Workers compensation claims can be made for physical and psychological injuries that are the result of incidents in the workplace in Townsville. Some of the main causes behind claims for physical injuries are those affecting the spine, as they will almost always see the injured party taking at least some time off work to recover.
What are the most common types of spinal injuries in the workplace, and what recourse does a worker have if they experience a spinal cord injury at work?
What are spinal injuries?
Spinal injuries occur when one or more of the spine’s three areas – the cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (upper back), and the lumbar spine (lower back) are damaged.
A spinal injury can have a devastating impact on a person’s life. Even minor spinal injuries can cause excruciating pain and leave a person unable to work for days, weeks, or months, and more serious spinal injuries can cause long-term pain or paralysis.
Whether minor, severe, short-term term, or permanent, if you have suffered a loss of income and quality of life or incurred medical expenses due to a spinal injury sustained in the workplace you may be eligible for workers compensation through WorkCover Queensland.
Whiplash Injuries
The term ‘whiplash’ refers to neck injuries that are caused by an individual’s head being thrust forward suddenly, which leads the cervical vertebrae in the neck to jolt unnaturally. It can cause neck stiffness, pain and/or numbness, tingling and spasms, and a reduced range of motion.
Whiplash injuries are commonly caused by car accidents, but they can occur in any accident where the neck is jolted forward, including low-impact car accidents. People who are at risk of suffering a whiplash injury in the workplace include those who drive as part of their regular duties and those who operate machinery, but if a person is involved in a motor vehicle accident on the way to or from work they may also be eligible for compensation should the accident result in a whiplash injury.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Injuries to the spinal cord are usually very severe and result in severe pain, with some even causing paralysis. Spinal cord injuries tend to result from serious and traumatic workplace accidents, including objects crushing an individual’s back or neck or in situations where the worker has fallen from a height.
A worker who experiences a spinal cord injury is likely unable to return to the job they had prior to the injury. Workers in Townsville who have experienced a spinal cord injury due to a workplace incident should seek advice from a personal injury lawyer about their eligibility for a lump sum payment from WorkCover.
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc is an injury often suffered by individuals who are required to engage in regular heavy lifting during the course of their work. Also referred to as a slipped, bulging, or ruptured disc, a herniated disc can affect the back or neck and is caused by a sudden event or a repetitive strain that causes the vertebrae to be displaced. A herniated disc can lead the injured party to be unable to work due to a decrease in mobility and the intense pain it causes as it presses on nerves.
Thoracic Spine Injuries
Thoracic spine injuries usually affect the ribs, mid-back, and chest areas and can be caused by workplace accidents including falls or objects crushing the worker. These types of injuries can lead to serious health complications and sometimes even permanent disability.
Lumbar Spine Injuries
A lumbar spine injury is damage to the soft tissue, usually caused by muscle strain. This type of injury can create pain in the lower back, hips, and/or stomach as the muscles and vertebrae in these areas are interconnected. The pain and mobility limitations associated with lumbar spine injuries can render someone unable to work temporarily or permanently. These types of injuries are often associated with office workers.
Am I Eligible To Make A Workers Compensation Claim?
Individuals who have sustained a spinal injury while at work are entitled to claim workers compensation. It can take days, weeks, or even months for a spinal injury to fully reveal itself so it is important to seek medical attention immediately after the incident so there is a record of how the injury has manifested and how the worker’s condition has deteriorated in that time.
There are strict timelines attached to workers compensation claims, so injured workers should seek the advice of a personal injury lawyer in Townsville who can assist them with their claim as soon as possible.