The Most Simple Guide to Workers Comp for Overextension Injuries

When it comes to accidents in the workplace, overextension injuries take the crown. They are the most common type of workplace injury in the country, leading to billions of dollars of medical bills and lost wages every year.

Overextension injuries occur when you put too much strain on your body’s ligaments and muscles. They usually happen when you lift or pull heavy weights, but can occur with just about any motion.

Most overextension injuries affect the back, which can make lifting and carrying objects painful. These injuries can often linger for long periods, and they may get worse if you continue to work.

If you’ve suffered an overextension injury while on the job, you may be able to collect workers comp benefits. These can cover medical costs and make up for lost income.

As with any workplace injury, your best option after an accident is to reach out to an experienced workers comp attorney. They can help you file a claim and ensure that aggressive insurance companies don’t take you for a ride.

Some Common Varieties Of Overextension Injuries

Overextension injuries are so common because they can occur in just about any job that requires pulling or lifting heavy weights.

Lifting is the cause of over half of the overextension injuries that occur in workplaces. Holding and pulling are next up, causing over 30% of overextension injuries.

If you’ve suffered an overextension injury, you’ve likely either had a sprain or a strain. Although similar, these two injuries are a bit different.

Sprains happen when you damage the ligaments, which connect bones to other bones. There are three different degrees of sprains:

First Degree Sprains

With these sprains, the ligaments are lightly stretched, leading to some pain and swelling, as well as some minor movement issues. These sprains usually heal within a week.

Second Degree Sprains

With a second degree sprain, the ligaments are stretched to a greater extent, and they may be partially torn. You will often notice moderate pain and swelling, and moving the injured area can be difficult

Third Degree Sprains

In the case of a third degree sprain, the ligament is fully torn or ruptured, leading to severe pain and swelling. Since the ligament is torn, you may be unable to move the injured area. Surgery may be required to fix the tear.

Unlike sprains, strains are injuries that occur to your muscles and tendons. They also come in three degrees:

First Degree Strains

Some stretching and tearing of soft tissue, with mild pain and swelling. You may have some movement issues, but they usually go away within a few days.

Second Degree Strains

In the case of a second degree strain, the tendons or muscles are torn to a greater extent, leading to moderate to severe pain and swelling. You may also have difficulty moving the injured area.

Third Degree Strains

With a third degree strain, the muscle has completely separated from the tendon, leading to severe pain and swelling. Since the muscle is not connected to the tendon, you will have limited mobility, and surgery may be required.

Sprains and strains often occur in unison, especially with serious overextension injuries.

Most Commonly Injured Body Parts

When it comes to overextension injuries, the back is by far the most commonly injured area. The shoulders are also injured frequently, making up over 10% of overextension injuries.

No matter where your overextension injury occurs, it can leave you out of work for an extended period. They can also require quite a bit of medical care, including surgeries.

What You Should Do After An Overextension Injury

If you’ve been involved in an accident at work and suffered an overextension injury, then you could be facing a significant amount of lost income, plus plenty of medical bills.

A workers comp claim is the best way to make sure that your lost wages are covered and that you can pay for your medical expenses. There are a few different types of benefits that you can receive, depending on the severity of your overextension injuries.

Medical Bills

If you suffered an overextension injury, then workers comp may cover a portion of your medical costs, even if you are covered by your own insurance policy.

Temporary Disability Benefits

In the event that you are unable to return to work for a while after your injury, workers comp can make up for your lost wages.

Permanent Disability Benefits

With a severe overextension injury, you may not be able to return to work. In this case, you may be entitled to permanent disability benefits, which pay you a portion of the wages that you lose.

Vouchers For Job Training

With some overextension injuries, you may be unable to return to your previous job, as the injury prevents you from lifting heavy weights. Workers comp may pay for a job training voucher that allows you to find another job.

Benefits In The Event Of Death

If you lost a loved one due to an accident on the job, then workers comp may provide benefits to cover a portion of your family’s lost income, as well as final expenses.

Filing A Workers Comp Claim

If you suffer an overextension injury at work, make sure you get appropriate medical care. This can prevent the injury from getting worse, and also gives you a stronger workers comp claim.

Once your medical care has been taken care of, you should report the accident to your employer and have them file a report.

The report that your employer files will be the most important document for your workers comp claim, so make sure that it’s detailed and accurate.

If your employer is not willing to provide you with the workers comp form, then try to get it from your company’s website, or ask another manager.

Once your employer has filled out their portion of the form, they should send it off right away to their insurance company. The insurance company should then notify you within two weeks on the status of your claim.

Insurance companies are required to report on the status of your claim within a certain period of time. If they do not, then they are forced to cover your injury.

Reach Out To A Workers Comp Attorney

The workers comp claim process can be confusing. There’s a lot to keep track of, and insurance companies will do just about anything they can to make the claim’s process more of a headache.

That’s why you should trust an experienced workers comp attorney to handle your claim for you. They can do the hard work while you focus on your recovery.

At Glacier Law, we have years of experience protecting workers, ensuring that they receive the benefits they are entitled to. We know how to deal with aggressive insurance companies, and we work with your employer and doctors so that you claim is error free.

Fill out our free case evaluation form online. We can discuss your injuries, as well as the type of benefits that you may be entitled to.