You may have heard someone say, “I threw out my back” in reference to him or her turning the wrong way or lifting a heavy object and “tweaking” it slightly. However, back injuries can be serious and life-altering. These types of injuries can occur in a car accident, in the workplace, or even outside. Debilitating back pain can even lead to months of physical therapy or surgery.

A person may not be able to work or even walk. It is estimated that approximately 80 percent of adults experience a back injury in their lifetime, with roughly 10 percent suffering a re-injury. If you were involved in an accident that was caused by another person’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation.

Common Types of Back Injuries

The back is one of the largest and most complex parts of the body. It is made of bones, muscles, and other tissues extending from the neck to the pelvis. A few of the most common kinds of injuries to the back include:

Jumping on a trampoline can be fun for people of all ages, not just kids. It is a great form of exercise and can help users develop core muscle strength as well as strengthen their balance. Trampolines can be enjoyed outside in someone’s yard or inside at a facility. Unfortunately, thousands of people are injured on trampolines every year in the United States. Injuries can range from minor to major, such as small cuts to broken legs to fractures of the spine, head, ribs and more. The number of injuries continues to rise, despite efforts to make trampolines safer with enclosures or nets and padding. Children younger than 6 years old are at the greatest risk of injury, but adults can be hurt, too. Accidents happen, but in some cases, a trampoline injury might occur due to negligence by the trampoline’s owner.

Types of Injuries

The majority of trampoline injuries occur on home trampolines, although they can happen on indoor trampolines, too. Indoor trampoline “parks” have gained popularity in recent years since people can visit them in the winter months when the weather is bad outside. Common injuries sustained on any trampoline can include:

• Broken bones
• Concussions and other head trauma
• Sprains/strains
• Bruises, scrapes, and cuts
• Head and neck injuries

How Injuries Occur

As with any type of physical activity or sport, there are inherent risks. Guests of indoor parks are typically required to watch a safety video and sign a waiver before entering the jump zones. Although these indoor facilities often have pads surrounding the jumping areas, people can still get hurt. Many injuries take place when there is more than one person jumping or flipping on a trampoline. In addition, any objects such as balls or toys on the trampoline surface can also pose significant risks by tripping or slipping and falling. A person can also get hurt when he or she:

Everyone has injuries now and then in their lives, but the older generation has a greater likelihood of injuring themselves in a fall. As we grow older, many people are less able to navigate obstacles and hazards as they once did. The human body changes with age and minor inconveniences become more difficult to maneuver. However, below we discuss a few easy tips that can be taken to prevent as many injuries as possible.

Discuss Falls with Your Doctor

A discussion with your doctor about your health and risk in a fall will give you an idea of the type of methods you should be taking to reduce the likelihood of a fall. The methods you take can depend on the types of medication you take, and how they combine with other medicines. Medicine can have side effects such as dizziness, being light-headed, and drowsiness. Knowing the types of side effects you may have will let you know more about your fall risk. Your doctor can also make a recommendation on the necessity of a walking aid such as a cane or walker. Using walking aids is sometimes necessary to decrease your danger of falling and injury.

Household Tips

It will also help you to take steps to reduce falls in your living space. Eliminating any unnecessary clutter on the floor or moving around furniture to make sure you have wide enough spaces to walk will decrease the chances of a fall. One of the more common rooms for a fall in the bathroom due to the wet surfaces. Installing a grab bar in your bathtub or shower and near the toilet will make it easier for you to stand up and decrease the likelihood of a fall. Railings may also be necessary on any stairs in your home. Making sure all areas of the house are properly lit to make sure there are no obstacles in the dark to trip on would also be beneficial.

We frequently use this space to present relevant information pertaining to work-related injuries and deaths, high-risk careers and other workers’ compensation related topics. The array of variables and nuances impacting this important social and legal issue literally fill pages and pages of books and require copious amounts of time both in and out of the courtroom. This time around we are taking a closer look at reports indicating high-risk worker groups.

Age and Gender Play a Role

As workers and employers strive to provide and sustain equal footing in the employment market for both men and women, some evidence suggests that there is an area in which women have an edge, especially as they get older. One Canadian study presented evidence that older women are more likely to sustain an on-the-job injury than their younger counterparts. Some of the findings included:

Many have expressed the opinion that justice is available only to those who can afford it. While that is not what the founding fathers had in mind, the evidence supporting that view seems to be growing. However, with the availability of alternative legal support and limited scope representation the opportunities for pursuing rightful claims are expanding.

Ala Carte Legal Services Made Available

In 2013, the Illinois Supreme Court made a decision that resulted in greater access to competent legal services for lower and middle-income residents who do not qualify for legal aid based on their income. The creation of limited scope representation services is seen to have leveled the playing field:

Going to the gym has great health benefits, unless you get hurt. It is estimated that about 460,000 people were injured at a gym in 2012 alone.

Many of these exercisers have sustained injuries that cannot be the basis of a lawsuit because the exercisers caused the accident. However, some injuries are caused by the gym. In these cases, the gym may be held responsible.

Treadmill Troubles