Workers’ Compensation | Back Injury

Long Beach Lawyers Discuss
Workers Compensation for Back Injury

Our experienced Long Beach worker’s compensation lawyers have helped hundreds of men and women in Orange County get the workers compensation they deserve for back injuries. Neck and back injuries are in fact among most common types of workplace injuries that our lawyers see. A back injury can be among the most painful and debilitating injury there is. And yet, in spite of the pain and work limitations imposed by a back injury, they can often be the hardest to “prove” and therefore hardest to collect benefits for.

Back injuries, neck injuries, and spine injuries can occur suddenly (for example from a fall) – or they can develop over time (for example from prolonged heavy lifting). When you have suffered a work related back or neck injury or illness, even if the injury occurred over time, you may be able to obtain Workers’ Compensation that covers both medical care and a percentage of your weekly wages.

In this article our Long Beach workers compensation attorneys discuss different types and causes of back injuries, and explain when you may be eligible to collect workers compensation for an injury to your back.

Back Injuries in the Workplace

Back injuries are one of the leading causes of workplace injuries and a significant contributor to workers’ compensation claims in the United States. These injuries can range from sprains and strains to herniated discs and spinal cord damage, causing significant pain, disability, and lost wages for affected individuals.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that in 2022, over 351,000 nonfatal workplace injuries involved back injuries, accounting for nearly 20% of all reported injuries. This translates to roughly one back injury reported every minute of the workday. ¹

Workers’ Compensation Claims for Back Injuries

While not all back injuries lead to workers’ compensation claims, a substantial number do. The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) reports that back injuries consistently rank among the top five most expensive and most frequent claims filed under workers’ compensation programs nationwide. ² Additionally, a 2020 study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that back injuries accounted for 16.1% of all workers’ compensation claims in the United States. ³

These statistics highlight the significant prevalence of back injuries in workplaces and their substantial impact on the workers’ compensation system. Back injuries can have a devastating personal impact, causing pain, limited mobility, and lost income. They also impose considerable costs on businesses and society as a whole, contributing to increased healthcare expenses and lost productivity.

Causes of Back Injuries that May Qualify for Workers Compensation:

• Prolonged desk or computer work that damages the spine or disks
• Heavy lifting, loading or unloading in warehouses, factories or trucks
• Repeated opening of heavy doors, such as in hospitals
• Carrying, lifting or moving patients by healthcare workers
• Falls from ladders, scaffoldings or other high places
• Car or truck accidents while driving a company vehicle
• Impacts from machinery, equipment, forklifts, etc.

Back Injuries that May Qualify for Workers Compensation:

• degenerative discs
• osteoarthritis
• rheumatoid arthritis
• arachnoiditis
• spondylitis
• other inflammatory conditions
• spinal stenosis
• nerve root compression
• other nerve issues
• bulging discs
• herniated discs
• spondylolisthesis

Additionally, if you had back surgery and it was not effective – and/or it made your medical condition worse – you may also qualify for Workers’ Compensation benefits for “Failed Back Surgery Syndrome” (FBS or FBSS). Read more about Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBS) HERE.

Qualifying for Workers Compensation with a Back Injury

To qualify for Workers Compensation for back pain or back injuries, you must meet the same requirements as any disability. In order to collect workers compensation for a back injury, you must prove that the injury directly resulted from the performance of required work-related duties.

The Workers Comp Insurance company may try to show that the injury was not “occupational” (i.e. was not caused by your employment) and try to deny your claim by asserting that the injury was caused by leisure or other off-work activities (such as skiing, a motorcycle accident, etc.)

X-rays, MRIs, doctor’s notes after a physical examination, etc. must show that your back pain is caused by some physical abnormality of the spine or spinal canal that was “predominantly caused” by your work related activities. If you have back pain, but cannot document a physical impairment that normally produces pain symptoms like yours, you’re unlikely to collect workers compensation benefits for your back injury.

That is why it is so important to consult with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to navigate the claims process, and submit the proper documentation, to ensure that your rights are protected. A workers comp attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence, navigate any disputes or denials, and advocate on your behalf to secure the benefits you deserve for your back injury.

Long Beach Workers Compensation Lawyers

Because of the difficulty you can encounter trying to “prove” that you cannot work because of your back injury, it is important to discuss your situation with an experienced workers compensation lawyer.

The experienced Long Beach lawyers at Cantrell have handled hundreds of workers’ compensation cases for back injuries, and collected millions of dollars in workers compensation for our clients. Our workers comp lawyers understand what the workers’ compensation board is “looking for” in order to approve your claim. We know through years of experience “what works and what doesn’t” –  so we are able to protect your rights and obtain the maximum workers compensation benefits for which you qualify.

If you have injured your back at work, or you are experiencing work-related back pain, call our experienced Long Beach workers’ compensation lawyers today, for a free consultation – and take the first step to getting the maximum workers comp benefits for which you qualify.

Long Beach Workers Compensation Attorneys: 562-622-4800

Sources:

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Nonfatal injuries by event or exposure and body part, selected industries and cases, 2022”, https://www.bls.gov/charts/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries/fatal-occupational-injuries-by-event-drilldown.htm
2. National Council on Compensation Insurance, “Workers’ Compensation: Issues & Answers”,
   https://www.ncci.com/
3. “The rising cost of musculoskeletal disorders in workers’ compensation”, Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11713/