If your day-to-day job involves moving heavy office equipment, loading supplies into a truck or moving patients, there is a pretty good chance you may experience some type of back pain at some point. Even a relatively minor back injury can lead to very debilitating and painful pain. If you experience back pain that you believe is work-related, you may be eligible for financial restitution through a workers’ compensation claim.
Workers’ comp benefits are designed to help injured workers pay for the resulting medical bills and lost wages among other damages. To successfully pursue your benefits, however, you must prove that your back injuries are work-related. And this can be a lot tougher than you think.
Susceptibility to back injuries at work
Every occupation has its share of hazards. However, certain on-job tasks place workers at a greater risk of sustaining back injuries. Such tasks include standing for long hours, lifting heavy objects or engaging in other work-related activities that strain the back. Some of the occupations at risk of back injuries include nurses, landscapers, retail clerks, warehouse and construction workers.
It is important to understand, however, that any job can leave you with back pain. So how do you establish that your work has something to do with your back pain?
Certainly, one of the most challenging parts of pursuing a workers’ compensation claim is linking your injuries to your work. It is not uncommon for some employers and insurance companies to argue that your back pain is merely age-related.
Here are some of the tips that can help you strengthen your workers’ compensation claim:
- Document your pain as much as you can
- Seek medical evaluation from a reputable healthcare provider
- Inform your employer of workplace incidents that might contribute to your back injury like slips and falls
If you sustain work-related back injuries, there is help out there. Learning more about Iowa workers’ compensation laws can help you put forth a credible case for your workplace injury.
