Workers’ Compensation for Lower Back Injuries

Most lower back injuries involve people who do physical labor. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA, manual materials handling is the principal source of workers’ compensation injuries in our nation’s work force, with four out of five of these injuries affecting the lower back.

Common injuries include lower back strain; bulging, herniated and slipped discs; fractured vertebrae; and pinched nerves. Most of these injuries are caused by over extension from heavy lifting, pulling and pushing.

Workers who hurt their back on the job may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Because back injuries can be very painful and require extended treatment and recovery periods, benefits typically cover the costs of needed medical care and may provide periods of paid disability so that a worker can recover from an injury.

If a back injury is diagnosed as a temporary partial disability, a worker may resume employment duties after a recovery period. If a worker suffers a permanent partial disability, he or she may be assigned a different position upon returning to work to accommodate the disability. Those who suffer a permanent total disability will not be able to return to work and may be eligible for extended benefits.

If you or a family member has been injured at work, contact our Des Moines Iowa workers’ compensation attorneys to assist you with your workers’ comp claim. When you are injured it is important to get the maximum benefits allowed so that you can work toward recovery. Our experienced workers’ compensation lawyers have worked with many injured Iowa workers to help them get the benefits they need when they are injured on the job. Call today at 515-283-2116.