A back or spine injury during your employment can be highly traumatic. There are several occupations where employees are at higher risk of sustaining this type of injury, such as employees who perform manual labor and transport heavy equipment.
Back and spine injuries
Back and spine injuries can be severe and life-threatening. They can have a permanent effect on your quality of life and your livelihood. These injuries can be severe and sometimes make it impossible for employees to return to work.
The back and spine are as delicate as they are necessary for your entire body to function. As a result of back and spine injuries, employees can develop:
- Herniated discs, which press into the nerve and cause irritation, pain and sciatica.
- Spinal stenosis, which is the narrowing of the spinal cord.
- Fractures and strains, which cause permanent pain, with or without surgery, for life.
As a general rule, under Mississippi law, employees injured are protected and entitled to workers’ compensation insurance if they sustain an injury at work. However, sometimes, workers’ compensation insurance companies deny claims or offer settlements much lower than what the injured employee expects or needs to cover their medical expenses, lost wages and more.
Submitting a workers’ compensation claim
The process between submitting a claim and reaching a settlement with the insurance company is not as easy as one might think. Specifically, for severe injuries where more significant amounts of compensation are involved, insurance companies can be complex and sometimes even deny employees’ claims.
As you can see, back and spine injuries are severe, and if you sustain this type of injury during your employment, workers’ compensation insurance should compensate you. The amount that the insurance company pays you is not a predetermined amount. It depends on the circumstances, which is why it is vital that you understand your rights and either advocate for yourself or consider having the legal support of an advocate who will fight for your compensation based on the injuries you sustained.
