If your job requires you to lift heavy materials or other lifting activities, you’re probably familiar with the strain those motions put on your body. Whether it’s loading and unloading cargo, reorganizing storage rooms, or simply retrieving supplies from the back, lifting presents a danger every time.
At work, you may be expected to lift anywhere between ten and fifty pounds. Your employer might not understand that weight is not a factor in strain; lifting any object has the potential to cause serious harm if done incorrectly or without proper training.
If you’ve become the victim of a lifting injury on the job in Atlanta, you’re not alone. Read on to see how you can see just compensation with help from a personal injury law firm like Powell & Associates.
Don’t Ignore the Signs of Lifting Injuries
Lifting injuries present themselves in many forms. Whether it be a slipped disc, IT Band Syndrome, Achilles Tendonitis, a pulled hamstring, Tennis Elbow, or Patellar Tendonitis, these injuries all have symptoms in common.
Common Lifting Injuries Sustained on the Job
Some common signs of lifting injuries include:
● Sharp, stabbing pain
● Tenderness
● Muscle weakness
● Limping
● Limited muscle movement
● Inflammation
● Redness
Lifting injuries will emerge suddenly or slowly, and symptoms will worsen over time if they are not treated. If you feel a sharp pain, tenderness, or weakness anywhere in your body, head to the doctor as soon as possible. If this pain is a direct result of lifting while you were working, it’s time to start thinking about compensation.
Remember — You must notify your employer that you believe the injury is work-related. Failure to notify your employer within 30 days of the injury might stop you from making a claim.
Exceptions to the Rule
Perhaps you didn’t recognize the symptoms of your injury until after the 30-day window passed. This doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t file a claim.
For instance, if your injury needed medical confirmation, your employer need only know about your injury within 30 days of that medical diagnosis.
If your employer never posted clear signage explaining a lack of worker’s compensation benefits, you could still make a claim after 30 days.
Always check to see if your situation is an exception to the 30-day window before deciding not to make a claim.
Don’t Take Action Alone
Even though you are within your rights to file a worker’s compensation claim on your own, it’s not always the best decision. Rightful claims can be ignored, and without legal aid, understanding your benefits can be difficult.
A lawyer like those at Powell & Associates can handle your lifting injury case with care, making sure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Contact an Atlanta Personal Injury Law Firm About Your Lifting Injury Case
The personal injury law firm Powell & Associates in Atlanta, Georgia, can help. Contact our law firm today for your consultation to see if you have a lifting injury case. Lifting injuries on the job are no joke, and you must start working against the clock as soon as possible. Call us today for more information!