Work-Related Back Injury? What Hurt Workers Need To Know

Many back injuries don't go away with a few weeks of rest. The might mean you are offered a settlement by the workers' compensation carrier. The money you get depends on several factors so read below and find out how you can get paid for your work-related back injury.

Your Medical Needs – Even before you are offered a settlement, you should have had your medical expenses related to your back issue covered. However, you may continue to need more treatment in the future. Be sure you know what is in store if you need more surgery, physical therapy, and more as well as dealing with any unpaid medical bills. For instance, you may need ongoing pain relief injections to help control your back pain in the future and your settlement should include that.

Your Disability Level – When it comes to permanent disabilities, your compensation can be linked to the severity of your medical condition. In some cases, hurt workers are not 100% disabled. You might be told, for example, that you are 65% disabled. If you disagree with the percentage of disability that the workers' comp carrier has assigned to your case, speak to a workers' comp lawyer.

Your Income – The salary you were earning prior to your back injury plays a part in your total compensation package. If you are unable to work at any job, you may be paid what you would have earned. However, if you can still work at other jobs given your disability, that goes into the computation too. You may disagree with how much work you can do and the type of work you can do, however.

Your Personal Characteristics – Several personal aspects of the victim are also considered. Your age, education level, area of the country, relative health outlook (your life expectancy), and other issues help determine your compensation settlement. For example, otherwise healthy workers might have a greater life expectancy than those who are overweight or smoke.

The Details of Your Injury and Case – Finally, the way the injury occurred and the evidence supporting your case is considered. Cases are all about proof of your injury. To get the highest settlement, a good case includes good documentation of the injury and your medical care, eye-witnesses, video, and other forms of evidence.

Determining how much you are entitled to be paid in a settlement is a tricky issue. Speak to a workers' comp attorney who can help you know what you deserve and then can work with the insurer to make that happen.

For more information on workers' compensation, contact a firm like Neifert Byrne & Ozga.