Injured Your Neck Or Back At Work? We Can Help You Seek Compensation.
Neck and back injuries are unfortunately common in the United States, resulting in 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 319-774-2687 or send us an email to schedule a completely free consultation.
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 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.
How Do Neck And Back Injuries Occur?
Back injuries can occur in nearly any line of work, but blue collar and manual labor jobs have the highest rates of them. These injuries may develop on the job, or they may be a pre-existing neck or back condition that becomes worse. Some examples of the most common types of neck and back injuries include:
- Slipped discs
- Fractures
- Chronic muscle pain
- Tailbone issues
- Nerve damage
Neck and back injuries are frequently comorbid with more than one injury. Shoulder damage often accompanies 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.
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.
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 319-774-2687 or submit an online contact form.