Back/Neck Injuries
Offshore Injury Attorneys
Legal Representation for Victims of Offshore Back and Neck Injury
Maritime work is some of the most important work to the American economy. However, while lucrative, the work is often dangerous. Offshore back and neck injury are among the most common work-related injuries. They are often the result of the physically demanding and straining work of maritime workers. These types of injuries can lead to offshore workers missing out on work, in addition to mounting medical bills. While offshore workers aren’t covered by workers’ compensation, the Jones Act entitles them to some level of financial relief. If you’ve been injured on the job, call The Carlson Law Firm for a free consultation with an offshore back and neck injury lawyer.
Not only does our firm have more than 40 years of representing injured offshore workers—we also have top maritime injury attorney Reed Morgan. Morgan has achieved several significant trial victories and settlements for victims of offshore back and neck injury. If you have been injured on the job, contact our firm today to speak with a qualified offshore back and neck injury lawyer. Our firm is ready to advocate for your rights and hold the right parties accountable for your injury.
Causes of Offshore Back and Neck Injury
While trauma to the back, neck and spinal cord doesn’t usually result in death, it can lead to permanent disability. The vertebral column has several ligaments and muscles that protect the spinal cord and assist in movement. However, injury to any of these structures may cause significant and debilitating pain. There are countless hazards that put offshore work employees at-risk. Those causes include:
- Owner negligence
- Operator negligence
- Improper training
- Understaffing
- Lack of equipment
- Faulty machinery
- Improper procedures and operations
- Little to no safety equipment
- Failure to follow safety procedures
- Lack of safety procedures
- Unsafe working conditions
- Failure to follow state and federal regulations
Negligence and improper safety protocols can lead to different types of incidents that can serious injury or fatal hurt an offshore work employee, such as:
- A slip and fall on wet stairs, decks or gangplanks
- Improper moving/lifting of heavy equipment or cargo
- Fall from significant height
- Being hit by heavy equipment
The Carlson Law Firm has an offshore back and neck injury lawyer ready to assist you on your journey to recovery. Contact our firm today to discuss the specifics of your case.
Common Sources of Back Pain
The human back is a marvel in terms of its form and function. Because of its complexity, there are several interconnected and overlapping structures in the spine that can cause pain. The spine is highly prone to injury. Anything from sudden jolts to poor posture can lead to injury. Common causes of back pain include
- Irritation in the large nerves that run to the legs.
- Disc nerve irritation.
- Strain in the back muscles that support the spine.
- Any injuries to bones, ligaments or joints throughout the spine
Common Sources of Neck Pain
The medical term for the neck is the cervical spine. The neck is one of the more important body parts. While the neck is remarkably strong and flexible, it is also responsible for sending messages from the brain to control all aspects of the body. A healthy neck is well-balanced and allows from proper movement stresses. Common causes of neck pain include:
- Degenerative disc disease
- Neck strain
- Herniated discs
- Pinched nerves
- Infections
- Muscle strains
Types of Offshore Back Injuries
Whenever a maritime worker suffers back or neck injuries it can lead to life-altering damage. These injuries can be so debilitating that they prevent a person from returning to work or participating in the activities they used to enjoy. Many offshore back and neck injuries are the results of overuse, strain, strenuous activities, slip and falls and many others. The types of injuries that an offshore back and neck injury lawyer from The Carlson Law Firm can help with include:
Disc Injuries: The spinal disc acts as an elastic pivot providing stability and allowing a relatively wide range of motion in the lower back and neck. A spinal disc herniation, also known as a slipped disc, can result from several reasons. For example, trauma, lifting injuries or straining are connected to disc injuries.
Spinal Cord Injuries: This can be direct trauma to the spinal cord itself or the indirect damage to bones or tissue and vessels surrounding the spine. Spinal cord injuries can result in a severed spine, spinal cord, paraplegia, quadriplegia or other types of paralysis.
Fractured Vertebrae Injuries: Any break in the spinal column can lead to a fractured vertebrae injury.
Describing Your Pain is Important to Diagnosis
There is a lot of overlap between the nerve supply and most structures in the spine. This often makes it difficult or impossible for the brain to distinguish between injury to one structure or another. For example, a herniated disc can feel identical to a bruised muscle. For this reason, discussing your symptoms with your doctor is one of the most important steps to determining the cause of your pain and possible treatment.
There are three common classifications of back pain:
Axial pain. Often referred to as mechanical pain. Axial pain is often described in several ways. It can be a dull or sharp pain, constant or comes and goes. Muscle strains are the common cause for axial pains.
