Back Injury at Work Compensation Solicitors.

Your back plays a part in virtually every movement you make, which leaves it open to injury from a variety of different sources. Some of the most common causes of back injuries in the workplace can include:

• Lifting, pushing, or pulling heavy objects
• Repetitive movements
• Awkward movements
• Bending and twisting
• Poor posture whilst sat at a desk
• Sitting for long periods of time
• Standing for long periods of time
• Long distance driving
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Stress or trauma to the back
• Being in a vehicle collision

Many back injuries at work can be attributed to improper training in manual handling, or the absence of tools which negate the need to bend, twist, and move your back awkwardly.

If your employer has been negligent in providing appropriate equipment or training to allow you to perform your job safely, and you have sustained a back injury as a result, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

The symptoms of a back injury typically depend on which area of the back was injured in the accident. However, some of the most common symptoms of a back injury include:

• Lower back pain
• Upper back pain
• Muscle stiffness
• Numbness and tingling
• Weakness
• Muscle spasms
• Pain spreading to the legs
• Loss of balance
• Immobility

If you have been involved in a workplace accident and you begin to notice any of the above symptoms, or any type of pain or discomfort in your back, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.

Your doctor will usually examine you and ask some questions in order to establish the cause and severity of your pain, and they may also refer you for further testing such as an x-ray or MRI scan.

In the first instance, your GP will perform a physical examination and ask you about your symptoms in order to ascertain what has happened and what type of injury you are suffering from.

If the initial physical examination is inconclusive or a more detailed assessment is required, your GP will refer you to a hospital for further testing. This will usually involve an x-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan in order for the doctor to see inside your body and identify any broken or fractured vertebrae, and locate any bulging or herniated discs accurately.

The treatment prescribed for a back injury will typically depend on the type of injury that has occurred, and the level of pain and discomfort the patient is experiencing. Some of the different treatments available include:

• Analgesics such as ibuprofen, paracetamol, naproxen, or codeine
• Heat or ice packs to ease the pain and reduce any swelling
• Physiotherapy to strengthen the back and core muscles
• Surgery to correct a herniated disc or a fracture

In many cases, a combination of different treatments will often be recommended for patients. For example, your doctor may suggest taking anti-inflammatory medication to manage the pain, and also refer you to a physiotherapist to aid your long term recovery.

Some back injuries can cause acute pain which clears up after a short time, leaving the individual able to resume their usual daily activities without any further problems.

However, some back injuries can cause chronic pain which affects the person on a long term basis, potentially for the rest of their lives.

A back injury can have a long term effect on a person in the following ways:

• Chronic and debilitating pain
• Ongoing issues with mobility
• Bladder or bowel dysfunction
• Anxiety and/or depression
• Social isolation and/or agoraphobia
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Paraplegia, tetraplegia, or quadriplegia

Suffering from the long term effects of a back injury can also mean that you have to give up your job, make adaptations to your home and/or vehicle, and in some cases you may require outside help from a carer to carry out personal care and assist with daily tasks.

If you have suffered from any kind of long term physical and psychological injuries after a back injury accident at work you may be able to claim compensation. Our specialist personal injury lawyers can help you to navigate the legal process whilst also aiding you in your recovery.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 your employer is required by law to ensure that you are able to carry out your work as safely as is reasonably possible. This will look different in each individual workplace depending on the nature of the work being carried out. For example, if you work in an office your employer should provide a suitable desk and chair in which you can work comfortably without placing undue strain on your back. Whilst if you work in an environment where manual handling of large or heavy objects is required, your employer should ensure that you are adequately trained in safe lifting procedures, and that you have access to equipment and machinery to aid in moving heavy loads.

If you have been involved in a back injury accident at work you will need to be able to prove that your employer’s negligence was the cause of the accident. You can do so by gathering medical records, accident report forms including those submitted to RIDDOR, witness statements, CCTV footage, and photographs of your injuries and the scene of the accident. A specialist personal injury solicitor can help you to put together a portfolio of evidence to support your claim, and the team here at Lanyon Bowdler have a wealth of experience and expertise in this area so please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information.

Your employer owes you a duty of care to ensure that the workplace is a safe environment in which to carry out your job role. A breach in this duty of care could be considered negligence, and if the negligent actions of your employer have led to your back injury accident there is a strong chance that your compensation claim will be successful.

The kind of actions that constitute employer negligence could include:

• Failure to provide suitable training
• Failure to provide suitable equipment
• Failure to provide adequate rest breaks
• Failure to ensure the work environment is free from trip hazards
• Failure to carry out regular risk assessments in the workplace
• Failure to provide sufficient supervision and support to employees

This list is not exhaustive, and if your employer was negligent in any other way which led to your back injury, you may be able to make a claim for compensation. After your injury it is important to proceed quickly with your legal case as you only have three years from the date of the accident in which to begin your claim, unless you were a minor at the time of the accident, in which case the three year period would begin when you turn 18.