Lumbar Injuries and Maryland Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Workers in Maryland can sustain various kinds of musculoskeletal injuries on the job, and these injuries can range widely in terms of their severity. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), back injuries are among the most commonly reported source of nonfatal injuries that result in missed workdays and workers’ compensation claims. They are also among the most prominent types of injury reported by employees who identify work-related musculoskeletal disorders due to accidents on the job or tasks requiring certain motions. One extremely common type of back injury is the lumbar injury.
What is a lumbar injury, and can affected employees be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits? Our Maryland workers’ compensation lawyers can tell you more below, and we can discuss the specific facts of your case with you today.
What is a Lumbar Injury?
What is a lumbar injury? Sometimes described more specifically as a lumbar strain or lumbar sprain, this is a particular type of back injury that affects a region of the lower back. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, lumbar injuries occur within or around the lumbar vertebrae, which are in a person’s lower back above the sacrum and coccyx. When a person sustains a lumbar sprain or strain, that injury can lead to additional injury to muscles and tendons if it is not properly treated.
Any actions that involve pushing or pulling, as well as heavy lifting or twisting, can result in a lumbar injury. Johns Hopkins Medicine explains that anyone can sustain a lumbar injury, but certain people may be more susceptible, including those with weaker abdominal muscles, with tight hamstrings, with a forward-titled pelvis, or with severe curvature of the lower back.
Types of Jobs Where Lumbar Injuries Occur Most Frequently
Lumbar injuries can happen in nearly any type of job, but they tend to occur with more frequency in certain kinds of work. According to the BLS, those include the following:
- Nurses and nursing assistants;
- Cleaners or custodians;
- Stock clerks;
- Maintenance workers;
- Repair workers;
- Heavy truck drivers; and
- Material movers.
Seeking Workers’ Compensation Benefits After a Lumbar Injury
A health care provider will need to diagnose a lumbar injury. If you have suffered a lumbar injury, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
To receive workers’ compensation in Maryland, you must prove that your injury arose out of and occurred within the course of your employment. Our lawyers can help you to gather the information you need to prove your eligibility for workers’ compensation coverage after a lower back injury.
Contact Our Maryland Workers’ Compensation Lawyers for Help with Your Claim
If you suffered a lumbar injury or another type of back injury at work, you could be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. If you are determined to be eligible, your workers’ compensation benefits will include coverage for your medical care along with payment for lost wages. You may also be eligible for disability payments depending on your specific circumstances. To find out more about your options, you should get in touch with one of the experienced Maryland workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC today.
Sources:
bls.gov/opub/ted/2018/back-injuries-prominent-in-work-related-musculoskeletal-disorder-cases-in-2016.htm
hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/lumbar-strain-weight-lifters-back
