What to do after a back injury at work
A back injury can be caused by repetitive motion (twisting, lifting, bending) or from a sudden incident (car accident, fall, or other trauma). A common back injury is a herniated disc, also called a ruptured, prolapsed or bulging disc. Discs are pads of cartilage between your vertebrae that cushion your spine from stress or shocks. In addition to the causes mentioned above, discs can deteriorate as you age. Symptoms include pain or numbness in your back, or in your legs or feet. Other back injuries include sprains, strains and fractures. They range from minor, requiring just time to heal, to very serious, requiring surgery or resulting in permanent injury or paralysis.
If you injure your back at work, there are some initial steps you should take.
First, always, is to get proper medical treatment. See your doctor – your employer doesn’t get to tell you which doctor, you get to pick. Tell your doctor exactly how you hurt your back. If you were injured at work then your medical bills should be completely covered.
Second, notify your employer. You have 45 days to do this, but the sooner the better. Make sure you notify your supervisor in writing. And write things down for your own records, like what your doctor said, how you were injured and who was there when it happened, when you notified your manager or supervisor, etc.
Third, file a workers’ compensation claim. In Illinois, you are entitled to certain benefits for a work injury, including coverage of 100% of your medical bills, payment for lost wages if you have to miss work, and compensation for the permanency of your injury. Even if you had back problems that existed before your work injury (called a “pre-existing condition”) you can still get benefits if your job made things worse. The insurance company may try to deny your claim on this basis, but an experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help.
We are workers' compensation attorneys that help people with Illinois work injuries anywhere in IL via our statewide network of attorneys. Contact us and we will answer your questions or find the right lawyer for your situation.
