Does Back or Neck Pain Qualify Under Colorado Workers’ Compensation?

 Posted on December 18, 2019 in Workplace Injury

Back pain is one of the most common injuries which a person can suffer. It is estimated that 80 percent of the population in the United States experiences back pain at least once in their lives. There are infinite ways to sustain a back or neck injury, such as falling on ice to getting hurt on the job. Minor pain is inconvenient, and may be caused by a strained muscle, but what happens when back or neck pain severely affects your quality of life? Thanks to workers’ compensation laws in Colorado, if work-related pain or an injury to the neck or back affects an employee's ability to continue working, they are protected financially. 

What Is Workers’ Compensation?

The Industrial Revolution led to a higher rate of employee injuries. The first no-fault workers’ compensation law was put in place in Colorado in 1915. Although laws change, the fundamentals of workers’ compensation remain the same today. If a person is injured because of work conditions or a work accident, he or she is entitled to benefits. This type of relief includes no-cost medical care and financial coverage for lost wages. How injured a person is, and whether or not he or she can return to the workforce, will determine the benefits given. Workers’ compensation protects employees' rights, but it also protects employers from lawsuits relating to an injured worker. 

What Kind of Back and Neck Injuries Are Eligible for Workers’ Comp Benefits?

Workers’ compensation benefits can cover any injury or pain that cannot be taken care of by a basic first-aid kit and which affects an employee's ability to work. These injuries, if work-related, may be eligible for medical coverage as well as wage reimbursement. These injuries may include:

• Slipped or Herniated Discs: In between our vertebrae are cartilaginous joints that act as shock absorbers. These discs can deteriorate due to age, and they can be forced out of place after a traumatic injury to the spine or when a person uses their back to lift heavy things. A slipped or herniated disc can cause not only back or neck pain, but it can affect other areas of the body, depending on where the damaged disc is. Issues with spinal discs are often treated with pain medication or therapy, but sometimes surgery is necessary. 

• Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can cause permanent paralysis, and it can affect a person’s quality of life. The spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae in the spine, and it is essential to many functions of the body. A person can lose motor function and/or feeling depending on the injury. The healing process from a spinal cord injury is painful, and victims often face surgery and therapy. If a person is paralyzed, he or she may not be able to return to work at all, and his or her potential earnings may be compromised. 

Contact a Larimer County Back and Neck Injury Lawyer

Back or neck pain may seem like an annoyance, but it can be debilitating, depending on the severity of the injury. If left untreated, injuries to the back or neck can even result in partial or permanent paralysis. Any type of injury that leaves you unable to work can be catastrophic to your family’s livelihood. For work-related injuries where you have the right to benefits, contact a dedicated and experienced Fort Collins workers’ compensation attorney. Call our office today at 970-225-2190 to schedule your free consultation. 

Sources:

https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/patient/conditions/low-back-pain/about-back-spine-neck-shoulder-pain-statistics

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/statute-rules-guidance