Suffering a neck injury on the job puts you in a situation that can be difficult to overcome. Not only are you facing medical expenses and lost earnings, but your ability to continue advancing your career may also be threatened.
Because our necks are integral to the body’s nervous system, neck injuries are often painful and limit your range of motion. If you’ve suffered a neck injury on the job, it’s time to consult with an experienced Wilmington, North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney. Rely on Horton & Mendez to pursue the workers’ comp neck injury settlement to which you are entitled. Contact us today to begin.
Types of Work-Related Neck Injuries
Neck injuries come in many different forms and can range in severity. Some of the most common examples include the following:
- Whiplash injuries, a form of soft tissue injury
- Pinched nerves or cervical radiculopathy
- Vertebral dislocations
- Herniated discs
- Neck fractures
Neck injuries are closely associated with back injuries and pain, which can add more complications.
Common Causes of Neck Injuries on the Job
Some of the most common causes of neck injuries on the job include the following:
- Slip-and-fall accidents, which are one of the most common forms of work-related accidents
- Work that requires heavy lifting or that leads to overexertion
- Accidents that involve falling objects
- Traffic accidents related to job duties or work travel
Treatment of Neck Injuries
Treatment for neck injuries is based on addressing the pain and physical limitations. Often it takes time for you to rest and recover. Even if your neck injury does not require invasive medical treatment, you could be off the job – or on light-duty work – for an extended amount of time.
Treatment can also include:
- Extensive physical therapy
- Extensive occupational therapy
- Pain management that may need to be ongoing
- Surgery, such as for an underlying injury that involves a more serious cervical dislocation or fracture
Your workers’ compensation attorney will assess your full range of medical expenses to ensure that your workers’ comp settlement supports your recovery.
What Makes a Neck Injury Qualify for Workers’ Comp?
A neck injury can interfere with your ability to continue living your life and advancing your career to their fullest. The workers’ compensation system in North Carolina is designed to compensate injured employees for all their related medical expenses and lost earnings up to a specific percentage of your current pay rate.
It is important to note, however, that a neck injury can be more challenging to prove than a more obvious injury, such as a broken bone. While you definitely feel the pain associated with your neck injury, it typically can’t be seen by others. You need to fight for a fair settlement.
How to Start a Claim
You should take immediate steps to begin the claims process after a work-related neck injury. These include:
- Seek immediate medical attention. Early diagnosis is closely associated with better outcomes for your health.
- Tell your boss, employer, or supervisor that you were injured on the job.
- Consult with a workers’ compensation attorney as soon as you’re able to do so. Your lawyer can handle every aspect of your claim going forward.
How Much Is a Neck Injury Worth?
The value of your neck injury claim will depend upon specific variables. These include:
- Your neck injury’s severity
- How much your neck injury affects your ability to do your job
- How long your neck injury keeps you off the job
- The long-term effects of permanent cervical spine damage
- The requirement of ongoing medical care
Your workers’ compensation attorney will ensure that every category of covered loss you experience is accounted for in your workers’ compensation claim.
Contact Us After a Neck Injury At Work
At Horton & Mendez, we are skilled workers’ compensation attorneys in Wilmington who understand the aftermath of a serious neck injury. We proudly serve the injured in Wilmington, Leland, and all of North Carolina. Rely on our experience after suffering a neck injury on the job, and you have our commitment to keep you well-informed as we resolve your claim. To learn more about how we can help, reach out to us online or call us at 910-405-7751 today.
