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Experienced Legal Advocacy Delivering Proven Results For Injured Clients

Back, Neck And Spinal Injuries Caused By Heavy Lifting

I understand the challenges you face when a workplace injury disrupts your life. At the Law Office of Peter J. Carman, S.C., I provide guidance to workers in physically demanding jobs who have suffered back, neck, or spinal injuries due to heavy lifting or repetitive strain at work. If you are facing a denied claim, disputes over pre-existing conditions, or return-to-work restrictions, I may be able to help you understand your rights and fight for the benefits you deserve.

I am Peter J. Carman, an experienced worker’s compensation lawyer. Since 2013, I have been helping clients in the Fox Cities area and across northeast Wisconsin get the compensation they have a right to receive after a workplace injury.

Heavy Lifting Injuries: What Wisconsin Workers Need to Know

Back injuries are frequently the result of straining your back while improperly lifting heavy items. Lifting injuries can happen when picking up objects as light as one pound or as heavy as 100 pounds. The key factor being that your was hurt while lifting something at work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) statistics, over 1 million workers suffer back injuries each year. One in about every five work-related injury or illness is a back injury.

Wisconsin worker’s compensation covers cumulative trauma, repetitive motion and overuse syndrome injuries resulting from repetitive, frequent or continuous heavy lifting. Back injuries, such as degenerative disc disease, may develop from repetitive motion over extended periods. In these cases, a specialist’s opinion may be needed to determine if the nature of the work caused the injury. Under worker’s compensation law, injured employees must demonstrate that their injury arose out of and within the scope of their employment.

When it comes to medical treatment, an accurate diagnosis of a back or neck injury is essential, typically requiring an MRI or CT scan, as X-rays often fail to reveal nerve damage. Sometimes, company doctors do not order the necessary imaging. Back and neck injuries frequently necessitate surgical intervention, such as laminectomy, discectomy or fusion, along with comprehensive pain management, including medication, physical therapy and injections.

Types of back and neck injuries from heavy lifting:

  • Herniated discs occur when spinal discs bulge out of the spinal canal, caused by traumatic events or wear and tear.
  • Neck sprains occur when ligaments are stretched or torn, while strains refer to muscle or tendon tears from activities like lifting, reaching, pushing or pulling.
  • Herniated disks are common back injuries that can result in anything from acute to debilitating pain.

Compensation available for lifting injuries can include:

  • Total paid on back injury claims reached $115,689,721 with average incurred cost per claim of $10,186.
  • While OSHA puts average neck injury settlement at about $21,000, worker’s comp settlements for neck injuries can be much higher.

If you have preexisting conditions, you may face the following challenges in your claim:

  • Insurance companies love to point to preexisting, non-work-related conditions and will hire IME physicians to examine workers and claim disability is related to preexisting degenerative disc disease.
  • The cervical spine is vulnerable to wear and tear over years, developing conditions like spinal canal narrowing and degenerative disc disease.

What Should You Do After A Back Or Neck Injury From Heavy Lifting At Work?

Take the following steps when you have been injured at work:

  • Report your injury: Immediately notify your employer of the injury, preferably in writing.
  • Get medical attention: Seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Tell the health care provider that your injury is work-related.
  • Document everything: Keep records of medical treatments, doctor’s notes and any communication with your employer or their insurance company.
  • File a claim: File a worker’s compensation claim with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
  • Consult a lawyer: Consider consulting with me, an experienced worker’s compensation attorney, to protect your rights.

Can You Get Worker’s Compensation For A Spinal Injury Caused By Lifting?

Yes, you can typically receive worker’s compensation for a spinal injury caused by lifting if it occurred during the course and scope of your employment. You must demonstrate the injury is work-related.

How Does A Worker Prove A Lifting Injury Was Work-Related?

The insurance company may question if your injury occurred on the job, so you will have to take the following steps:

  • Use medical records to show the nature and extent of your injury and that it is consistent with the type of work you perform.
  • Gather statements from coworkers who witnessed the injury or can attest to the physical demands of your job.
  • Send in an incident report accurately describing how your injury occurred.
  • Provide your job description to illustrate the physical requirements of your position.
  • In some cases, expert testimony from a medical or vocational professional may be necessary to establish the link between your injury and your work.

Call Me For Help With Your Lifting Injury Claim

I am Peter J. Carman, a worker’s compensation lawyer serving injured workers in Wisconsin. Send me an email or call my law firm in Appleton at 920-770-1608 for a free initial consultation.