If you suffered an injury on the job in North Carolina, you may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits. This compensation is available for many types of work-related injuries and illnesses, including ones caused by workplace accidents, repetitive motion, hazardous exposure, and occupational diseases.
Back Injuries
Back injuries are some of the most common workplace injuries, often affecting workers who lift heavy objects as part of their job duties. Construction, trucking, manufacturing, warehouse, and other manual labor workers frequently seek workers’ compensation for back injuries.
Many back injuries result from a one-time event, such as when muscles get strained or a disc becomes herniated when lifting something heavy. However, that’s not the only cause. They can also result from repetitive motions and standing for extended periods, though these may be harder to connect to work.
These injuries can result in a wide range of symptoms depending on whether the injury primarily affects the muscles, spinal discs, or spinal cord. Many back injuries result in chronic pain, but more severe injuries can even lead to paralysis.
Slip and Fall Injuries
Slips and falls are one of the leading causes of workers’ compensation injuries. These incidents impact workers across all industries and can result in injuries ranging from mild to severe.
On the severe end, falls can lead to spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis, traumatic brain injuries causing permanent physical and cognitive disability, and even death. In fact, workplace falls are so dangerous that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says 20 to 30 percent cause moderate to severe injuries. Plus, 15 percent of all workplace deaths are from slips, trips, and falls.
Even falls that aren’t life-threatening can lead to injuries that require long-term physical therapy. For example, workers’ compensation settlements for knee injuries are common after slip and fall accidents.
