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Pursuing Workers’ Comp For Neck And Back Injuries

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Neck and back injuries are unfortunately common in the United States and Iowa. According to a report on occupational health indicators in Iowa, in 2017, the state saw over 1,500 musculoskeletal injuries involving the back, neck, upper extremities or shoulder that resulted in missed days of work. Such injuries can lead to chronic pain, limited mobility and difficulty performing certain types of work. In many cases, work itself is the cause of or a major contributing factor to these injuries. A neck or back injury can quickly become debilitating and recurring, placing your ability to earn an income in jeopardy.

If you suffered an injury to your back or neck in a workplace accident or due to cumulative injury over time, our lawyers at Wertz Law Firm, P.C., are ready to advocate for the compensation you deserve. We bring over 60 years of combined workers’ compensation law experience to each case, and we go the extra mile for our clients at every step of the process. Please call us at 319-861-3001 or send us an email to schedule a completely free consultation

What Can Lead To Neck And Back Injuries?

Workplace neck and back injuries can come about in many different ways. For example, they can be the result of:

Back and neck injuries can occur in nearly any line of work, but blue collar and manual labor jobs have the highest rates of them.

Understanding Workplace Neck And Back Injuries

Some examples of the most common types of neck and back injuries include:

  • Slipped discs
  • Fractures
  • Chronic muscle pain
  • Tailbone issues
  • Nerve damage
These injuries may develop on the job, or they may be a preexisting neck or back condition that becomes worse.
Neck and back injuries are frequently comorbid with more than one injury. Shoulder damage and traumatic brain injuries often accompany neck or back damage.
Some injuries will heal over time with appropriate treatment. Others may require continuous, intensive intervention. Treatment frequently involves steroid injections, fused vertebrae, physical therapy and muscle relaxers. Severe cases may require surgery.
All of these treatments are expensive, making adequate compensation a must-have. Despite a low rating from a doctor of permanent impairment, you might have suffered industrial disability/loss of earning capacity at levels far beyond the doctor’s rating. This level of disability (from the industrial disability assessment) determines how many weeks you should be paid due to a permanent injury.

Five Common Problems People With Back And Neck Injuries Face

Such injuries can present numerous challenges for workers, including:

  • Trouble getting appropriate medical care: Chronic back pain can be very hard to diagnose, which could cause difficulties and delays in getting the treatment you need.
  • Sudden job issues: Whatever field you are in, a neck or back injury has the potential to have an impact on your work activities. For example, health care workers could lose the ability to lift patients, while office workers could experience job difficulties due to problems with neck movement.
  • Inability to complete necessary life tasks: After such an injury, daily activities such as maintaining your home or even carrying your child might be too much.
  • Increased expenses: This doesn’t just include medical costs. There are a range of services you may need after such an injury such as grocery delivery and transportation.
  • Lost wages: Such injuries can cause you to miss time from work.
A comprehensive, tailored workers’ compensation settlement can help workers cope with these types of difficulties.

Assessing Your Options For Post-Injury Work

It’s important to determine what permanent restrictions and limitations are assigned to you on the basis of your injury. Restrictions and limitations provide a valuable guideline for what jobs you may be able to perform after a work injury.
Several entities are involved in this. The Iowa Insurance Commissioner’s Office enforces workers’ compensation insurance laws at the state level. It can send orders for an employer to comply with regulations. The Iowa Division of Labor works to ensure that employers follow all health and safety regulations. It is a crucial body for protecting workers’ safety. If you need new training after a workplace injury, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services can provide the resources for rehabilitation and vocational skills.
Sorting through this information on your own can feel overwhelming and confusing. While you aren’t required to work with a worker’s compensation attorney, many people find it very helpful to do so. When you hire our team, we will carefully review every facet of your case to maximize your available compensation.

Making Sure To Calculate Your Benefits Correctly

Work-related injuries to the neck and back that result in some level of permanent disability are compensated on the basis of industrial disability. You do not receive compensation for the loss of earnings. Instead, you receive compensation for a percentage of your earning capacity. This calculation is based on a percentage of 500 weeks of benefits. However, if you’re totally disabled, you are eligible for benefits.
For example, if a back injury at work required surgery and a doctor provided a permanency rating of 10%, many insurance companies would compensate you for 50 weeks of benefits. However, this is not the calculation that should be used. Using an industrial disability approach, a meaningful assessment of your disability can result in benefits far beyond a rating from a doctor.

Do Back And Spine Injury Workers’ Comp Settlements Cover Physical Therapy?

Potentially, yes. Iowa’s workers’ comp laws typically require employers to cover reasonable treatment for work-related neck and back injuries. This might include physical therapy, depending on your situation.

What Happens When A Back Injury Leads To Job Loss?

A serious back or neck injury might make returning to your old job impossible. In such cases, permanent disability benefits may be available. You may qualify for permanent partial disability if you have permanent impairments or can’t earn the same wages. Permanent total disability benefits may be a possibility if you can’t return to any gainful employment.

How Much Money Could You Get For Chronic Back Pain?

The amount you could receive in a workers’ comp settlement varies. Several factors influence this, including the severity of your injury and its impact on your life. We are ready to explore all options for building a strong case for maximum benefits.

How Long Does A Back or Neck Injury Case Take?

The timeline for a back or neck injury case depends on several things. These include the complexity of the injury, how soon you report it and whether there are any disputes. Our firm will give you an honest assessment of what you can expect in your case and will work hard to streamline the process for you.

What If My Pain Is Partly A Preexisting Issue?

Iowa law does allow for workers’ compensation for a work-related worsening of a preexisting back or neck issue. Proving such cases can be challenging, making strong legal support essential.

Explore Your Legal Options During A Free Initial Consultation

From our office in Cedar Rapids, our attorneys at Wertz Law Firm, P.C., serve clients throughout Iowa. We are pleased to offer a free initial workers’ compensation claim review to all prospective clients.

If you have a neck/back injury that is permanent, contact our team to discuss options and next steps. Just call 319-861-3001 or submit an online contact form.

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