Workers’ Comp Settlement for Neck Injuries

Any damage to the body can cause significant physical and emotional pain. However, a neck injury may be one of the worst injuries you can endure. When the injury happened during your job duties, getting help paying for medical bills and lost wages may necessitate making a workers comp settlement for neck injuries’ compensation claim through your employer. While you focus on getting the medical assistance your condition requires, find out more about workers comp settlements for neck injuries and the ins and outs of the process.

What Is Workers’ Compensation?

Local state laws govern whether a business needs to carry insurance to cover work injuries. This workers’ compensation coverage is available to employees when there is a verifiable incident or condition at work that leads to an injury or illness. If you get hurt while performing your work duties, you may be able to collect money from the workers’ compensation carrier to cover your past, current and future medical bills as well as lost wages caused by the injury. If you injured your neck at work, your physical recovery might prove substantial.

Why Is a Neck Injury Serious?

The neck and the back are two parts of the body that are critical in performing almost every bodily function. The spinal cord runs from the base of the skull and down the neck and spine. The cord acts as a highway for impulses running to and from the brain. It is protected by the spinal column consisting of 33 vertebrae that allow the spine flexibility and afford it some measure of protection against injury.

When any part of the spinal column is compromised, including the neck, it may impact the spinal cord, resulting in a disruption in the neural pathways and signals to the rest of the body. Spinal cord injuries are no joke, as they can do damage to the vertebrae of the neck, also called the cervical spine, and may result in permanent disability.

What are some causes of accidents that can lead to a Workers Comp Settlement for Neck Injuries

Like all injuries, those that happen to your neck range in severity, as do the settlement amounts for neck injuries. The circumstances surrounding the incident may help predict the breadth of the damage. There are some instances where neck injuries are more prone to occur.

Car Accidents

You may have to drive for work. Whether it is a normal part of your job, or the boss has asked you to run an errand. If you get in a car accident while on the clock, you may be able to file a workers’ comp settlement for neck injuries claim for the damage.

The most typical injury caused by car crashes is whiplash. A common subject of a workers comp settlement for neck injuries. This phenomenon occurs when the forces of the impact force the head to jerk back and forth rapidly. The muscles in the neck and shoulders suffer tiny tears from the strain. These rifts are often too small to be picked up by medical providers. However, the signs and symptoms are sometimes severe. Common signs of whiplash include:

• Increasing pain in the neck with any movement
• Intense radiating heat through the neck and shoulders
• Headaches that increase with intensity

A whiplash injury may require immobilization for a period and then physical therapy. A doctor may also prescribe muscle relaxers to help take the edge off the painful condition.

Repetitive Movements that  can contribute to a Workers Comp Settlement for Neck Injuries:

Jobs that require you to perform the same type of movements repeatedly may result in strain in that area of the body. This is referred to as a repetitive stress injury, and  the neck is no exception. A repetitive motion injury is also known as cumulative trauma. You may not realize that your job is causing a sudden onset of neck pain and stiffness. The damage comes on slowly over time, but once it does, you may only get relief with rest. Or perhaps you will need physical therapy and medication.

Falls

If your job is physical, such as in the construction industry, you may be at greater risk for severe bodily injury. A fall from a ladder, scaffolding or roof may mean a neck injury that causes permanent damage. When you fall from a height, the ligaments and muscles in the neck may tear or strain. Symptoms of this type of damage are indicated by radiating pain down into the arms and possibly the fingers. As the affected muscles swell, they may impinge on nerves, causing pain in the upper extremities.

The discs between vertebrae may be knocked out of place or torn when any slip and fall impact injury happens. If the protective cover around the disc is compromised, the material that makes up the disc may rupture and leak, applying pressure to the cord. The most common symptoms of this type of neck injury include:

• Severe headache
• Extreme pain when moving the neck
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Shooting pain down one or both shoulders and arms  

The most severe injury that a fall or accident may cause is a fracture of the vertebra in the neck. There is a danger that the fractured bone may strike the spinal cord. When the spinal cord in the neck is damaged, body functions below may be impacted. This means difficulty breathing and possibly permanent paralysis.

How Feasible Is a Workers’ Comp Settlement for Neck injuries?

Filing a workers’ compensation claim first requires a doctor’s report documenting the neck injury. Even if the cause of the damage is a cumulative trauma, your doctor can draw the correlation between your job and the damage. After filing the requisite report and paperwork with your employer, the insurance company may offer a workers’ comp settlement for neck injuries. This kind of move may indicate that your claim is serious enough to warrant a disability rating and lifelong payout.

Before considering cervical spine injury settlement amounts, it is a good idea to speak to an attorney in your area. You want to ensure that the amount being offered is substantial enough to cover your particular circumstance rather than the one-size-fits-all approach insurers often take. Consulting with an insurance law attorney could behove you in this situation.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer

If you need advice following a work-related neck injury, or need help navigating a workers comp settlement for neck injuries, consider speaking with a lawyer. Someone well-versed in how insurance companies work can be a strong ally in your fight to get the financial compensation you need to continue treating for your injury.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an attorney in your area!