Howdy! I'm Dan Smith and I live with my wonderful family in Perth. This is my legal blog which aims to look at every part of the legal system. I should point out that i'm not a lawyer myself. However, my good friend Stan has been representing people in court for many years. I find Stan's work fascinating and I love asking him questions. I have even done a bit of my own research into the legal system. I decided to pull everything together here so I could organise my thoughts while also providing useful info for others. Thanks for checking out my blog!
Among the many different types of injuries you may obtain in the workplace, orthopaedic injuries are some of the most common. Slips and falls are well known, but they may not occur as often as people experience lower back pain from repetitive lifting.
Orthopaedic injuries manifest themselves in multiple ways, from prolonged movement in your knees to repetitive neck adjustments in front of a computer screen.
The challenge with orthopaedic injuries is proving that they arose due to work-related activity. Indeed, employers may argue that your wrist pain occurred from playing a sport during your free time as opposed to lifting heavy boxes at work. This is why you should be aware of what orthopaedic injuries are, how they arise and how you can claim compensation.
1. Lower back pain
Lower back pain is perhaps the most common type of orthopaedic injury you can obtain while at work. Lower back pain is caused by the exertion of too much force on the spine, which results in discomfort. Displaced discs along your vertebrae could also cause such pain.
To present a strong case for lower back pain compensation, you'll need to show a direct relationship between your work-related duties and the injury. Specialists such as chiropractors can also provide an official diagnosis that you can use to claim compensation.
2. Neck pain
While at work, you may crane your neck more often than you think. Injured neck muscles from heavy lifting and frequent movement of the upper head area may result in stiffness, inflammation or even nerve damage.
As you would expect, treating neck pain can be a costly affair. You'll need a combination of chiropractic treatment and surgery (depending on the extent of damage). This is why proving that the neck pain arose from work will be critical when claiming the compensation you deserve.
3. Torn rotary cuff
Rotary cuff tears are another common type of orthopaedic injury. A torn cuff will make it uncomfortable (or impossible) to lift your arm straight in the air.
This injury not only affects your ability to work, but it may also degrade your quality of life. Imagine struggling to put a shirt on or extend your arms when reaching for the top cabinet. Seeking timely compensation for a torn rotary cuff may prevent the injury from becoming disabling.
The key to a successful claim is filing on time, proving your injury via detailed medical records and working with a compensation lawyer.
Share18 November 2019
