Springfield Lower Back Injury Lawyers
Representing Workers Who Sustained Lower Back Injuries on the Job
If you are like the majority of adults in the United States, you have experienced back pain at some point in your life. Lower back pain can be difficult to deal with, and it can significantly limit your activities and abilities, including your ability to work. There are many on-the-job risks that can lead to lower back injuries, and your employer's workers' compensation insurance should cover the full costs of treating your injury. The legal team at The Law Firm of Webster & Carlton has seen first hand how devastating lower back injuries can be and how these injuries can impact your life. We also know that workers' compensation claims do not always go as planned and dealing with insurers can be difficult when you are already recovering from a serious injury. For help from a Missouri lower back injury lawyer, contact our office for a free consultation today.
Job-Related Lower Back Injuries
You can injure your lower back in many different ways, some of which involve a single accident and others that develop over time. Some common causes of back injuries on the job include the following:
- Falls from high places
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Getting caught in between materials
- Getting hit by a heavy object
- Violence
- Heavy lifting
- Regular twisting, pushing, or pulling
- Standing hunched over a conveyor belt or table
- Sitting in a non-ergonomic chair
- Vehicle accidents
Whether you aggravate your back over the course of months due to regular lifting or similar physical tasks, or you suffer an acute injury in an accident, many types of lower back injuries are possible. These include:
- Herniated, bulging, or slipped discs
- Muscle sprains, strains, and tears
- Compressed nerves
- Dislocations
All of these can be debilitating and require rest, medication, and physical therapy to recover. Some people with lower back problems experience chronic pain, and they might need surgery to ultimately correct the issue.
Seeking Workers' Compensation Benefits
When you file a workers' compensation claim, you should expect to receive the benefits you need to cover your medical treatment, as well as partial wage replacement if you had to miss work. However, insurers often challenge lower back injury claims, including by:
- Questioning whether the injury was work-related
- Challenging the severity of the injury, including whether you needed to miss work or receive all the treatment you are claiming
Our lawyers can stand up for your right to full benefits for your lower back injury, and we can also help after a claim denial.
Contact Our Springfield and Joplin Workers' Compensation Lawyers Today
At The Law Firm of Webster & Carlton, our Missouri workers' compensation attorneys help clients with a wide range of job-related injuries and illnesses. We work to get you the benefits you deserve so you can focus on your health.
If you need assistance with a claim, call our Springfield office at (417) 545-3775. You can also contact us online, and someone will be in touch shortly.
Stay In The Know
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Why Do I Need a Missouri Workers’ Compensation Attorney?A workers’ compensation claim can take several months, even years, to resolve, especially if you continue to suffer from the effects of your work-related injury. Your employer and its insurance company will be represented by highly skilled attorneys who know how to exploit an injured employee. You need to level the playing field by hiring a Missouri workers’ compensation lawyer who will fight on your behalf.
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What Happens If My Employer Denies Me Workers’ Compensation Benefits?In many cases, your employer or their insurance company will promptly pay any workers’ compensation benefits. But if they deny benefits–or stop paying them before you receive what you believe you are entitled to under the law–then you have the right to file a claim with the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation. An administrative law judge appointed by the Division will review your claim and either conduct mediation between you and your employer, or alternatively hold a formal hearing to determine your right to compensation.
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What Kinds of Injuries Are Covered?
Under Missouri law, workers’ compensation only covers injuries that arise “out of and in the course of employment.” This includes accidents that occur during your work shift. It also includes “occupational diseases” contracted at work, provided workplace exposure was the “prevailing” cause.
Workers’ compensation is not necessarily limited to injuries suffered at your normal workplace. If your job requires you to travel–i.e., make deliveries or conduct on-site work with clients–you may be compensated for injuries sustained in the course of such travel. However, Missouri workers’ compensation law specifically excludes injuries sustained while commuting from home to work and back, even if you use a company-owned car.
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