Did you suffer a serious back injury while working on a construction jobsite? If so, it is imperative that you act quickly and contact a NYC construction accident lawyer at Lurie, Ilchert, MacDonnell & Ryan LLP.

Handling Back Injuries from a Construction Accident

Although construction workers are susceptible to a wide array of injuries, due mainly to the fact that they are expected to work under such hazardous conditions, back injuries have grown to be the most common. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), back injuries account for roughly 24% of all work-related injuries.

Although this number has been greatly reduced over the last decade, construction workers across the country are still at risk. There has been more of an emphasis on implementing preventative measures and pushing for more comprehensive safety training in the construction industry, but these efforts simply aren't enough to keep all workers safe from injury.

Facts About Back Injuries

As such, it still remains that nearly 222,300 work-related back injuries are suffered each and every year—according to the U.S. Department of Labor-Bureau of Labor Statistics. For this reason, the New York City construction accident attorneys at Lurie, Ilchert, MacDonnell & Ryan LLP would like to call attention to the ways in which you can recover compensation after sustaining such an injury. In most cases, a back injury will leave you unable to return to work for a period of time, so we would like to ensure that you are able to manage the cost of your medical treatment and rehabilitation as comfortably as possible. This can be done through the means of workers' compensation, but it is also important to understand that you possess rights under Labor Laws 240 and 241 in the event that you are wrongfully injured.

If you have suffered a back injury from a construction accident, speak with the NYC personal injury attorneys!

How are back injuries most commonly sustained in the workplace?

According to statistics, most back injuries are caused by repetitive use and over-exertion (62%). This is often true of construction workers, as many are expected to perform the same duties day-in and day-out. Not only can this put consistent strain on the lower back, but it can lead to a higher risk of injury in the event of a low-impact accident. Additionally, a substantial number of back injuries are caused by slip and fall incidents (23%). Even if the fall was from ground-level, it is fairly easy to damage this part of the body upon impact. Some other common causes may include:

• Using an improper lifting technique
• Repeatedly twisting, bending or stretching the back
• Maintaining an unnatural / slouched posture
• Remaining in an awkward position for too long
• Falling from a substantial height
• Consistently straining this area of the body
• Suffering an impact to the lower back

Tips for Preventing a Serious Back Injury

If you are currently employed in the construction industry, you are at risk of suffering a lower back injury. For this reason, we encourage you to learn more about the ways in which you can prevent repetitive-use strain. To start, it is important that you practice safe lifting techniques—as this is by far the most common cause of lower back injury.

This includes:

• Bending your knees
• Securing a firm grip
• Lifting slowly
• Keeping your body in a front-facing position

Twisting or jerking during this process could put serious stress on your back, so you should always make sure to take your time. Additionally, it may be a good idea to utilize a dolly and/or place objects on an elevated surface to eliminate unnecessary strain. Under more general circumstances, however, you should not hesitate to stretch and regularly rest your body before pushing yourself too far.

Contact a New York City Construction Accident Attorney Today

Recovering compensation may be a necessary step in the process of your recovery, so we would like to ensure that you are able to obtain the amount of money that you deserve. In order for us to do so, however, we need you to take the first step. All you have to do to get started is pick up the phone and call our office at (646) 461-4009 for a free initial consultation. From there, we can discuss the specific nature of your injury and figure out the most practical way in which to proceed. For this reason, we encourage you to let us put our three decades of experience to work for you as soon as possible by contacting our dedicated legal team today.