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Back pain can range from mild to debilitating, sometimes keeping you from working or even standing for long periods. You could develop chronic back pain related to your job due to a repetitive motion injury or an accident. Either way, if you’ve suffered injuries at your place of employment, you can apply for workers’ compensation benefits.
Chronic back pain can be considered a workers’ compensation disability in Georgia if it affects your ability to work in the short or long term. In addition to medical care coverage, you could receive temporary or permanent disability benefits—whether partial or total. Various policies also offer coverage for workplace disability modifications and necessary career changes. A workers’ compensation attorney can help you seek these benefits.
How Does Workers’ Compensation in Georgia Operate?
Every year, thousands of workers in Georgia suffer from neck and back injuries caused by their work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals that back injuries were one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries among workers in 2016. Georgia adopted workers ‘ compensation laws to address injuries like these in the workplace. These laws require many employers to have this coverage to support injured employees.
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance program that offers financial compensation to workers who have been injured on the job to handle their medical expenses. This program also offers compensation to those who’ve lost wages due to a work-related illness or injury.
Everyone is at risk of suffering work-related injuries that cause back pain, from construction workers, movers, and janitors to food processing workers, warehouse workers, and office workers. However, claimants must meet specific deadlines and criteria to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
How Do You Know if You’re Eligible for Workers’ Compensation?
Employees injured on the job are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia once they prove that work-related activities caused their illness or injury. Therein lies the challenge, as it may be difficult to prove whether a back injury was caused by a pre-existing condition or due to work-related activities.
While back pain may arise in traumatic accidents, it can also develop over time due to physical labor or repeated motions. Fortunately, workers’ compensation benefits are still available to employees with pre-existing conditions in the state of Georgia.
To be eligible for compensation, you’ll need to show that you were re-injured at work or your work duties aggravated your pre-existing condition. A workers’ compensation lawyer can help you gather medical records and other documents to prove that your back pain is work-related.
What Are the Most Common Types of Work-Related Back Injuries?
Some of the most common examples of back injuries that affect many workers in Georgia include:
- Spinal arthritis (spondylosis)
- Degenerative disc disease
- Herniated disc
- Spinal disc fractures (could be lumbar, thoracic, or cervical)
- Post-laminectomy syndrome (failed back syndrome)
- Cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve)
Insurers will review the medical records of those who claim compensation before approving or denying requested benefits.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Back Injuries at Work?
Here are some of the most common causes of back injuries in the workplace:
Slip and Falls
Slipping and falling on your back can cause chronic pain, regardless of whether you work in a grocery store or a warehouse. Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common causes of back injuries in the workplace.
Overexertion
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), overexertion is a leading cause of work-related injuries. This includes back pain injuries, mostly caused by heavy lifting, pulling, or pushing. Back injuries caused by overexertion can range from a mild strain to a severe tear, leading to incapacitation requiring extensive physical therapy to treat.
Improper Lifting Methods
When lifting heavy objects, a person needs to bend at the hips and knees to avoid strain on the back. Failing to do this can put excess strain on the back, resulting in an injury.
Auto Accidents
If you’re a driver and get involved in a serious vehicle collision, you may suffer injuries to your neck or back upon impact. Common crash-related injuries include slipped discs and whiplash.
Repetitive Motion Injuries
Forceful repeated movements that strain the neck or back can cause chronic pain, which may gradually become severe. If left untreated, repetitive injuries can leave you incapable of basic movement without unbearable pain or even cause disability.
Our Firm Can Help With Your Workers’ Compensation Case
Have you recently been injured at work and are unsure of how to get the compensation you deserve? Worry not, for our workers’ compensation attorneys at George Sink P.A. Injury Lawyers are ready to help you apply for benefits.
We have over four decades of experience in legal matters, and we’ll use this expertise to build a compelling case for you. No upfront fee is required*, so don’t hesitate to reach out. Call us today for a free case review, and leave the rest to us.