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Learn More >>Back Injury Claims in Personal Injury Law
Back injuries are not only some of the most debilitating injuries a person can suffer, but also some of the hardest to prove.
Back injuries can occur as a result of fall accidents, falling debris, flying objects, or as a result of repetitive stress injury. Often, back injuries are accompanied by other kinds of injuries, including neck injuries and shoulder injuries.
Causes of Back Injuries
There are a number of situations in a workplace where a fall accident can occur. Lack of fall protection equipment, defective ladders, greasy floors -all of these can contribute to a fall, resulting in a severe back injury.
Workers, who are engaged in performing the same kinds of activities over and over again for prolonged periods of time, may also be susceptible to back injuries, caused by repetitive strain. For instance, workers who are constantly involved in lifting, bending and reaching up may find themselves at a much higher risk of stress-related back injuries.
Besides, there may be maritime accidents involving mooring lines, towing cables, heavy equipment and other factors that could cause a back injury.
Types of Back Injuries
Sciatica
Sciatica is a painful condition that can involve pain and numbness in the lower back, radiating down to the legs. It is caused when the sciatic nerve is irritated. Symptoms include shooting pain in the buttocks, legs, weakness, and difficulty moving the legs. Persons, who are involved in sedentary activities that require them to sit still for long periods of time, may be at a high risk for Sciatica. Besides, activities that involve heavy and excessive lifting, twisting the back repeatedly, and walking, may also increase the risk of developing Sciatica.
Typically, doctors suggest plenty of bed rest to deal with symptoms of sciatica. It is important that patients understand the causes of sciatica, and address those issues. Use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and over-the-counter painkillers can help relieve the pain. Some forms of sciatica may require surgery. Doctors may also place the patient on a program of physical therapy.
Herniated disc, Bulging disc, Herniated lumbar disc Our firm sees clients with lumbar disc herniations, cervical disc problems and even disc fractures throughout the spinal cord. We feel that it is crucial to have exhaustive diagnostic testing done, starting with an x-ray and continuing on through MRI and myelogram, to properly diagnose your back problem. Often times, an insurance claims adjuster or company representative does not want to authorize payment for the testing needed to diagnose your problem. This puts your future health and your future employment at great risk. if you continue to work with a herniated disc, bulging disc, fractured vertebrae, or other serious back condition, you could permanently injure yourself.
Lower back strains or lumbar strains (sometimes in your medical records as "LBP" or lower back pain). This condition occurs when the lumbar ligaments are stretched excessively. Symptoms may include loss of bowel or bladder control, weakness in the lower extremities, chronic pain, and muscle spasms.
People involved in activities that involve heavy lifting, are at a higher risk for lumbar strains. These risks can be alleviated however, if the person uses proper and appropriate lifting techniques.
Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries are catastrophic injuries that can lead to devastating effects, like long-term paralysis. Not every spinal cord injury will result in paraplegia or quadriplegia, two of the most common conditions associated with a spinal cord injury. Quadriplegia is a condition in which the person may lose control of both upper and lower limbs. In paraplegia however, the individual may have control over his upper limbs, but may have impaired function in the lower extremities.
Typically, a spinal cord injury is caused during serious motor vehicle accidents, although these can result from any other kind of high impact road accidents too. Spinal injuries are also a result of serious falls, and industrial accidents. They can also be caused by assaults, violence or gunshots.
There are very limited treatment programs for spinal cord injury. Prevention still remains the best cure. However, there has been some excitement about the use of stem cell therapy to rebuild damaged spine cells, and enable movement.
Complications in a Back Injury Claim
Often, back injuries may not be visible externally. There may be no bleeding, wounds lacerations or fractures to show the existence of an injury. In fact, sometimes back injuries remain concealed even from x-rays and diagnostic tests. Your employer may try to blame the back injury on a preexisting condition. In situations like this, you will need an experienced personal injury lawyer to win your claim. .
The Texas personal injury lawyers at that Schechter McElwee Shaffer and Harris have decades of experience and expertise representing seamen, longshoreman, dock workers, construction workers, refinery workers, and other workers with back injuries in accident claims. If you have suffered a back injury while on the job, consult an experienced personal injury lawyer at our firm for a free initial evaluation of your case.
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