$290,000 Workers’ Compensation Settlement for Back, Spinal, and Nerve Injuries
Settlement for a Public Works Employee Injured While Digging
While working for the public works department of a Chicago suburb, our client injured his back while digging to repair a water main break. About a week later, he slipped and fell while on the job, causing even more severe back injuries. His injuries resulted in spinal and nerve damage and required multiple surgeries, including a laminectomy revision.
Our attorney filed a claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. After pursuing the claim, Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC secured a $290,000 workers’ compensation award to assist this injured worker with his financial needs and continued medical treatment.
Back, Spinal, and Nerve Damage After a Work Injury
Back injuries can range from painful strains to serious spinal conditions requiring surgery. When a workplace accident damages discs, nerves, vertebrae, or the spinal cord, the injury may affect strength, movement, sensation, mobility, and the ability to return to regular job duties.
MedlinePlus explains that the spinal cord carries signals between the body and the brain, and that spinal cord injuries can disrupt those signals. Depending on the injury, treatment may involve medication, bracing, traction, surgery, rehabilitation therapy, mobility aids, or assistive devices.
Workers with serious spinal or nerve injuries may face extended treatment, pain management, physical therapy, work restrictions, repeat surgery, and uncertainty about future earning capacity. These issues can make the value and handling of a workers’ compensation claim especially important.
Why Workers’ Compensation Insurance Companies May Deny Claims
Many injured employees assume that any injury at work will automatically be accepted as a workers’ compensation claim. Although many on-the-job injuries are covered, insurance companies sometimes dispute whether the injury qualifies, whether the treatment is reasonable, or whether the worker is entitled to the full benefits being claimed.
Workers’ compensation insurers may challenge claims for many reasons, including:
- Disputing whether the injury was work-related: The insurer may argue that the injury did not arise out of and in the course of employment.
- Claiming a personal detour: The insurer may argue that the worker briefly stepped away from job duties for a personal reason when the injury occurred.
- Alleging horseplay: If the worker was injured while joking around or engaging in non-work activity, the insurer may claim the injury is not covered.
- Raising misconduct or safety-rule issues: The insurer may argue that the worker violated safety rules or refused required protective equipment.
- Questioning employment status: If the worker is labeled as an independent contractor, the insurer may dispute whether an employer-employee relationship existed.
- Disputing medical causation: The insurer may claim the back, spinal, or nerve condition came from a prior injury, degeneration, or another non-work-related cause.
- Raising filing or notice issues: If required notices or filings are delayed, the insurance company may try to use those issues to challenge the claim.
- Disputing the extent of disability: Even when the injury is accepted, the insurer may argue over work restrictions, disability benefits, permanent injury, or settlement value.
Common Disputes in Serious Back Injury Claims
Serious back injury cases often involve more than one medical issue. A worker may have disc damage, nerve compression, radiating pain, weakness, numbness, surgical hardware, scar tissue, or a prior history of back problems. Insurance companies may use these complications to argue that only part of the condition is related to work.
In cases involving surgery, an attorney may need to review medical records, diagnostic imaging, operative reports, therapy notes, work restrictions, wage records, job duties, and the opinions of treating physicians. The goal is to show how the work accident caused or aggravated the condition and what benefits are owed under Illinois law.
Legal Help After a Work-Related Spinal Injury
Even if an employer or insurance company begins paying benefits, that does not always mean the worker is receiving everything available under the law. Disputes may arise over unpaid medical bills, temporary disability, permanent disability, vocational issues, future treatment, or whether a settlement fairly accounts for the long-term harm.
Since 1990, Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC has represented injured workers in Chicago and throughout Illinois. If you suffered a serious back, spinal, or nerve injury at work, contact us for a free case evaluation at (312) 243-9922 or contact us online.
