Neck and back injuries in the workplace may involve a sudden onset of pain while performing your duties on the job, or maybe a gradual build-up of pain and tension over a more extended period. Some neck and back injuries are minor and will resolve themselves within a matter of weeks or months with only minor medical treatment. Others are long-lasting, or even permanent, and can require regular medical treatment and support.
Thousands of workers suffer neck and back injuries in their workplaces each year. In addition to suffering from persistent pain and discomfort, you may have incurred lost wage as a result of your inability to work because of your injury. If you or a loved one has suffered from a neck or back injury at work, please call our catastrophic injury attorneys today to discuss your legal rights. Speaking with our Maryland neck and back injury lawyers can be the first step towards regaining your standard quality of life.
How Do I Know if I Have Sustained a Neck or Back Injury on the Job?
It is often difficult to determine whether an employee’s neck or back injury occurred at work, as opposed to in the ordinary course of one’s day to day life. The exact location or underlying cause of a neck or back injury can be similarly difficult to ascertain, as many neck and back injuries cause cervical radiculopathy, or radiating pain, which can spread across the upper body and impact the shoulders, arms, chest, and upper back.
The symptoms of a neck or back injury typically vary from person to person, but usually include:
- Muscle Stiffness
- Inability To Move Head, Neck
- Headaches Or Migraines
- Radiating Pain
- Numbness
- Difficulty Sleeping
The first thing you should do if you suspect that you have suffered from a neck or back injury is to visit your medical treatment provider and explain your symptoms. Ask for diagnostic testing to rule in or out the possibility of a neck or back injury. Our Maryland neck and back accident attorneys have worked with injury victims who were initially suspected to have a minor injury, and only after diagnostic testing was discovered to have injured their cervical spine, which is much more significant and long-lasting.
What are Some Causes of Workers’ Compensation Back and Neck Injuries?
We have represented injured people with neck and back injuries that were caused by a wide array of workplace incidents. Common causes of neck and back injuries on the job include:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Slip And Falls
- Heavy Lifting Or Overexertion
- Falling Objects
- Poor Lighting
- Improper Equipment Training
What Medical Tests are Used to Diagnose Neck and Back Injuries?
When you present to your healthcare provider with signs and symptoms of a neck or back injury, your doctor may order diagnostic imaging testing, such as X-ray, CT scans, MRIs, or other tests to provide a better understanding of any spinal cord, cervical spine, or disc issues you may be facing as a result of your injury.
What Happens if I’m Diagnosed with a Neck or Back Injury?
After your medical provider reviews the outcome of your diagnostic tests, as well as other aspects of your clinical presentation, he or she will render a diagnosis for your injury. As an example, you may have sprained or sprained your back, cervical spine, or back; or you may have a vertebral fracture or herniated disc, which require most urgent treatment.
The most common treatments for neck and back injuries include:
- Medication, Including Anti-Inflammatories And Prescription Painkillers
- Physical Therapy
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractor Care
- Steroid Injections
- Surgery
Of course, we recommend that you follow your doctor’s advice at every step of your back and neck injury recovery.
Our Expertise in Neck and Back Injury Cases
We have handled personal injury and workers’ compensation claims involving nearly every type of neck and back injury. Please give us a call if you have suffered from one of the following types of injuries:
- Whiplash
- Neck “Stinger”
- Herniated Disc
- Fracture
- Cervical Dislocation
- Cervical Strain Or Sprain
We can work with your treatment providers to understand how if, at all, any preexisting conditions differ from or exacerbate your current injuries. If you or a loved one endured a neck or back injury and diagnosed with a neck or back injury or cervical problem, you could secure damages in the form of:
- A Lifetime Medical Award For Ongoing Medical Care
- Recuperation Of Lost Income For Your Time Out Of Work Due To Treatment Or Recover
- Permanent Partial Disability Payments
- Vocational Rehabilitation
- Death Benefits For Spouses And Family Members
We understand that even after an injury has healed, the effects of a neck or back injury can be long-lasting. We are here to help you and your family navigate the compensatory damages aspect of your case.
Call a Maryland Neck and Back Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one has suffered a neck or back injury at the workplace or in a public venue, give our experienced personal injury attorneys a call to discuss your rights and next steps in pursuing justice. Our Maryland neck and back injury lawyers will work tirelessly on your behalf to secure all appropriate measures of compensation, including workers compensation where necessary. We will continue to pursue your case up to trial or work towards a proper settlement amount in certain circumstances. Let us know how our team at Ketterer, Browne & Anderson can help you get your life back after a neck or back injury.