Does this sound like you? If so, you aren’t alone. 31 million people across the United States experience back pain at some point every day. In fact, 80 percent of people experience lower back pain in their lifetime. If you think your back pain is associated with sitting all day, can you file a workers’ compensation claim? Let us explain.
The cause of your back pain might be difficult to determine. Because of this, the pain you are experiencing might be hard to blame on your job. You will need the help of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to prove that the cause of your back pain is related to sitting at your desk all day.
First and foremost, you need to speak to a medical professional before thinking about taking legal action. A doctor will be able to determine if your injury is an acute (specific) injury or an exposure injury. An acute injury occurs immediately or soon after an incident. An exposure injury takes longer, occurring over an extended period of time. Your back pain is most likely this type of injury which is caused by sitting day after day.
If the pain is continuous, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. If your doctor relates your back pain and possible injuries to sitting at work, you may have the grounds to file a workers’ compensation claim. You will also need to notify your employer immediately before filing a claim. Make sure that you remember when the pain began, along with records of your medical appointments.
Under New Jersey’s workers’ compensation law, employees must report injuries to their employers within 14 days of the incident. Since back pain is usually an exposure injury, complications may arise. That’s when you will need the help of an experienced attorney, like Anthony Carbone.
Other Health Impacts Associated with Sitting
Aside from back pain, constantly sitting at your desk can impact your health in a variety of ways. Sitting and the lack of movement can lead to:
- An unhealthy heart
- Weight gain
- A risk of diabetes
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): a clot than can from sitting too long
- More anxiety
- Your risk of cancer rising
These are some of the major health risks associated with sitting too much. If you are sitting at your desk right now, get up and take a walk around the office. It might save your life.
Did Sitting Cause Your Injury?
Then it’s time to contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone. We will make sure you get the compensation you deserve for your work injuries. Our law offices are one call or click away.