If you have suffered a neck or back injury at work, you may be covered by Florida’s workers’ compensation system. Below is a short discussion of neck and back injuries at work. We encourage you to read the following information and contact our office for a free appointment with a Florida workers’ comp attorney.

Causes of Back and Neck Injuries

Sometimes a back or neck injury is caused by a single event, such as a fall from a ladder or tripping over a piece of machinery. However, not all neck and back injuries are caused by a single traumatic event. Back and neck injuries can develop over time from repetitive motions. In addition, some injuries are an aggravation of a pre-existing injury caused by work activities.

Jobs that require you to twist, bend, or lift items every day can increase the risk of a neck or back injury. It is also good to remember that a relatively simple work activity can result in a neck and back injury. You don’t have to fall from a high location or perform the same activity for 30 years to incur a neck or back injury at work.

Types of Back and Neck Injuries

The neck and back are composed of discs, nerves, and tissue. Damage to any element in the neck or back can create chronic pain and permanent damage. Because the spinal cord transmits messages from the brain to the other parts of the body, an injury to the back can result in a disruption of the pathways. When the brain cannot send messages to the rest of the body, the person can lose control of bodily functions and be paralyzed.

Examples of common neck and back injuries at work include:

    • Whiplash or neck sprain
    • Subluxation or dislocation
    • Dislocated vertebrae
    • Fractured vertebrae
    • Torn or ruptured discs
    • Injury to the tendons, muscles, or ligaments in the back
    • Compression of nerves
    • Herniated discs

A back or neck injury should not be ignored. If you are experiencing neck or back pain, you need to report the pain to your employer and request immediate medical attention. If your employer refuses to file a workers comp claim or allow you to seek medical attention, contact our office immediately for a consultation with a Boca Raton workers comp attorney.

Receiving Florida Workers’ Compensation for Back or Neck Injuries

In many claims for back and neck injuries, insurance companies dispute whether the injury occurred because of the employee’s work. Insurance companies like to claim that neck and back injuries occurred because of pre-existing problems. However, you may still be entitled to workers comp benefits if your back or neck injury is an aggravation of a pre-existing condition provided that your work was a substantial aggravating factor. The work aggravation must also cause a permanent and substantial increase of the pre-existing neck or back injury.

If your employer or insurance companies denies your back or neck injury, you won’t receive medical care or other benefits. However, you have the right to appeal a denial of your claim, but you must act quickly. If your workers’ comp claim has been denied, contact our Boca Raton workers comp attorneys immediately for a free consultation.

Call a Boca Raton Workers Comp Attorney for A Free Evaluation

If you have been injured at work, you have rights under Florida’s workers’ compensation laws. Contact The Broderick Law Firm, P.L. by calling 1-800-333-3903 to request a free, no-obligation consultation with a Boca Raton workers comp lawyer.