New York Back Injury Lawyer
Serious back injuries can happen in the blink of an eye, resulting in life-changing complications. If you have injured your back due to a construction accident, you could feel overwhelmed at the prospect of filing a claim and pursuing compensation.
You may be enduring significant physical pain while feeling anxious about how you will continue to care for your family’s financial needs. Perhaps your ability to work has been impacted by your injuries. Depending on your situation, you could be eligible to receive damages either by workers’ compensation, a personal injury claim, or even a lawsuit.
If you have been significantly hurt or lost time from work due to a back injury, our experienced injury lawyers want to hear your story. At the New York law firm of Hill & Moin LLP, our attorneys will do all we can to ensure that each of our clients receives fair, beneficial compensation.
Talk to a personal injury lawyer at Hill & Moin LLP to learn your legal options. Our clients can be assured we will review every detail and assist you with your case from beginning to end.
Working with us is risk-free since we work on a contingency fee basis; we only require payment if and when your case is resolved – and this percentage is taken out of your settlement, not your pocket. Call (212) 668-6000 to schedule a free case evaluation today.
Frequent Causes of Back Injuries Among Construction Workers
Working in construction can be physically taxing. Workers may experience a range of back injuries due to the demands of the job.
Back injuries on construction sites often happen as a result of:
- Falls: A slip-and-fall on the job site can cause significant back injuries, especially if the worker falls from a considerable height. Additionally, tools or equipment may fall and injure a worker below.
- Repetitive strain: Constant lifting, bending, and twisting are repetitive motions that can eventually lead to injury. Over time, such motions can weaken the muscles and ligaments, increasing the likelihood of a sudden back injury.
- Improper lifting techniques: When a worker does not have a proper approach to pushing, pulling, carrying, and lifting heavy loads, he or she may inadvertently end up with a critical back injury.
If you have suffered a back injury in a construction-related accident, you could get more than workers’ compensation. It’s possible that a general contractor could be held liable for injuries caused by lax safety measures, inadequate training, or other negligent conditions. This would mean that you could get additional compensation by means of a personal injury claim or lawsuit.
How do the details affect your options? You can learn the answer by speaking with an experienced workplace accident attorney serving New York. Hill & Moin want to help you get maximum compensation to cover all your damages.
Common Types of Construction Accident Back Injuries
Some back injuries result in manageable aches and pains that are quickly resolved. At other times, the injury may negatively impact every aspect of your daily life.
Different types of back injuries include:
- Lower back sprains or strains: When you overstretch a muscle or ligament, inflammation, spasms, reduced mobility, and increasing pain can result.
- Compression fractures: When vertebrae become compressed and break due to trauma, symptoms include pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, and incontinence.
- Herniated discs: These are also often referred to as slipped, or ruptured discs. If a disc slips out of place, it irritates the nerves, causing extreme radiating pain.
- Pinched nerves: This can be caused by a herniated disc and occurs when too much pressure is applied to the nerve and signals are disrupted. Such pressure can cause pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in many areas of the body.
- Spinal cord Injuries: Such injuries can be caused by direct injury to the spinal cord itself or damage to the vertebrae surrounding the spinal cord. Symptoms may include intense pain, weakness, poor balance, numbness in your extremities, and loss of bladder or bowel control. In the worst of cases, a spinal cord injury can result in partial or complete paralysis.
As you can see, significant back injuries should not be treated lightly. It is in your best interest to seek immediate medical attention in order to regain your quality of life.
Steps You Should Take After Sustaining a Back Injury
If you have suffered a back injury in a construction accident, there are several things you should do immediately. Taking these steps will help you to establish the facts and legitimacy of your case.
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Seeking medical attention
It is best to see a medical professional as soon as possible after a work accident. Do not try to continue working or see if you feel better. Timely medical diagnosis and care can be life-saving. A medical exam will also serve as documentation of the accident and evidence of the extent of your injuries for when you pursue compensation later on.
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Reporting the accident
It is critical to report the accident to your employer or supervisor in writing. However, it is best to do this once your injuries have been stabilized.
When you make the report, limit the accident description to the specific incident, explaining when you knew you were hurt and the extent of your injuries. It is unwise to hide pre-existing conditions when making your report. Rather, be open about previous injuries or other pre-existing conditions, but make it clear that your current injury happened at work.
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Documenting the incident
If at all possible, take pictures or video at the scene of the accident. Photograph the location of the accident as well as any dangerous or unstable conditions on the job site that may have led to your back injury. Such evidence can be invaluable in successfully pursuing a workers’ compensation or personal injury claim.
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Contacting a workplace injury attorney
Claims involving on-the-job construction accidents are often complicated and confusing. An experienced lawyer, though, will not be intimidated. Any of the attorneys with Hill & Moin LLP would be happy to guide you through the claims process and advocate on your behalf in the negotiations. And if another law firm or option would be a better fit for you, we can steer you in the right direction during your initial consultation with us.
Taking these steps, listed above, will help to preserve evidence and establish a stronger case as you seek fair compensation for your injuries.
Compensation for Workplace Back Injuries
The State of New York requires all employers to have workers’ compensation coverage for all employees. It is meant to cover the benefits of employees who suffer injuries or become ill while working for the company.
Workers’ compensation only awards economic damages, such as:
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Physical therapy costs
- A percentage of lost wages
- A percentage of future lost wages, if permanently disabled
- Vocational rehabilitation or retraining
In some cases, you may be able to file a personal injury claim in addition to or instead of a workers’ compensation claim. Personal injury claims are harder to prove but include both economic and non-economic damages, potentially raising your settlement amount.
In addition to full financial restitution, you could qualify to attain compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Psychological distress
- Reduced quality of life
At Hill & Moin LLP, we help take care of investigating and handling your claim so that you can focus on your recovery. If we take on your case, our empathetic and results-oriented lawyers will work aggressively to achieve the best possible outcome for you, thereby securing your future.
Contact a New York Workplace Injury Lawyer for Help
A serious construction-related back injury can turn your life upside down. Insurance companies are often skeptical of back injury claims due to their frequency and the fact that the extent of pain and limitations can be, to some degree, subjective. Thus, it can be both challenging and frustrating to navigate the workers’ compensation process in order to receive your due benefits.
You do not have to go it alone. An experienced and compassionate workplace injury lawyer can ease the claims process for you. At Hill & Moin LLP, we like to consider ourselves part of your family. In practice since 1980, the partners at Hill & Moin have proudly dedicated their careers to successfully litigating serious personal injury cases of New York residents.
New York recognizes that all workers deserve adequate and fair compensation after an on-the-job injury. Under state law, all injured workers are eligible for workers’ compensation, including undocumented workers. It is our desire that all of our clients have the confidence to pursue any and all avenues for compensation.
If you or a loved one has sustained a serious back injury in a construction accident, please contact a workplace injury lawyer as soon as possible. At Hill & Moin LLP, we are committed to helping injured New York workers secure financial compensation to treat their injuries, support their households, and move on with their lives.
We recognize that this is likely a very trying and stressful time for you and your family. It is our mission to help you throughout the entire legal process, ensuring that all possible recourse is taken and no deadlines are missed.
At Hill & Moin LLP, we offer our clients Personal Injury Recovery Solutions® that work. We know how to investigate and skillfully pursue job accident cases. Learn what our dedicated and results-oriented lawyers can do for you by calling (212) 668-6000 for a free consultation today.
Don’t wonder about your rights!