Can I Collect Workers’ Compensation for a Pulled Muscle?

Much more than temporary pain or one-time soreness, muscle injuries often can be serious, even disabling. In some cases, they can result in severe and lasting pain. Some muscle-pull injuries can cause permanent damage to the ligament or muscle and should be taken seriously, as continued use of a pulled or overstrained muscle can cause more damage. When these injuries happen on the job, medical attention should be made available without delay, and all treatment should be covered by the employer.

What Work Activities Can Cause a Pulled Muscle Injury?

Pulled muscles can result from overexertion when performing a very physically demanding job, but this type of injury has also been known to occur in people who have sedentary occupations. A person can get a pulled muscle from intense physical labor like digging ditches, but also from attempting to relocate a heavy box next to their desk. Furthermore, the strain injury may be from a completely light-exertion activity like typing, as with carpal tunnel syndrome. Slip and fall injuries are also common sources of muscle injuries. Besides likely bruising, muscles can suffer additional damage when the fall causes the person to reach for a railing or structure to keep them from falling or when the person is twisted or jolted out of alignment by hitting something on the way down.

What Types of Jobs Put Employees at Risk of Muscle Injuries?

Manual labor jobs like those in the construction industry are at high risk of muscle injuries. Lifting, carrying, and supporting heavy building materials is an integral part of the job that puts construction employees at risk of injury.

Factory workers and warehouse personnel are also at risk. Factory workers may have to use the same motions to operate heavy machinery or perform the same task repeatedly throughout the workday. People who stock shelves or fill orders in a warehouse can become injured as they replenish or retrieve heavy packages or boxes, reaching, lifting, or twisting their bodies as they work.

Other jobs that require lifting and maneuvering include nurses and other hospital medical technicians or nursing care specialists. Helping patients or using medical machines and equipment can be physically taxing.

What Parts of the Body Are Susceptible to Pulled Muscle Injuries?

Any body part with muscles can be affected by a pulled muscle injury. A common location of muscle injury, the neck and back, can be affected by serious overstrain in a job that involves physical labor, but these areas are also prime for those who find themselves sitting incorrectly for long periods, as one might if they are leaning over their work or reaching odd angles.

Workers’ Compensation for a Muscle Strain

For a muscle strain to qualify for Workers’ Compensation benefits, the injury must be severe enough to impact the employee’s ability to work and require medical treatment. If the claim is approved, Workers’ Compensation may cover:

• Medical expenses, including doctor visits, diagnostic tests, and physical therapy.
• Lost wages if the injury prevents the employee from working during recovery.
• Necessary medications or treatments prescribed by an approved medical provider.

It is important to note that not all muscle strains will qualify, especially if they heal quickly without significant medical intervention.

What Should an Employee Do If They Experience a Muscle Strain Injury at Work?

Employees who suffer a muscle strain on the job should:

1. Report the injury to their employer as soon as possible.
2. Seek medical attention, preferably from an approved provider under their employer’s Workers’ Compensation plan.
3. Follow medical advice and document all treatment to support their claim.
4. File a Workers’ Compensation claim, ensuring that medical records establish a clear link between the injury and their work duties.

If a claim is denied, an appeal may be possible with sufficient medical evidence demonstrating the severity of the injury and its connection to workplace activities.

Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Freedman & Lorry, P.C. Help Injured Employees Collect Benefits

If you were hurt at work, you should be eligible for benefits through your employer’s Workers’ Compensation insurance program. The experienced Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation lawyers at Freedman & Lorry, P.C. can help you determine if your injury should be covered. Fill out our online form or call 866-369-6060 to set up a free consultation. From our offices in Philadelphia and Cherry Hill, New Jersey, we serve clients throughout Pennsylvania.