How Much Compensation Can You Get for a Back Injury at Work?

How much compensation you can get for a back injury at work depends on several things, like the severity of your injury, how long you are out of work, and whether other parties share liability. 

Workers’ compensation may cover medical care and part of your lost income, while a personal injury lawsuit could allow you to seek additional damages. 

These cases can be complex, but our Raleigh workplace injury lawyer will guide you through the process and fight for the financial recovery you deserve. If you have suffered a serious back injury, you can call our firm today for a free consultation.

Understanding Compensation for Back Injuries at Work

When you suffer a back injury on the job, you may be entitled to receive various kinds of financial recovery. In North Carolina, workers’ compensation benefits generally cover:

• Medical treatment: Doctor’s visits, hospital stays, surgery, medications, and physical therapy.
• Lost wages: A portion of your paycheck if you cannot work while recovering.
• Disability benefits: Payments if your injury causes long-term or permanent limitations.

Our Raleigh workers’ compensation lawyer will evaluate all your options and pursue the maximum compensation available.

Compensation You Could Get for a Back Injury in North Carolina

The financial recovery available in back injury cases depends on the facts of your accident and the type of claim you file. Workers’ compensation covers certain benefits, but if a third party shares fault, you may also pursue a personal injury lawsuit. 

Together, these options can help address your short-term and long-term needs.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits

North Carolina law requires most employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance. These benefits are designed to cover essential costs when you get hurt on the job:

• Medical expenses: Doctor’s appointments, hospital bills, medications, physical therapy, and even long-term rehabilitation.
• Wage replacement: Typically, two-thirds of your average weekly wage while you cannot work.
• Disability benefits: Temporary or permanent benefits depending on how your injury affects your ability to work.
• Vocational rehabilitation: Training or job placement services if you cannot return to your previous line of work.

These benefits are limited, but they provide a foundation for injured workers to recover without paying out of pocket.

Personal Injury Damages

When another party outside your employer is responsible for your accident — such as a careless driver, contractor, or equipment manufacturer — you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit. 

This type of legal action allows you to pursue damages not included in workers’ compensation:

• Full lost wages: Unlike workers’ comp, a personal injury claim can cover your entire income loss.
• Pain and suffering: Compensation for the physical pain, emotional distress, and daily struggles caused by your back injury.
• Loss of enjoyment of life: If your injury prevents you from enjoying hobbies, family activities, or normal independence.
• Future medical care: Coverage for surgeries, therapies, or assistive devices you may need years after your injury.

A personal injury lawsuit can lead to higher recovery amounts than workers’ compensation alone. In North Carolina, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is generally three years from the date of the accident under G.S. § 1-52. 

Wrongful Death Damages

Unfortunately, some back injuries can be fatal, especially when they involve spinal cord trauma or complications. Families may pursue a wrongful death lawsuit to recover:

• Funeral and burial costs
• Medical bills from before the loved one’s death
• Loss of financial support that the family member would have provided
• Loss of companionship and guidance

Under G.S. § 1-53, families usually have two years from the date of death to sue for damages.

Short-Term vs. Long-Term Damages

If you or a loved one is recovering from a work-related back injury, you must think about how it will affect you now and in the future. Consider your:

• Short–term damages, which may include emergency room bills, prescription costs, and wages lost during your first weeks or months of recovery.
• Long–term damages, which may include ongoing physical therapy, adaptive equipment like wheelchairs, chronic pain management, and reduced earning capacity if you cannot return to the same job or line of work.

Our personal injury lawyer in Raleigh will review your case to make sure every cost — present and future — is included in your claim. This helps prevent situations where you settle too soon and later find yourself struggling to pay for ongoing care.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Workplace Back Injuries?

Many people assume only the employer is involved in a work injury case, but liability is often more complicated. While workers’ compensation typically covers employer liability, you may also have claims against third parties if their negligence played a role in your accident.

Possible liable parties include:

• Equipment manufacturers: If defective machinery caused your back injury.
• Subcontractors or vendors: If unsafe work practices or negligence contributed to the accident.
• Property owners: If unsafe property conditions led to a fall or other injury.
• Drivers: If your back injury was caused in a motor vehicle crash while you were working.

Back injury accidents can happen in many places, such as:

• Construction sites
• Warehouses and factories
• Offices with unsafe conditions
• Company vehicles or delivery routes

A lawyer from our firm will investigate the cause of your injury, identify all responsible parties, and pursue every possible source of financial recovery.

Having our workers’ compensation lawyer on your side can help ensure no potential claim is overlooked.

Why Legal Help Matters in Work-Related Back Injury Cases

Back injury cases often involve medical complexity, overlapping laws, and powerful insurance companies. Without help, it is easy to miss benefits or damages you deserve.

Our workplace back injury lawyers in Raleigh will:

• Investigate what caused your injury.
• Handle communication with insurers.
• Collect medical evidence and expert opinions.
• Pursue workers’ compensation and third-party claims (if applicable).
• Calculate the full value of your damages.
• Represent you in negotiations or court if needed.

Legal support helps level the playing field so you can focus on healing while our lawyer handles the process.

Common Back Injuries From Workplace Accidents

Back injuries can range from mild to life-changing. Some of the most common types include:

• Herniated or slipped discs
• Spinal fractures
• Muscle and ligament strains
• Nerve damage
• Spinal cord injuries that may lead to paralysis

These injuries often require long recovery times and may prevent you from returning to the same kind of work. Some workers face chronic pain or permanent disability.

If You Suffered a Back Injury at Work, Here’s What to Do Next

The steps you take after a workplace accident can affect your health and your claim or lawsuit. Here’s what you should do:

• Report the injury: Tell your employer that you’ve hurt your back as soon as possible. Delays may hurt your case.
• Get medical care: Follow through with treatment and keep all medical records.
• Document what happened: Write down details, take photos if possible, and gather witness information.
• File a workers’ compensation claim: This ensures your medical bills and lost wages are considered.
• Call our workplace injury attorney: Legal help can protect your rights and make sure your claim is handled correctly.

You should also avoid giving recorded statements to insurance adjusters without legal advice, since these can be used to reduce your damages. You can contact our firm first before speaking with an insurance company. We will talk to them for you.

We Will Help You Seek Damages for a Work-Related Back Injury

When you are dealing with the pain and stress of a serious back injury, the last thing you should have to worry about is fighting with insurers or trying to understand confusing rules about compensation for a back injury suffered at work. 

When you come to us, we will determine how much you can recover in damages and explain your options. Whitley Law Firm has been standing up for injured workers in North Carolina since 1974. We use more than 120 years of combined experience to secure the compensation our clients deserve. 

We treat every client with care and compassion, taking time to answer questions and ease concerns right away. Call today for a free consultation and learn how we will help you move forward after a painful injury.

Our team is available 24/7, and we return all phone calls within 24 hours.