Nationwide, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of medical professionals—doctors, nurses, CNA’s, physician’s assistants—that are suffering back injuries. This is rapidly becoming the most common on-the-job injury for those working in the medical profession, and I have written the following blog post to provide answers to commonly asked questions regarding back injuries. Several factors are currently converging here in Mississippi to exacerbate this problem, which I will describe in detail below. I will also explain the steps you should take if you sustain a back injury while on the job.
If you or a loved one is a medical professional that sustained an injury at work, you will need to have experienced workers’ compensations counsel help you attain your fair share of compensation for your injury, loss of income, recovery, and other harms. Barrett Law has the experience to help you. Contact us now at (601) 790-1505.
Why are there an Increasing Number of Back Injuries in the Medical Profession?
Several factors are converging to create a dangerous situation for Mississippi medical professionals. First, the medical professional population is aging. The baby boomers are beginning to age out of the workforce, but because pensions have given way to less reliable 401k-type retirement plans, many remain in the workforce longer than their bodies will allow. As a result, this demographic is more susceptible to injuries of all types. Second, medical facilities have cut back on staffing, often relying on fewer workers to work longer hours and perform more work. Working in the medical field usually requires lifting and moving patients; with fewer workers, the remaining staff must engage in that many more lifts per shift. Third, there is an increasing number of immobile patients in medical centers due to the obesity epidemic and an aging population. As a result, occupational injuries related to lifting are on the rise.
What Should You Do if You Experience a Back Injury While at Work
You have a right to file a workers’ compensation claim for any injury incurred at work or because of work. This is true even if your own mistake, negligence, or recklessness played into your injury. Employers pay into workers’ compensation insurance for all injuries, regardless of their cause.
If you are injured at work, be sure to follow your employer’s reporting guidelines explicitly. Regardless of the guidelines, be sure to report your injury immediately and in writing. If you fail to put your report in writing, it can be “forgotten,” and your claim can be denied if it is not timely. Worse, even if your report is timely, your employer can claim that some outside of work injury was the real cause of your injury, leading to a denial.
Once you have reported your injury, seek medical attention immediately. Attaining an unbiased, medical professional’s assessment of your injury is essential to recovering your fair share of compensation. This is true even if you “feel OK” after an injury. Back injuries usually take days or weeks to develop, and you want to attain a baseline assessment of your health immediately after an accident. Finally, once you have notified your employer of your injury and attained medical help, contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney immediately.
What Should You Do if You Were Injured at Work?
If you are a medical professional and sustained an injury while at work, regardless of fault, you have every right to file a workers’ compensation claim. You should be compensated for medical costs, loss of work, and damages related to the retaliation such as back pay and loss of future earnings.
Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation law firm, to represent you if you are a medical professional that suffered an injury in the workplace. Contact us now at (601) 790-1505. Our Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Attorney looks forward to making a difference for you.
