3 Common Neck Injuries at Work – Signs and Symptoms
Neck injuries at work can be debilitating to employees who suffer them.
Those who suffer neck injuries at work can endure a magnitude of long-term injuries. Symptoms of a neck injury may include:
- Severe neck pain
- Stiffness
- Pain that radiates down to the shoulders and/or arms
- Swelling or bruising
- Tenderness
- Decreased sensation in the arms, legs or body
- Muscle weakness in the arms or legs
- Paralysis in the arms or legs
Neck injuries at work are one of the more common on-the-job injuries. According to the National Safety Council, there were roughly 8,900 neck injuries that required time away from work in 2020.
Three frequent neck injuries at work include:
A neck fracture or break happens when the cervical vertebrae in the neck is damaged. A broken neck requires immediate medical attention, or the victim could risk paralysis or death.
A broken neck often requires a cervical brace or surgery. Physical therapy is usually recommended as well.
Pinched nerves in the neck occur when the nerves are compressed or irritated by surrounding tissue. The pain from a pinched nerve will often extend from the neck to the arm and shoulder.
Major symptoms of a pinched nerve in the neck include tingling or a “pins and needles” feeling in the fingers or hands, weakness in certain muscles, or loss of sensation.
Finally, whiplash is amongst the top neck injuries at work. Whiplash occurs after a sudden back and forth jerking of the neck.
Whiplash is a common neck injury that results from a car accident. Truck drivers or rideshare drivers can be more susceptible to whiplash.
There are a number of dangerous professions. Research shows amongst the top of the list are construction workers.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction laborers experienced nearly 12 percent of all fatal falls, slips, or trips in 2020.
Potential causes of neck injuries at work include:
- Falling materials or objects that landing on a worker’s head or neck
- Car accidents while on the road performing job-related tasks
- Slipping on a wet or uneven surface
- Falling from an elevated area and landing on the neck
- Overexertion accidents that force an employee to suffer a neck injury
Employees who suffer an on-the-job injury while performing a work-related task are eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits, usually equal to two-thirds of the victim’s weekly income or wage.
An exception could be if the employee was hired as an independent contractor, or if they were paid in aid instead of wages.
Employer’s in California are required by law to provide workers’ compensation benefits, unless exempt for similar aforementioned reasons.
Failure to provide workers’ compensation is against the law. If this is your situation, you should immediately contact an attorney about your employer’s negligence.
If you’ve suffered any one of the common neck injuries at work, you will probably require time off from work. However, it’s not a rarity for a claims adjuster to deny claims for various reasons:
- Pre-existing conditions
- Lack of evidence
- Injury not caused by work-related issues
If you need assistance with a workers’ compensation claim, contact the LA workers comp attorneys at C&B Law Group.
The team at C&B Law Group has decades of experience helping victims of on-the-job injuries caused by workplace injuries or accidents in Burbank, Glendale, Van Nuys, and more.
We will help you build a case, using evidence such as:
- Photos or videos of the incident
- Witness testimonies
- Medical bills or other records
Benefits available for workers’ compensation include:
- Medical benefits
- Temporary disability benefits
- Permanent disability benefits
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Dependent death benefits
If you need help following a workers’ compensation claim, contact our Los Angeles workers comp attorneys today about your free initial consultation!
