Did you suffer a back injury at work and aren’t sure what to do next? Do you know the basics but don’t want to make a mistake? That’s perfectly understandable. Really, there’s no experience like injuring your back on the job. Whether it’s something that happens in a moment or something that built up over time, nothing can truly prepare you for it. Over the years, we’ve helped so many who injured their backs at work and can now do the same for you, too.
What Happens if I Injure My Back at Work?
First off, make sure that you’re no longer in harm’s way. Do what’s necessary to make sure you aren’t somewhere you could be further injured, if possible (the middle of the street, etc.) Once you’ve made sure that you’re safe, the next step is to get medical attention. Even if it doesn’t seem like a bad injury, the first thing you want to do is to make sure that a medical expert looks at it.
Why? Simply put, to make sure that there’s no worse injury on the horizon. Many seemingly minor back injuries can worsen over time without proper care and treatment. So, going to get medical attention quickly is the first thing to do. Additionally: make sure to report it to your employer and/or supervisor, too. That’s true whether it’s an injury that happens “all at once” or something that builds up over time. That way, you can get started on workers’ compensation in California.
See, by virtue of having suffered an injury at work, while doing your job, you’re eligible for workers’ comp. That’s not a misprint, an exaggeration, or anything of that nature. As long as you were injured at work, you’re eligible for workers’ compensation.
How Long Can You Be Off Work With a Back Injury?
No two back injuries are the same. Hopefully, your back injury is minor enough that you’re back at work as soon as you feel able, in as brief a period of time as possible. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, despite the best efforts of everyone, back injuries lead to permanent problems. It may be difficult or even impossible to return to the job you had or the level at which you performed it. Should that be the case, we will make sure that you receive maximum compensation for everything that you’ve had to go through.
That said, a strong majority of cases are not that serious. On average, most workers recover from back injuries within four weeks about a month. A minority go on longer than that. So, for the most part, if you suffer a back injury at work, expect to miss about a month. Of course, every injury is different. We work with you to make sure that you recover the compensation you deserve for your injury.
How Can I Prove My Back Injury at Work?
It may sound almost too simple, but it can be worth it to collect evidence. It’s one more reason to reach out to a doctor, for starters. See, a medical professional can make a note, a diagnosis saying that your back injury was work-related. They can also do this even if you had an injury that built up over time, something that came over years and years of work.
Beyond just a note, they can provide medical records, too. Those can show when you were treated, how long you were treated for, physical therapy they may have prescribed for you, and so forth.
This too is one more reason to reach out to professional compensation attorneys like us. We can put together a thorough investigation, one that shows the real truth of what happened. To that end, we could talk to your co-workers, your colleagues, witnesses of your injury, and so forth.
If you were injured at work, whether it was to your back or not, we can help. Schedule a free consultation with us at (818) 975-3080.