Workers' Compensation for Back Injuries in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Helping Injured Workers Find Relief

Back injuries are both unfortunately common and extremely incapacitating. Workers may suffer these injuries when doing physical labor or due to an uncomfortable office setup. They may happen in one accident or build up over time—but either way, serious back injuries require treatment, or they may cause permanent symptoms or disability.

At Rosenberg & Rosenberg, P.A., we provide compassionate, effective legal advocacy for workers who were injured while on the job. If you are suffering a back injury you sustained at the workplace, we want to help you file for workers' compensation to cover medical bills and financial loss.

Especially if you are currently seeking treatment, it’s understandable to want assistance with the complex claims process. Our attorneys are happy to oblige.

Call our Fort Lauderdale office today at (888) 499-6206 to see how we can help you after a workplace back injury. We have over 50 years of experience helping injured workers.

Am I Eligible for Workers’ Compensation After a Back Injury?

Depending on the severity of your back injury, you may need only a couple weeks away from work, or you could require several years’ worth of medical expenses, daily living costs, and physical therapy treatments. You may also require occupational training to enter another industry after your accident.

If awarded, your workers’ compensation benefits can cover the following expenses:

• Medical tests, therapies, and medications
• Doctor and chiropractor visits
• Back braces, wheelchairs, and other equipment
• Wage replacement
• Occupational training and re-employment services for manual laborers
• Physical therapy and pain management

Common Work-Related Back Injuries

Even back injuries that at first seem mild can seriously incapacitate a worker. Therefore, virtually any kind of back injury may make you eligible to file for workers’ compensation.

Many employees file claims for injuries like:

• Wrenched muscles surrounding the spine
• Sprains and strains
• Spinal fractures
• Whiplash
• Paraplegia, quadriplegia, and other forms of paralysis

In a workers’ compensation case, it doesn’t matter who was at fault. Your right to recover a settlement is linked to your employment rather than proof of your innocence.

Back Injuries from Heavy Lifting at Work

According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), back pain accounts for over 264 million lost workdays each calendar year. Although there are thousands of different possible causes for back pain, many of the most severe back injuries and chronic pains arise directly from heavy lifting on the job – which can in turn prevent workers from receiving payment while they heal and recover.

Many people who suffer from back injuries may not even realize that they are entitled to workers’ compensation. This is true for other on-the-job injuries as well. Although workers’ compensation is a legal right for most Floridians, workers may be reluctant to pursue what they see as a daunting “legal action” against their employer, and fear that they will lose their jobs.

A workers’ compensation claim is not the same thing as a personal injury lawsuit, however, and you do not need to prove that your employer caused your injuries.

Because workers’ compensation is considered a “no-fault” system, you simply have to demonstrate medical evidence that your injury actually took place while you were on the job. Because there is an irrefutable connection between heavy lifting tasks and back injuries, it’s possible that you could receive compensation for such cases.

Here are some of the most common back injuries sustained while lifting heavy objects:

• Slipped, herniated, or bulging spinal discs
• Temporary or permanent spinal cord damage
• Spine fractures
• Chronic lower back pain
• Muscle strains
• Broken vertebrae
• Pinched nerves, or nerve compression

How Do I Start a Workers’ Comp Claim?

Once you’ve sustained a back injury at work, it’s vital that you report the incident to your employer as soon as you can, and then file a workers’ compensation claim with all the appropriate documentation. While workers’ compensation is ultimately meant to benefit employees, it can still be daunting to deal with all the forms and requirements on your own. You also only have 30 days to report your injuries, and two years to file a formal claim for benefits.

At Rosenberg & Rosenberg, P.A., we can help you manage these deadlines and create the best possible case for your work-related back injury. With over 240 years of experience serving clients throughout Fort Lauderdale, our skilled workers’ compensation lawyers can give you unparalleled insight and compassionate counsel throughout the entire claims and appeals process.

When You Can File a Lawsuit for a Workplace Back Injury

If an injury is the direct result of another party’s negligence and has caused you financial loss or other quantifiable damages, you might be able to file a personal injury lawsuit. Depending on the nature of your accident and the severity of your injury, you may be able to recover additional damages through a personal injury case that would not be available to you through workers’ comp.

However, to file a lawsuit, you must also be able to prove the negligence was linked to a third party—i.e., someone who was not your employer.

In a personal injury lawsuit, you can request compensation for:

• Hospital bills
• Medical treatments
• Rehabilitation
• Time off from work
• Lost income
• Lost savings
• Delayed bills or payments
• Visits with medical specialists
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life

If you have sustained a back injury in an accident that was someone else’s fault, allow us to advocate for you in your pursuit of justice and fair compensation.

Learn How We Can Help in a Free Consultation

Our attorneys have been helping injury victims find the compensation they need to move forward for over 50 years. In that time, we have handled cases of all levels of complexity, against defendants of all types. No matter the circumstances of your claim, we have the experience to properly represent you.

Do not miss your opportunity to file a personal injury or workers’ compensation claim after a workplace injury. Serious back injuries can cause lasting pain and disability—and you deserve compensation for these struggles. Ask us what we can do to help you secure your future after a serious injury.

Call (888) 499-6206 today to schedule your free case review with a member of our Fort Lauderdale team. We are here to advocate for injured workers.