Referred pain. Characterized by dull and achy, this type of pain tends to move around and vary in intensity. For example, degenerative disc disease may cause referred pain to the hips or posterior thighs.
Radicular pain. Described as deep and searing pain. Radicular pain follows the path of the nerve into the arm or leg. It is often accompanied by numbness or weakness. The root cause of the pain is typically compression, inflammation or injury to the spinal nerve root. Other terms for radicular pain are sciatica or radiculopathy. Other conditions that cause radicular pain include herniated discs, spinal stenosis or spondylolisthesis.
Types of Disc Injuries
There are dozens of terms used to describe disc problems, however, there are only two main categories of disc problems.
- Degenerative Disc Disease: When pain originates from the disc, the patient will experience axial or referred pain. In many cases, this is simply part of getting older. Discs in the spine dry out and lose flexibility.
- Herniated Disc: Also called a slipped disc, this refers to the weakening or tearing of the outer ring slipping out of place. Most offshore workers who suffer a back or neck injury have a herniated disc.
A marker of degenerative disc disease is when the pain originates from the disc itself. Sufferers will often experience axial or referred pain
Symptoms of a Herniated Disc
The Carlson Law Firm puts our client’s medical treatment above all else. A qualified offshore back and neck injury lawyer from our firm can get you started on the path to a full physical, mental and financial recovery. If you or a loved one are suffering from any of the following symptoms, don’t hesitate to give us a call:
- Neck pain lasting for three weeks or more
- Back pain lasting for three weeks or more
- Tingling, numbness or weakness in the feet or hands
- Leg pain (sciatica)
- Pain in the buttocks radiating down the legs
- Difficulty sitting or standing for long periods of time
- Numbness or shooting pain in the legs
Slipped Disc Complications
While symptoms of a slipped disc can improve, they can also worsen. If left untreated, a slipped or herniated disc can lead to permanent nerve damage. In some cases, a slipped disc cuts off nerve impulses to the cauda equina nerves in your low back and legs. When this occurs, you could lose bowel or bladder control.
Another long-term complication is known as saddle anesthesia. In this case, a slipped disc compresses certain nerves that can cause you to lose feeling in your inner thighs, the back of your legs and around your rectum.
Proving Negligence And Damages
The Jones Act protects offshore work employees. It allows you to claim several types of damages. Proving your company negligent may seem like an uphill battle, however, that is not the case. Unlike traditional personal injury lawsuits, in an offshore case, even if your employer is found only 5 percent at fault, you can still recover damages.
Much like a traditional personal injury case, damages include:
- Present and future medical bills
- Rehabilitation expenses (such as physical therapy and medications)
- Present and future lost wages
Back and neck injury can be extremely painful. But you can get relief. The first step our firm will take is making sure you are getting the medical treatment you need for your physical recovery. Contact an offshore back and neck injury lawyer from The Carlson Law Firm for a free consultation. We can answer any questions you may have about the Jones Act and how our firm will handle your case.
AN OFFSHORE BACK AND NECK Injury LAWYER FROM THE CARLSON LAW FIRM CAN HELP
These types of injuries can be debilitating, severely limiting or eliminating the worker’s ability to return to the job or work in other fields. They often also require costly surgeries, medical treatment, physical therapy and other follow-up procedures. As the medical bills pile up, and the worker is unable to work, the financial situation can become dire.
Working aboard ships and other offshore facilities is a risky and demanding occupation. Workers risk exposure to many potential dangers that can lead to physical injuries. Because of this, federal law requires that companies protect their employees from potential hazards. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. For many offshore work employees, an offshore back and neck injury may occur when employers are negligent. And this is why the law still entitles you to certain protections. Your company may be required to help you or your family pay for medical bills and other damages as a result of their negligence. A qualified offshore back and neck injury lawyer can help you determine what your next steps are.
If you or someone you love was injured or fatally injured as a result of an offshore back and neck injury, you may be entitled to the compensation you so rightly deserve. Contact the Carlson Law Firm today for a free, no obligation, consultation with our offshore back and neck injury lawyer, Reed Morgan. If you are looking for prompt, personal and proven representation of your offshore injury, Jones Act claim or any other Maritime Law claim, The Carlson Law Firm is here to help. Above all, our team of attorneys, specialists, and research associated has the experience and resources to guide you through your legal journey and help you secure the best results possible.
