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Illinois Workers' Compensation: Back and Spine InjuriesWritten by: Michael J. Helfand Reputation Level 16
Posted over 2 years ago. Applies to Illinois, 2 helpful votes, 0 comments
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Herniated discs, etc.A herniated disc, also known as a bulging, ruptured or prolapsed disc, is a common back injury. Discs are pads of cartilage that separate your vertebrae and cushion the spine from stress or shocks. Discs can be injured from a one-time trauma, such as a car accident or lifting something heavy, or from repetitive motion. They also can deteriorate over time due to aging. As a result, you may feel pain or numbness in your back or legs, or even your feet. Other common injuries include back sprains, strains and fractures. More serious back and spine injuries can result in paralysis, including paraplegia or quadriplegia. 2
Workers' compensationIf your back injury was caused by your job, you are entitled to benefits under the workers' compensation system. The most important thing to do, whether you are injured suddenly or start to feel pain over time, is to see a doctor. Tell your doctor how you were injured. Also, notify your employer of your injury. After these initial steps, you'll want to file a claim with the Workers' Compensation Commission. You should be entitled to benefits, including 100% of your medical bills, lost wages for time off work, and more depending on the permanency of your injury. 3
Pre-existing conditionsIf you already had back problems before your job injury, you may be worried about whether you qualify for workers' comp. In Illinois, you are entitled to benefits if your job caused, or worsened, your condition. In other words, if you had a bad back but it was made worse because you had to bend and pick things up all day at work, then you can probably still get benefits. In these cases, your claim may be disputed by your employer or the insurance company. If this happens to you, you should hire a workers' compensation attorney to present your case. 4
Hiring an attorneyIf your back or spine injury occurred on the job, you should hire a workers' compensation attorney. If your injury happened when you were not at work, you should talk to a personal injury attorney. If someone's negligence led to your injury, they may recommend a lawsuit. Either way, talking to an experienced attorney is the best way to ensure that you are fully compensated for an injury. Additional ResourcesWhether you were hurt on the job or due to someone's negligence, we'll listen to your situation and point you in the right direction. We know and recommend attorneys with years of experience in handling back injury cases. Related Questions4 Attorney answers: 
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