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Most Common On-the-Job Injuries from Car Accidents

By Patrick Alan Wagner | June 21, 2024

Most Common On-the-Job Injuries from Car AccidentsIndividuals involved in car accidents while on the job often sustain injuries to the back, upper extremities, and neck. These injuries are very painful, require significant time to fully recover, and may necessitate time off from work.

If you were involved in a car accident while on the job, you should hire a Chattanooga workers’ compensation attorney to assist you in determining your eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits. WC benefits may cover your medical expenses and part of your wages to help reduce your stress during this challenging time.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), injuries from car accidents and other motorized vehicle accidents are “the leading cause of work-related deaths.” These accidents typically occur on streets, highways, shoulder areas, bridge abutments, and more. Here are six of the most common on-the-job injuries that may result from car accidents:

  1. Herniated disc: A herniated disc occurs when one of the discs within your vertebrae moves or becomes damaged. Your discs are the cushions that are placed in between your bones (the vertebrae). When you are struck by another vehicle in a car accident, it is common for one of these discs to rupture, slip, or move out of place, resulting in a herniated disc. These injuries usually cause muscle weakness, pain, tingling, and numbness.
  2. Lumbar spine injuries: Lumbar spine injuries commonly affect the lower back directly below the thoracic and cervical area of the spine. These types of injuries usually cause a lot of pain that can extend from the lower back down to the feet, which should be evaluated and treated by a licensed medical professional. Most of the time, the doctor will find these injuries by ordering imaging tests, such as an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan.
  3. Lumbar sprains: When a person has lower back pain after a car accident, it might be due to a lumbar sprain. The sudden and strong impact of a car accident can severely damage the muscles and tissues in your back, which can cause serious inflammation and swelling that results in excruciating lower back pain and muscle spasms.
  4. Neck fractures: A neck fracture is a broken or cracked neck. There are seven bones located within the neck, and when one of these bones is broken or cracked during an on-the-job car accident, you could have a neck fracture. Neck fractures require immediate medical attention as they can quickly lead to paralysis or death.
  5. Shoulder fractures: A shoulder fracture, one of the most common upper extremity injuries resulting  after a car accident, when one of the three bones located within the shoulder joint is  broken. Most shoulder fractures heal with time by wearing a sling or brace for several weeks or months. However, it is common for severe shoulder fractures to require surgery to ensure that the bone is successfully repaired.
  6. Spondylolisthesis: Spondylolisthesis may occur after a car accident if the bones in the spine slip or move out of place, and cover or lie on top of the vertebra beside it. This injury typically occurs at the base or lower part of the spine. It can cause severe pain in the legs and lower back from the pressure placed on the nerves. Some people heal from this condition with rest, medications, and physical therapy. However, if the injury is very serious and the pain becomes unbearable, the doctor may suggest steroid injections or surgery.

If you or a loved one recently suffered an injury from an on-the-job car accident and need help with your claim, contact the Chattanooga workers’ compensation lawyers at Wagner & Wagner Attorneys at Law at your earliest convenience. Our attorneys will help you understand the process, inform you of your rights, and do everything possible to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. If you do not qualify for workers’ compensation, we also handle personal injury cases. To schedule a free consultation, call our office or fill out our contact form today. Our office is based in Chattanooga, and we serve clients in Cleveland, TN and North Georgia as well.

Posted in Workers Compensation