident, video footage of the accident, incident reports detailing your injury, and any other evidence will become part of your case.Documents and Values Damages from Your Back Injury
Your lawyer will build a detailed record of your damages. Proof of those damages may include:- X-rays and other medical images showing your back injuries
- Doctors’ diagnoses of your injuries
- Medical bills detailing the cost of your medical care
- Experts’ testimony about your future medical costs, lost income, and other damages
- A mental health expert’s diagnosis of your pain and suffering
- Past income records detailing your lost income
Negotiates a Settlement with the Insurance Company (or Another Liable Party)
Your lawyer will be the one negotiating with the insurance company (in a workers’ compensation case). If you sue liable parties, your lawyer will negotiate with those parties or their attorneys. In either case, your attorney will bring all relevant documentation and demand the money you deserve.Leads Any Necessary Lawsuit
