Workers Compensation Neck Injuries

If you have suffered a neck injury at work, you should be receiving ALL of your benefits, not just the ones the insurance company wants to accept.

Nearly 3 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported by private industry employers in 2019. Of those cases, 20% were classified as musculoskeletal disorders, including neck injuries.

Neck injuries in the workplace can involve sudden pain while performing your duties on the job or maybe a gradual build-up of pain over a period of time. Some neck injuries can be minor and will resolve themselves, with minor medical treatment, within a matter of months. Others are permanent and may require continual medical attention, such as physical therapy.

As with any injury you receive on the job, it is important that you report your injury to your employer. They need to be notified that you have suffered a neck injury or one that has developed over time. At that time, your employer needs to report the matter to their workers’ compensation carrier. They will determine whether or not they will provide medical care. It is at this stage that one should contact a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer. The insurance company will often wrongly deny your claim, or they will take too long to process it.

Common Causes of Workplace Neck Injuries:

• Repetitive motion injuries
• Limited range of motion injuries
• Slipping, tripping or falling
• Injuries caused by falling objects

Neck injuries can cause referred pain in the head in the form of headaches. Pain can also radiate into your back, shoulders, arms, and fingers. Once you are able to receive treatment, make sure your healthcare professional is aware of all these issues. In more severe neck injury cases, surgery may be required. Neck injuries are some of the most serious work-related injuries. Even if you have a pre-existing neck condition, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation.

How Neck Injuries Can Affect Your Job

Decreased Productivity

Even workers who can return to their jobs with no changes in job duties may find that their neck injury affects their ability to work as efficiently as they did before the injury. The pain and stiffness associated with many neck injuries can make it difficult to concentrate on your work, which may also affect your ability to perform tasks as quickly as you did before.

This can lead to a decrease in productivity, which can have a negative impact on your job. In some cases, workers may even find that their neck injury leads to them being passed over for promotions or raises.

Changes in Job Duties

Often, workers with neck injuries can return to work but with modified duty. For example, an office worker who has suffered a neck injury may be able to return to work but may need to avoid tasks that require them to look down for long periods.

In other cases, workers may need to take on different job duties altogether. For example, a factory worker who can no longer lift heavy objects may be reassigned to a job that involves quality control or data entry.

While the worker still has a job, changing job duties can be a significant adjustment and may decrease pay.

Reduced Hours

Depending on the severity of the neck injury, workers may need to reduce their hours or take some time off work to recover. For many workers, this can be a significant financial burden. And with the loss of income comes the added stress of being able to pay bills and support yourself and your family.

These are just a few ways neck injuries can affect your job. If you have suffered a neck injury at work, it is highly recommended that you speak with an attorney specializing in workers’ compensation to learn more about your rights and options.

Workers Compensation Lawyers

James Hoffmann has practiced workers’ compensation law for over 30 years, possessing the negotiating skills, trial experience, medical knowledge, and insurance acumen to confidently pursue full compensation for every client. The Law Office of James M. Hoffmann represents clients throughout the State of Missouri and in the greater St. Louis area. We will explain the workers’ compensation process to clients and can get involved at any stage: initial application, resubmitting claims to insurance companies or appealing a case to an administrative law judge or a higher court.

Neck Injury Case Results

Workers Compensation Settlement: A city worker who performed hard labor such as cleaning out water basins with a fire hose, clearing weeds and brush, and concrete work was diagnosed with a herniated disc in his neck and degenerative disc disease or DDD.  The workers’ compensation insurance carrier denied the case alleging that the worker’s neck condition was age-related and not due to hard work performed over the years.  After we deposed our expert witnesses and immediately before trial, agreeing to be responsible for all medical bills (a hold harmless agreement), and agreeing to provided pain management and other future medical care, for life, to cure and relieve the effects of the neck injury.

Permanent Partial Disability: Warehouse worker suffered repetitive use injury to his neck from years of hard work.  The worker’s compensation carrier initially denied the claim.  After filing a hardship and retaining expert witnesses, the employer/insurer agreed to provide medical care.  A two cervical fusion was performed.  The employer/insurer paid for medical bills and wage loss.  Employee returned to work.  After deposing experts and preparing for trial, the case settled for permanent partial disability.

Workers Compensation settlement for a denied repetitive use neck injury.

Workers Compensation settlement for a denied neck injury.

Workers Compensation for a workers compensation disputed neck injury related to repetitive use lifting.

Workers Compensation for workers compensation settlement for neck and low back sprains.

Work-Related Injuries