Neck injuries are among the most common injuries that are suffered by workers in the United States. Even minor neck injuries can limit your mobility, leaving you unable to drive, perform self-care tasks, or engage in work activities. Neck injuries often cause chronic pain, so victims spend the rest of their lives trying to manage pain through medication and limiting activities.

Learn more about common workplace neck injuries, and for more assistance with your workers’ compensation or accident injury claim, call Weaver Tidmore at 205-980-6065.

Car Accidents

Car accidents are among the most common causes of neck injuries overall, a trend that carries through in workplace injury causes. People who drive for work or as part of their work are always at risk, thanks to unsafe roadways and inattentive drivers. This type of injury can impact employees across a variety of industries, including:

• Delivery drivers in retail and food service settings
• Social workers and therapists who travel to see clients
• Travel nurses and CNAs who travel to different cities or between clients’ homes
• Business professionals who travel for work or between client sites
• Courier drivers

Injuries vary in severity, depending on the type of accident you’re in and the speed both parties were traveling. For example, a rear-end accident could leave you with a minor case of whiplash or a concussion. A head-on crash could cause serious damage to the neck and leave you completely immobilized.

Falls

Falls and “almost falls” can also leave victims with painful neck injuries. Even if a victim doesn’t actually fall, the muscle strain that goes into preventing a fall can leave you with muscle pain. These types of injuries are reported across almost every industry and workplace. However, these accidents can be fatal and severe in some settings, such as construction zones.

A fall from scaffolding could leave a victim paralyzed. They may be caused by liquid spills, unstable stairwells, poorly maintained stairs, slippery or icy walkways, or unexpected obstacles. Vertebral fractures, whiplash, and similar injuries can happen during falls. This is why many workplaces require employees to wear slip-proof footwear and abide by strict safety protocols.

Poor Training

Poor training is a root cause of many neck injuries. Most jobs include some type of lifting, whether it’s the occasional box of products or constant loading and lifting. Lifting is one activity commonly linked to neck injuries. In many cases, these injuries could be prevented with proper training. Employees are supposed to receive thorough training to minimize their risk of injuries, but some workplaces skimp on training because of time or personnel shortages.

Repetitive Motions that Cause Stress Injuries

These injuries, rather than being caused by one wrong movement or accident, build up over time as you repeat the same work tasks over and over. The constant strain being put on your neck causes chronic neck pain and stiffness. These injuries may be reported by those who spend a lot of time sitting at a desk, sitting behind the wheel of a car, standing at a register, or lifting items in the same way over and over.

Getting the Compensation You Deserve After a Neck Injury

No matter which type of neck injury you’ve suffered or when it started, it’s important to pursue the compensation you deserve after a workplace accident. It can be difficult to get compensation for chronic neck pain, since you may struggle to prove that it was caused by work or that it started at work.

If you have a workers’ compensation claim that gets denied, don’t panic. Some companies refuse claims that should be paid out, simply because there is not enough evidence presented or they think your injury may have occurred outside of work. Enlisting the help of a workers’ compensation attorney can help you protect your rights, strengthen your claim, and get the compensation you deserve.

If your workplace injury was caused by a third party, you may also be able to file a personal injury claim against the liable party. For example, if you are driving between work sites when you get in a car accident with a negligent driver, you might have a claim against the other driver.

Reach Out to Weaver Tidmore Now to Talk About Your Claim

Not sure how to recover compensation after an on-the-job injury? Let our team of experienced attorneys guide you through this process. Set up a consultation now by calling us at 205-980-6065 or getting in touch with us online.