Back injuries are the single most common type of workers’ compensation claim in New York, and Queens is no exception. With a workforce that spans construction, healthcare, transportation, and warehouse operations, back injuries here are an everyday reality for working people throughout the borough. At Bangel, Cohen & Falconetti, our Queens workers’ compensation lawyers represent Queens workers who have suffered back injuries on the job and need help getting the benefits they’re owed. If your back is keeping you from working, here’s what you should understand.
Why Back Injuries Are So Prevalent Among Queens Workers
The physical demands placed on workers throughout Queens create conditions where back injuries are almost inevitable for some people over time. Common contributing factors include the following:
- Daily heavy lifting without proper ergonomic support or training
- Long shifts, standing or sitting in fixed positions
- Operating vehicles like forklifts, trucks, or buses on rough roads
- Physically demanding patient care in healthcare settings across the borough
- Construction work that involves bending, twisting, and carrying on uneven ground
Many Queens workers also commute long distances and arrive at physically demanding jobs already fatigued, which further increases injury risk.
Types of Work-Related Back Injuries
Back injuries at work take different forms, and all of them can seriously limit your ability to function. They can also be very painful. Workers commonly suffer:
- Herniated or bulging discs in the lumbar spine
- Lumbar muscle strains and sprains from sudden force or overexertion
- Sciatica from nerve compression in the lower back
- Vertebral fractures from falls or heavy impacts
- Degenerative disc disease accelerated by years of physical work
When Insurance Companies Challenge Your Back Injury Claim
Back injury claims are frequently disputed because insurers know they are common and often expensive. They may argue your pain is from a pre-existing condition, that the injury is not as limiting as you claim, or that it did not actually happen at work. Independent medical exams scheduled by the insurance company often produce results that favor the insurer.
Our firm helps Queens workers prepare for these challenges by building thorough medical records and ensuring your treating physician’s opinion is clearly documented and on the record.
Treatment and Lost Wages: What Workers’ Comp Covers
Workers’ compensation insurance cover all medically necessary treatment for your back injury, including imaging, physical therapy, injections, and surgery if needed.
If your back injury prevents you from working, NY WCL § 15 provides wage replacement at two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to state maximums. The degree of disability, your average weekly wage, and applicable limits are taken into consideration.
How We Help Queens Workers with Back Injuries
Our firm takes back injury cases seriously because we know how much they affect people’s lives. Chronic back pain doesn’t just hurt physically. It affects sleep, mood, family life, and finances. If you’ve injured your back at work, don’t try to push through it and don’t wait to speak with someone about your rights.
Call 718-446-4400 or contact us online to speak with our team today about your back injury.
