Boston Workplace Back Injury Lawyer
A serious workplace back injury can cause a worker to experience significant damage and can even leave him or her incapacitated and unable to work for weeks, months, or longer. If you suffered a workplace back injury, you may need extensive medical treatment and recovery time, which may entail a significant financial burden
As such, it is wise to contact a Boston workplace back injuries lawyer as soon as possible. a qualified Boston workplace back injury attorney could explain your legal rights, review the details of your case, and help you seek the benefits to which you may be entitled. Call John J. Sheehan today at (617) 925-6407 for a free case review.
Common Causes of Back Injuries in Boston, MA
It is common that a construction worker may have prior back injuries or a history of back pain and, as a result of a new work-related injury, suffers an aggravation of the pre-existing back injury. In order to diagnose the new injury, it is important that the worker provide his treating doctor and Boston personal injury lawyer with an accurate and complete medical history related to any prior back injuries or episodes of back pain.
Steps to Take After a Workplace Back Injury in Boston
The Massachusetts workers’ compensation system provides financial support to workers who suffer injuries during job duties. This can include compensation for medical expenses as well as for lost income and disabilities that result from workplace injuries.
Anyone injured on the job should report the injury to his or her employer as soon as possible. If the injury or accident goes unreported and symptoms later get worse, proving that the injury happened at the workplace may become difficult.
Another priority is getting proper medical attention. Workers have the legal right to treatment from a doctor of their choice as long as the doctor accepts their workers’ compensation insurance. If the employer has a preferred provider plan, only the initial evaluation must be with the employer’s doctor. The doctor will oversee recovery and determine when or if an injured worker may return to work.
The treatment and recovery plan for a workplace injury will vary from case to case depending on the type and severity of the injury. Back injuries can require physical therapy and vocational rehabilitation for recovery. Sometimes, permanent impairments result, for which workers can seek additional compensation.
An injured worker should seek the advice of a lawyer as soon as possible. a seasoned workplace back injuries lawyer in Boston could advocate for a worker’s legal rights and help him or her present the medical evidence and other information needed to support a strong claim.
How Payment of Benefits Works After a Back Injury at Work in Boston
Once an injured worker submits a workers’ compensation claim, the employer’s insurance company will either accept or deny the claim. If the insurer accepts the claim, the employee will generally start receiving checks for available benefits within a few weeks of the injury.
When the insurance company denies a claim, it must state a reason for the denial and provide notice of appeal rights. Appeals of denied claims may be made to the Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA), headquartered in Boston with branch offices in Lawrence, Worcester, Fall River, and Springfield.
A judge at the DIA will determine whether a claim was properly denied and/or whether the injured employee is receiving all the benefits he or she is due. Additional appeals may possible in the event of an adverse DIA decision.
Compensation for workplace back injuries is based on the severity of the injury and the extent of incapacity. Potential benefits include compensation for the following:
- Medical treatment
- Permanent or temporary total incapacity
- Partial incapacity
- Permanent loss of function or disfigurement
- Vocational rehabilitation
All cases differ, so getting personal legal advice from a Boston workplace back injuries lawyer could be important for anyone who wants to understand the available benefits in his or her particular situation.
How Can You Get Compensation for Medical Bills and Treatments for a Back Injury in Boston?
Common treatment for back injuries include rest, pain and anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, cortisone and steroid injections, and surgery. In cases of severe back pain with radiating pain and numbness that travels down the leg and lower extremity, your treating doctor may order an MRI to determine whether you sustained an injury to the lumbar disc such as a bulging or herniated disc that may be putting pressure on the nerve root or, in the worst case, impinging the nerve root. In cases of nerve root impingement with symptoms of radiating pain and numbness, your doctor may order an EMG/Nerve Conduction Test to determine whether there is objective evidence to correlate with your reported symptoms of radicular pain and numbness.
If you have a positive MRI confirming a herniated disc with impingement and abnormal EMG/Nerve Conduction test, your treating doctor may recommend back surgery. Common types of back surgery include discectomy, laminectomy and spinal fusion. Before proceeding with back surgery, it is important that you consider all your options. Discuss the benefit and risk of surgery with your treating surgeon. You may want to get a second opinion before proceeding with back surgery. Be aware that there is no guarantee that the back surgery will relieve your back pain entirely. In some cases, your back pain may be worse.
Get Help from a Boston Workplace Back Injury Attorney
When seeking legal representation, you should hire a dedicated and compassionate attorney who understands the complex laws governing workplace cases. a Boston workplace back injury lawyer could guide injured workers through the claims process to help them seek the benefits they need for back injuries from workplace accidents.
When workers are in their times of need, attorneys work hard to help them obtain a fair recovery for their claims. Call our Boston workers’ compensation lawyer today at (617) 925-6407 for more information about how a skilled Boston workplace back injuries lawyer could fight compensation on your behalf.
