When you’re at work and you all of a sudden feel a tinge in your neck that you haven’t experienced before you may find yourself with an injury that could linger for days, weeks, even months. If that injury happened as a result of your duties at work, you may be able to file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim.
A neck injury can linger for many months after the incident occurred, and if it is not addressed immediately by a medical provider, it can become worse over time. It is critical that if you are injured in any way, but particularly an injury to your neck that you seek medical attention right away.
Anyone that has ever had a neck injury knows that often these types of injuries come out of nowhere, and it is very difficult to point to one incident or one moment that caused the injury so it is important that at the first pain that you feel in your neck you stop and address it. If you let it go on for too long you may find that you are uncertain of the origins of the injury and that could be problematic if you’re working on a report for a workplace injury.
Some injuries that you should be on the lookout for include, but are not limited to:
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Whiplash: This type of injury occurs when you are in a situation where your neck is severely jerked forward or backward in an unnatural motion. This is typically associated with auto accidents, but there are other ways to experience whiplash as well.
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Pinched nerve: Having a pinched nerve is something that can happen quickly and without much warning or it can be something that becomes sharper over time.
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Cervical dislocation: When a ligament in your neck becomes injured leading to the separation of two or more of the bones in your spine.
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Neck strain: This is another injury that can occur overtime and get worse as the days wear on, it is often associated with repetitive tasks in the workplace.
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Neck fracture/broken neck: One of the scariest and most serious injuries that can occur when dealing with your neck. This is usually brought on suddenly and will require immediate emergency medical attention.
Any injury that occurs at the workplace should be taken seriously. No matter how insignificant it may seem, if it is affecting your duties in your workplace you should report it and file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim. The first step is to report it to your immediate supervisor who will be required to fill out paperwork relating to the reported incident. If you are not sure how to proceed from there you may wish to speak with a board certified workers’ compensation attorney who can help guide you through the claims process. One of our attorneys can speak with you and work with you to protect your long-term interests.