Introduction: What is Workers Comp?
Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that pays for medical expenses. Plus, it provides income when a worker obtains an injury on the job or develops an occupational illness. For example, a worker may receive workers’ comp benefits for back and neck injuries. Further, workers’ comp laws offer protection for workers who suffer workplace injuries and illnesses.
Workers’ compensation is needed for both employers and employees. In fact, it is a specialized type of insurance that compensates people injured on the job. It helps both the employer and employee because it pays for medical bills and lost wages. Also, it provides temporary disability payments, vocational rehabilitation, and wage replacement benefits. Finally, it ensures that employers have access to competent workers.
In most states, employers must carry workers’ compensation insurance as a condition of doing business. The insurance company pays benefits and the employer pays premiums. Not only does workers’ comp insurance pay benefits to employees who obtain an injury on the job. But it may also pay benefits to their dependents in some circumstances. In general, workers’ comp benefits are traditionally divided into two broad categories: «temporary total disability» and «temporary partial disability.»
In many cases, if a worker has a disability that is better than 50% and lasts for more than six months, they are entitled to permanent total disability benefits. On the other hand, workers receive a payment for temporary total disability when they cannot work due to an injury or illness.
Usually, the amount of the payments will depend on how long the individual is unable to work and the extent of the injury. However, permanent total disability is different from temporary total disability. This is because workers receive payments for permanent total disability if they cannot work permanently due to their health. For example, if an individual has a heart attack, it can cause them to be unable to work for the rest of their life. Workers that are entitled to permanent total disability benefits may also receive a payment based on their work history. But workers that are not entitled to disability benefits may still be eligible for workers compensation.
Types of Back and Neck Injuries
In short, the spine is a complex structure that consists of bones, discs, ligaments, and muscles. Further, the spine divides into four regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. Also, back and neck injuries can be either acute or chronic. Acute injuries are sudden or new. While chronic injuries have been present for some time.
Plus, there is a key difference between lumbar spine and sacral spine. For example, lumbar spine refers to the region of the spine between the end of the ribcage and where it connects with to pelvic girdle. However, sacral spine refers to a section of vertebral column that is located at or below this point.
Many people suffer from back pain at some point in their lives with the most common cause being injury to the back or neck. As a result, back and neck injuries result from many different types of factors. On one hand, acute causes of back and neck injuries are usually due to falls, motor vehicle accidents or sports-related activities. On the other hand, chronic causes usually result from occupational hazards. For instance, bad posture habits or constant hunching over a computer may lead to chronic back or neck pain.
Common Causes of Back and Neck Injuries
Unfortunately, back and neck injuries are common in the workplace. In fact, the most common causes of these injuries are sitting for long periods of time without a break, lifting heavy objects, and bending over repeatedly However, back and neck injuries may also result from the following:
- Jumping
- Bending
- Twisting
- Turning
- Slips
- Trips
- Falls
To prevent back and neck injury, the best thing to do is exercises that strengthen the core muscles. You can do these exercises in many different places, like at work or during your lunch break. As a result, they will help you reduce the risk of developing back and neck pain in the future.
What are the Best Practices for Treating Back and Neck Injuries?
In general, patients with back and neck pain often experience a variety of symptoms. For instance, they may feel tightness in the muscles, limited range of motion, numbness, tingling and loss of sensation. Thus, these symptoms may be the result of a strain or sprain to the neck or back.
These symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include:
- Stiffness in the back, neck, or jaw
- Pain that radiates down the leg or arm
- Sensation of pins and needles in the arm or leg
- Numbness in the arm or leg
- Numbness in one side of the face
How do I file Workers Compensation Claims?
In the US, workers compensation is a form of insurance that employers provide to their employees. It protects employees if they obtain an injury on the job. Further, workers file workers’ comp claims with an employer’s insurance company.
To file a workers’ comp claim, the worker must fill out a workers’ comp claim form. To be specific, the injured worker must fill out the form. Then they must submit it to the employer’s insurance company. Finally, the employer must approve the claim for the injured worker to receive workers’ comp benefits.
Overall, the purpose of worker’s comp benefits is to compensate for injury or illness incurred on the job. The amount of benefits depends on the severity of injury and whether it occurred over a period of time or not. Most workers’ comp cases resolve within the following stages:
- First, the employer and employee must discuss a mutually agreed upon medical treatment plan.
- Second, a doctor or other medical provider will confirm the injury or illness.
- Finally, the employer and employee evaluate all benefits for filing charges with the state’s workers’ compensation commission (WCC).
As you can see, the process of filing a workers’ comp claim is complex. If you want to ensure you get all the benefits you deserve, contact an experienced workers’ comp lawyer.