Back Injury Lawyers
Helping You Maximize Compensation On Your Case
Back injuries are among the most common types of injuries, particularly in the workplace. More than 1 million Americans suffer back injuries every year, according to data from the bureau of Labor Statistics.
The spine, neck, shoulders, and the muscles of the back are all at high risk—not just in jobs where physical labor and heavy lifting are common, but also in jobs that involve sitting at a desk for long periods of time. Of all workplace injury claims, back injuries account for approximately one in five.
The bones and tissues of the back make up an important part of your body’s core, so back injuries can often result in chronic pain and adversely affect your mobility and ability to perform physical activities. If you or a loved one has suffered a back injury at work or due to someone else’s negligence, call Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi at (201) 585-9111 or contact us online to schedule your FREE consultation.
What Are the Types of Back Injuries?
Back injuries have the potential to cause problems anywhere between the tailbone and the neck. The back is composed of bones and joints in the spine (vertebrae), the discs that absorb shock as you move and separate the vertebrae, and the ligaments and muscles that hold the spine in place.
Common back injuries include the following:
- Sprains and strains occur when the ligaments, muscles, or tendons are overstretched or overused, resulting in damage to the tissue. Sprains and strains can become chronic problems, as the ligaments, muscles, and tendons are more susceptible to re-injury after an initial sprain or strain.
- Fractured vertebrae can be caused by serious trauma to the spinal area. Fractured vertebrae are more serious than the typical broken arm or leg, as fractured vertebrae can pinch or damage the spinal cord nerves.
- Herniated disks occur when one of the discs that cushion the vertebrae is ruptured, putting pressure on nearby nerves.
- Whiplash is an injury to the cervical vertebrae and surrounding soft tissues. Whiplash is commonly caused by sudden acceleration, jerking, or forward movement of the head, such as during a car accident.
What If Your Back Injury Happened At Work?
In jobs that require a lot of physical labor, bending, or lifting, the muscle groups that make up the back are at an increased risk for strain, sprain, and tearing. The soft tissues of the spine are also prone to herniation or rupture, especially if you have not been provided with the proper personal protective equipment. Roofing, construction, and other physically demanding work greatly increases the risk of work-related back injury.
Certain workers, such as cooks or wait staff, are at an increased risk of slips, trips, and falls. This trauma can cause sudden jolts to the back or spine, which could dislocate or fracture vertebrae, as well as herniate or rupture discs in the spine.
Jobs that require a lot of time sitting can have serious, adverse effects on your posture, possibly leading to muscle fatigue or injury over time. Along the same lines, jobs that require repetitive tasks can put workers at increased risk for fatigue and stress injuries to the back and spine. This repeated, forceful motion can lead to disorders in the soft tissues of the neck and shoulders, often developing over many months or years. This includes employees who work on any sort of assembly line, like automobile assemblers, electronics assemblers, food processors, and garment workers, as well as cashiers and data entry workers.
If you suffered a back injury because of workplace duties or a workplace accident, you could file a claim for workers’ compensation. This no-fault insurance program provides medical treatment, disability compensation, and wage replacement to workers injured on the job. In exchange for this compensation, workers are typically required to give up their right to file a civil suit against the employer. However, when the work-related back injury is caused by a third party, a worker can file both a personal injury claim and a workers’ compensation claim. In these cases, a personal injury claim is often the only way to pursue compensation for pain and suffering, 100 percent of lost wages, future anticipated medical care, and employer contributions to retirement plans—none of which are covered by workers’ compensation.
Hiring an attorney during the workers’ compensation process can be extremely beneficial for you and your claim. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you determine the right amount of benefits you are owed and ensure that your employer takes the claim seriously.
How Do You Prove a Back Injury Case?
Proving a personal injury often comes down to negligence. In order to prove negligence, you must prove that the defendant owed some sort of duty to the plaintiff, the duty was not upheld, and that the failure resulted in some sort of injury to you. In other words, the defendant failed to exercise reasonable care and, as a direct result, you were injured.
There are a number of factors that can contribute to back injuries, many of which are beyond your control. Possible negligent scenarios include:
- Unsafe work environments can cause slip-and-fall accidents, construction accidents, scaffolding accidents,
- Inadequate safety systems or equipment are a serious problem in the construction and manufacturing industries, and the lack of worker protections is often a violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act
- Defective safety systems or equipment includes defective ladders, scaffolding systems, or other fall arrest systems, and the manufacturer or designer could be found liable under products liability law
- Unmarked wet floors or other hazards in a business can cause customers to fall or be otherwise injured, opening the employer up to liability under premises liability law
- Negligent drivers can cause a variety of different types of car accidents, all of which have the potential to cause serious and lasting injuries to the other drivers and passengers involved
Contact a New Jersey Back Injury Lawyer
An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to conduct a thorough investigation and determine who is liable for your back injury. During more than 80 years’ worth of combined trial experience, Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi have secured a number of significant personal injury verdicts and settlements, including the largest-ever settlement in a construction accident case and numerous other multi-million dollar awards. We have the resources and experience to deal with insurance adjusters and opposing attorneys alike.
Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi have the resources and expertise to see your case through to the very end. If you or a loved one has suffered a back injury due to someone else’s negligence, call (201) 585-9111 or contact us online to schedule your FREE, confidential consultation.
