Spinal cord injuries in the workplace are some of the most life-changing and severe that you can suffer. Your injury may leave you with temporary paralysis, permanent disability and years of therapy.
At The Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson, we know that spinal cord injury workers’ compensation claims must be filled out properly to offer you the best chance of approval.
Even a slight delay can lead to financial stress due to mounting bills from:
- Doctors
- Hospitals
- Specialists
- Therapy centers
- To name a few
If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury at work, we can help.
Contact us or call us to discuss your workers’ compensation claim.
Case Illustration of Suffering a Spinal Cord Injury at Work
Jessica is 43 years old and works in a local gym. She’s a trainer who trains clients on the second floor of the gym. One day, while walking down the stairs, she slips and falls.
Due to the force of the fall, she cannot brace herself and breaks C6 in her neck.
Cervical vertebrae injuries are some of the most serious, and luckily for her, she has an incomplete injury. Spinal shock occurs, but doctors are confident that with physical and occupational therapy, she will be able to recover fully.
However, the road ahead is long, and she will need:
- Surgery
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Medications
- Orthotics for a short amount of time
- Extensive hospitalization
Workers’ compensation can help provide financial and medical benefits that allow Jessica to focus on her therapy and try to regain the function that she lost.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries that Employees Suffer at Work
Your spinal cord is the neural pathway of the body. When your brain sends signals to your leg to move, it must go through the spinal cord. Any movement, and much of your organ function, such as control of your lungs, occurs due to the spinal cord.
If you injured your spinal cord at work, you may suffer from:
- Incomplete injury: An incomplete injury may mean that minimal damage occurred to the spinal cord, or it can be partially damaged. Function below the injury level may exist or be impaired.
- Complete injury: A complete injury means that the spinal cord was severed. Movement below the level of injury will not exist.
Your injury location will matter, too. For example, if you damage the cervical spine, this is the most severe and is from the base of the skull to the shoulders. You can also damage the thoracic, lumbar or sacral spine, all causing different levels of function loss.
The lower down the spine that the injury occurs, the better.
Annually, around 18,000 people in the United States suffer from spinal cord injuries, and some of them occur at work.
What Types of Workplace Accidents Cause Spinal Cord Injuries?
Spinal cord injuries are more common than you think in the workplace. In fact, studies show that the annual rate of work-related spinal injuries is 7.2 per 100,000 persons.
That same research also shows that most work-related spinal cord injuries are caused by:
- Falls, typically from building structures, ladders or scaffolding
- Transport-related accidents, including heavy transport vehicle crashes
Workers can also injure their spines due to being:
- Struck by an object
- Crushed or pinned
- Lifting heavy objects improperly
Any accident involving falls from great heights, slips or even explosions can cause spinal cord injuries.
What Should I Do If I Suffer a Spinal Cord Injury at Work?
If you suffer a spinal cord injury at work, the first and most important thing is to seek immediate medical attention. An injury of this magnitude is a medical emergency. Call an ambulance and seek immediate treatment.
Once you are able to do so:
- Report your injury to your manager or supervisor, preferably in writing. Georgia law gives you 30 days to report the incident and your injury. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to workers’ compensation benefits.
- Maintain a list of all documented treatments you receive for your injury, along with the contact information of the healthcare providers you see. Ensure that all healthcare providers understand that your injury occurred in the workplace.
- Contact an experienced workers’ comp attorney and file a workers’ compensation claim. Spinal cord injuries are among the most severe and are often categorized as catastrophic. You may be entitled to lifelong benefits if your injury leaves you permanently and totally disabled. An attorney can help you protect your rights, help you navigate the claim process and work to ensure that your injury is properly categorized.
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury due to a workplace accident, it’s important not to delay your workers’ compensation claim. As a Georgia worker, you are entitled to benefits that will help you get the extensive treatment you need, which may include:
- Complicated surgeries
- Rehabilitation, including physical and occupational therapy
- Medications
- Experimental treatments
- Mental health care
Workers’ comp can also provide you with vital income that you will need to support yourself and your family as you recover.
With spinal cord injuries, the road to recovery is long and challenging. Depending on the severity of the injury, you may never return to the workplace.
An experienced workers’ compensation attorney will fight to ensure you receive the benefits you deserve.
How We Can Help with Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
When you suffer a catastrophic workplace injury, you need an experienced attorney at your side who will protect your best interests and help you navigate the claim process.
Insurance companies are only interested in protecting their bottom line. They may try to dispute the severity or nature of your injury to keep you from getting the benefits you need and are entitled to.
The attorneys at The Law Offices of Darwin F. Johnson will be there every step of the way to advocate for your rights and help you recover your full benefit amount.
Contact us online today or call us to schedule a free consultation and see how we can help with your workers’ compensation claim.
