Jul 6, 2020
Why Workers Should Take Back Pain Seriously
Nate Hansford
Many people experience back pain at some point in their lives. However, when it’s agitated by work, you should not dismiss it so suddenly.
In almost all cases, back pain isn’t just a random symptom. It’s oftentimes a manifestation of an underlying condition that could potentially be caused by your work duties. When it comes to both your health and legal rights, here’s why it’s crucial to take your back pain seriously.
Common Back Injuries Related to Work
Back injuries are one of the most common work injuries. In fact, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that over 1 million workers are affected by back injuries each year —this accounts for about 20% of all work-related injuries. Work-related back pain can have several causes, including:
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Improper lifting or carrying
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Work-related car accidents
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Repetitive motions
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Improper sitting
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Inactivity
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Workplace accidents
If you are experiencing back pain caused by work, it could point to a variety of different conditions or injuries such as:
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Bulging, herniated, and slipped discs
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Pinched nerves
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Back or neck strain
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Sprains
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Repetitive stress injuries
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Spinal cord damage
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Stretched ligaments
Some workers don’t want to make a “big deal” about back pain and may think that it will go away with time. However, if it is, in fact, related to work duties, workers who fail to report it and seek medical attention risk worsening their injury and not receiving proper benefits.
Don’t Wait to Seek Medical Attention
You may love your job and work for a great employer. But as soon as you file a workers’ compensation claim, your case goes into the hands of their insurance company. Insurance adjusters, including the one who will be investigating your claim, exist to make money for their own company. One of the ways they do this is by denying or undervaluing claims.
Because of this reason, you should always report your pain to your employer as soon as you notice it and seek medical attention. Provide specific information on what job duty you are performing that makes the pain worse. Your workers’ compensation attorney will use this as evidence to show direct causation between your work duties and your back pain and injury.
We understand that no two work injuries are entirely the same. That’s why, at our firm, we are dedicated to providing each client with the personalized and attentive legal counsel that they need to obtain fair and maximum benefits for their work injuries. Hansford McDaniel – Workers’ Compensation Attorneys is here to advocate for your rights so you can focus on healing the right way.
Contact our Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys at 770-922-3660 to get started with a free consultation. You can also fill out our online contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
