Neck injury cases in workers’ compensation claims
Experiencing a neck injury at work can leave employees feeling alone and scared. Whether they land in the emergency room, out of work, or in a great deal of pain, the experience can be frustrating and exhausting.
Neck injuries can be serious or even life-threatening, depending on the type and severity. We understand that this experience can be costly in many ways—emotionally, physically, and financially.
Neck injuries are unfortunately common in workers’ compensation claims, and our job is to help workers navigate the process of seeking benefits for their injuries. Our attorneys at The Law Offices of Craig L. Cook are experts in dealing with these types of cases. We have over 60 years of combined experience getting clients the compensation they deserve.
If you or someone you know needs help with filing a workers’ compensation claim, book a free consultation with us to get started. Your path to recovery awaits.
What is a work-related neck injury?
Any type of injury sustained while performing the tasks in alignment with your job description is considered a work-related injury. As long as the worker is not violating safety protocol, they should be covered under workers’ compensation insurance. Common types of neck injuries include the following:
- breaks
- cervical fractures
- degenerative disc disease
- muscle strains and sprains
- pinched nerves (cervical radiculopathy)
- herniated/slipped discs in the cervical spine
- whiplash (cervical acceleration/deceleration syndrome)
Industries with high neck injury rates include construction, warehousing, manufacturing, trucking, manual labor, healthcare, trade and transportation.
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How to recognize neck injuries
Signs and symptoms of a neck injury include the following:
- swelling
- extreme pain
- unconsciousness
- difficulty standing or walking
- loss of bladder or bowel control
- loss of feeling in or inability to move arms or legs
- shock (pale, clammy skin; blue/gray lips or fingernails; dazed or semi-conscious appearance)
Seek emergency care if you have a neck injury that causes damage to the spinal cord. You should also seek emergency care if you’ve taken a hard hit or fallen. Consult with a doctor if:
- you experience tingling or numbness in your limbs.
- the pain lasts longer than 1 week.
- it does not resolve with OTC medications.
- you experience lingering or persistent pain.
Common causes of a neck injury at work
As you can imagine, the demands of many jobs come with risks. There are ways to prevent harm, but sometimes accidents happen that lead to pain, disability, or even death. Common causes of a workers’ compensation neck injury include the following:
- falls
- overuse
- accidents
- jolts to the head
- vehicle collisions
- repetitive motions
- improper technique
- jerking your neck at work
- improper or awkward posture
- frequent neck turning or tilting
- sudden impacts or movements
- using a poorly designed workstation
- hurting your neck while doing heavy lifting
- spending long periods looking down at a computer screen
Some people have pre-existing conditions that may affect how much money they’re eligible to receive for a workers’ compensation claim. These may include risk factors like age, certain medical conditions that make neck injuries more likely, spinal stenosis, infection of the spine, or torticollis (also known as wry neck). A lawyer can help you determine whether pre-existing conditions affect your neck injury workers’ comp claim.
You may also be wondering if something you did caused the injury. Thankfully, Arkansas is a no-fault state when it comes to workers’ compensation, so even if you made a mistake that led to your injury, your benefits should still kick in.
Steps to take if you suspect a neck injury
If you are suspicious of a work-related neck injury, follow these steps:
- Seek medical attention.
- Report the incident to your employer.
- Consider getting a lawyer for your claim.
- Gather any evidence of the work-related injury. This could include photographs, witness statements, medical records, and communications with your employer or the insurance company.
Our process for neck injuries
If you are in need of a neck injury lawyer, you might be interested in learning about our process. You may be wondering, “What does a workers’ compensation lawyer do?” We help clients by:
- Educating our workers on their rights.
- Helping our clients file claims with their employer.
- Gathering any evidence needed for the injury claim.
- Negotiating a settlement with the insurance companies.
- Helping injured people get the benefits they’re eligible for.
- Handling all paperwork accurately and by the required deadline.
- Assisting with any potential steps afterward such as appeals or a trial.
- Advocating on your behalf to make sure you get the amount of money you deserve.
We can also protect you against employer retaliation, which is unfortunately common with these types of cases. One of our skilled attorneys can be on the lookout for any unfair actions taken against you by your employer.
Getting justly compensated for neck injuries
Neck injuries can be incredibly costly. The purpose of a workers’ compensation claim is to be reimbursed for medical bills and lost wages. Sometimes, even disability or wrongful death benefits apply. Regardless of the severity of your injury, we understand that even missing one paycheck’s worth of work can create financial stress. We want you to receive the monetary support you need to recover.
While we are confident we can help you receive benefits, we do want you to know some important considerations that may affect how much money you’re eligible to receive.
As stated before, pre-existing conditions can affect your eligibility. There are, however, other factors influencing the value of a claim, including:
- the severity of the injury
- future work limitations at play
- whether or not surgery is needed
- the amount of time you missed work
- the extent of medical treatment required
We don’t want you to be cheated by your employer or the insurance company when it comes to workers’ comp benefits. Sometimes they will deny a claim, treat workers unfairly for pursuing a claim, or give employees too small of a settlement for their claim. Sometimes employees are even fired for filing a claim. We have seen illegal and unethical actions taken against injured employees, and we want to make sure that doesn’t happen to you.
Book a free consultation with us so we can safeguard your rights and ease your path to recovery.
Think you’ve witnessed or experienced a neck injury at work?
We understand that suffering from any type of injury can cause impairment that leaves you feeling spent. Whether it’s hefty medical expenses, difficulty returning to work, or stress in managing daily life, you’re not alone. We’re here to help.
Our experienced lawyers are dedicated to helping injured workers recover the highest possible settlement for their cases. We’ll take the burden of the legal process off your shoulders, handling everything from paperwork to negotiations. This way, you can focus on resting, healing, and regaining control of your life.
You can feel confident knowing that your expenses, losses, and future needs are being addressed with care and dedication.
Contact us today at 479-783-8000 for a free consultation. We’ll answer your questions, help you understand your rights, and work tirelessly to ensure you get the benefits and compensation you deserve. Let us help you move forward.
