California Back Injury at Work Lawyer (including Cumulative Trauma) — Serving the Inland Empire
Hurt your back on the job? Whether it happened in one moment lifting a pallet or crept up after months of repetitive work, we help Inland Empire workers get medical care, wage benefits, and a fair permanent disability rating. Call or text Lee Partners Law: Work Injury Attorneys for a free consultation.
How back injuries happen at work
Back injuries show up two ways:
Specific injuries — one event: a fall from a ladder in San Bernardino, a sudden lift at a warehouse in Moreno Valley, or a vehicle impact on the 215.
Cumulative trauma — strain that builds over time from repetitive lifting, stocking, driving, forklift vibration, pushing heavy carts, or long hours on hard concrete floors in places like Ontario, Fontana, Corona, and Rancho Cucamonga.
Common diagnoses we see: lumbar sprain/strain, herniated or bulging discs, sciatica/radiculopathy, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, facet syndrome, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and post-surgical cases.
What to do right now
Report it in writing to your employer as soon as you notice pain or the specific incident.
Ask for a DWC-1 claim form and keep a copy.
Get seen—if you’re in an employer MPN, we help you choose the right doctor and avoid “rush-back” clinics.
Call or text us so we protect your wage checks, doctor choice, and medical approvals from day one.
Benefits you can receive
Medical care at no cost to you: imaging, PT, injections, medications, surgery if needed.
Temporary disability (TD) payments when the doctor says you can’t work or restricts you and there’s no light duty.
Permanent disability (PD) if your back doesn’t fully recover. California uses the AMA Guides (5th ed.) to help determine Whole Person Impairment, which then converts to your PD benefits.
Job protection and return-to-work rights, including reasonable work restrictions.
Supplemental Job Displacement Voucher (SJDB) for retraining if you can’t return to your old job.
Mileage reimbursement for medical visits.
Cumulative trauma back claims: not “fake,” just hard to prove without a plan
Repetitive strain cases are real but adjusters often deny them. We build these cases with:
a clear job-duty timeline (weights, frequencies, surfaces, equipment)
medical reporting that ties your diagnosis to those tasks
prior records review to handle apportionment and keep the doctor focused on work-related causes
credible witness statements and job site details (warehouses, logistics hubs, construction sites)
If you’ve driven routes in Victorville or Hesperia for years, worked the line in San Bernardino, or picked/packed in Moreno Valley or Ontario, chances are your spine has been doing more than your job title admits. We prove that up.
Doctor choice, QME exams, and ratings
Your Primary Treating Physician (PTP) drives your care and work status. When the insurer disputes treatment or your level of impairment, you may face a QME (Qualified Medical Evaluator). We:
prepare you for the exam so your pain, limitations, and work history are fully documented
challenge bad QME reports with supplemental questions or depositions
push for accurate Whole Person Impairment using the AMA Guides 5th framework and ensure activities of daily living limits are recorded (sitting, standing, lifting, sleep, self-care)
Missed deadlines and denied claims
Think you reported “too late”? Don’t assume. There are exceptions for delayed discovery, cumulative trauma, and employer knowledge. If your claim is denied or delayed, we move it to a Judge, get you into proper medical-legal evaluation, and fight for retroactive TD and treatment approvals.
Light duty, work restrictions, and retaliation
If a doctor gives restrictions (no lifting over 10–20 lbs, limited bending/stooping, positional changes), your employer should accommodate if they can. If you’re sent home, you may be owed TD. If you’re written up or terminated for reporting an injury, that’s a separate problem we address immediately.
Settlements: when and how
Two main paths:
Stipulated Award — ongoing medical care stays open; PD is paid over time.
Compromise & Release — a lump sum that closes medical care.
The right choice depends on age, job, future care needs, and the quality of your treating/QME reports. We model your lifetime care costs before you sign.
Inland Empire coverage
We represent workers across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, including:
Riverside, San Bernardino, Moreno Valley, Fontana, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Corona, Jurupa Valley, Eastvale, Norco, Perris, Hemet, Menifee, Murrieta, Temecula, Lake Elsinore, Beaumont, Banning, Redlands, Loma Linda, Highland, Yucaipa, Colton, Rialto, Chino, Chino Hills, Bloomington, Grand Terrace, Winchester, Wildomar, Desert Hot Springs, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, Indio, Coachella, La Quinta, Yucca Valley, Twentynine Palms, Barstow, Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Adelanto, Lucerne Valley, Blythe.
Answers to questions we get every day
How fast should I report my back injury?
Right away. For cumulative trauma, report when you realize it’s work-related. Waiting invites a denial.
Can I pick my own doctor?
Often yes, within the employer’s MPN. If there’s no valid MPN or access is blocked, options open up. We guide that process.
What if my MRI is “mild” but I’m in real pain?
Ratings consider function and credible exam findings, not just imaging. We make sure the record reflects how pain limits walking, standing, lifting, sleep, and daily tasks.
Do I have a case if I did heavy sports years ago?
Prior issues don’t end your claim. California allows apportionment; the key is solid medical analysis tying a portion to work so you still recover the work-related share.
Will I get fired for filing?
Retaliation is illegal. If it happens, we act immediately.
Talk to a back injury lawyer today FREE CONSULT
CALL OR TEXT 310-295-0822 FREE CONSULT