If you sustain a back injury on the job in Boston, Massachusetts, you may be entitled to financial compensation through one or multiple outlets, such as workers’ compensation benefits, disability pay and a personal injury lawsuit. Discuss your case with a lawyer at Barry D. Lang, M.D. & Associates to learn about your legal options. We will quickly and effectively evaluate your case using more than 20 years of experience in workers’ compensation law to help you move forward.
Do You Need a Workplace Back Injury Lawyer in Boston?
Choosing to proceed with a case without an attorney puts you at risk of being taken advantage of by your employer or employer’s insurance provider. Even after suffering a severe or catastrophic back injury that will impact you for life, an insurance company will not want you to receive fair or full compensation. This is because insurance providers put their profits first.
With a Boston workers’ compensation attorney in your corner, however, you can rest and focus on healing from your back injury while a dedicated legal professional demands maximum financial compensation from an insurer on your behalf. Your attorney can take your back injury claim to trial in Suffolk County, if necessary, for a fair outcome. Meanwhile, you can enjoy greater mental peace during this difficult time and look toward your future.
Types of Back Injuries Often Reported by Workers in Boston
You could be at risk of suffering a back injury with any career in Boston, from health care to construction. The back and spine are composed of delicate bones, nerves and disks. These components are susceptible to injury from blunt force trauma as well as repetitive stress in any job. However, negligence on the part of an employer can increase the risk of serious back injuries among workers. Negligence is an employer’s failure to use reasonable and appropriate care to keep workers free from injury.
An accident that occurs at work could leave an employee with many different types of back injuries, including:
- Spinal cord damage
- Spinal concussion or bruising
- Broken or cracked vertebrae
- Repetitive motion injury
- Soft-tissue injury
- Pulled muscle
- Ligament or tendon damage
- Herniated or slipped disk
- Ruptured disk
- Pinched nerve
- Severed spine
- Permanent paralysis
- Paraplegia
- Quadriplegia
In the most severe cases, a back injury at work can be fatal. If an investigation finds that the victim’s employer should have done more to prevent the back injury, such as providing the employee with better protective gear or safety training, the employer may be liable (financially responsible) for the injury. Even without proof of negligence, however, an injured worker may be entitled to workers’ compensation insurance benefits in Massachusetts.
Common Causes of Workplace Back Injuries in Boston
Determining the cause of your workplace back injury can help you understand your rights in terms of making a financial recovery. If another person’s negligence played even a small role in causing your injury, you may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury lawsuit filed against the at-fault party. Common negligence-related accidents at work that cause preventable back injuries include:
- Slip and falls
- Transportation accidents
- On-the-job car accidents
- Forklift and tractor rollovers
- Crane collapses
- Construction accidents
- Scaffold accidents
- Lack of personal fall protection
- Heavy machinery accidents
- Factory and industrial accidents
- Overexertion or repetitive motion
- Acts of violence, such as gunshot wounds
If your employer caused or contributed to your back injury, it’s important to recognize this before you accept a workers’ compensation settlement in Massachusetts. Once you receive workers’ comp, you may no longer pursue a claim against your employer. You can, however, still pursue a lawsuit against a negligent third party, such as a contractor, product manufacturer or property owner.
Can You Receive Compensation for a Back Injury Caused by Repetition or Inactivity?
Although traumatic accidents such as falls at work do cause back injuries, they are not the only cause. The back, neck and spinal cord can also sustain injuries passively, such as due to repetition or inactivity. Repeatedly bending, twisting and lifting something heavy off of the floor, for example, could wear down a worker’s spinal cord and cause long-term damage. Prolonged inactivity, such as a truck driver sitting in a truck, can also cause back problems and injuries.
If the daily tasks of your job slowly cause a back injury over time, you can still qualify for benefits through the workers’ compensation system as an eligible employee. Workers’ comp benefits do not require proof of negligence or fault. Even if you were not injured in a single traumatic accident or due to the negligence of your employer, you can collect workers’ comp benefits as long as your back injury arose out of the scope and course of your employment.
What to Do After Suffering a Back Injury at Work
If you injure your back at work, try to restrict your movements until you can be seen by a doctor. Immobility is important for preventing a mild to moderate back injury from becoming a severe one. Report your injury to your employer or manager right away. Request a written accident report that describes what happened. If your injury was caused by a visible workplace hazard, such as a wet floor or open trench, take photos of the hazard before you leave.
Go to a hospital or doctor right away. If it is an emergency, you can go to the hospital or emergency room of your choice. Otherwise, ask your employer for the list of approved medical providers available to administer your care. Once you’ve been seen by your employer-approved doctor at least once, you can switch to a different doctor if desired. Obtain copies of all of your relevant medical records and bills.
If you wish to file a workers’ compensation claim, talk to your employer. Your employer will fill out and submit the required workers’ comp claim forms for you. Do not, however, talk to an insurance company or accept a workers’ comp settlement before consulting with an attorney. If your back injury case involves employer or third-party negligence, pursuing a personal injury lawsuit may be in your best interest instead.
Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation
If you recently sustained a back or spinal cord injury at work, contact Barry D. Lang, M.D. & Associates to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in Boston, Massachusetts. Call 1-877-LAW-DOCS for your case review. We have what it takes to help you get through a back injury claim and rebuild your life.