Work-Related Cervical Spine (Neck) Injuries in California: What Injured Workers Need to Know
ervical spine injuries can be devastating—affecting everything from your ability to turn your head to causing pain that radiates down your arms. These injuries are especially common in California workplaces and can result from a sudden accident or develop slowly over time.
If you’ve injured your neck on the job, you may be entitled to significant benefits—including medical care, wage replacement, and a permanent disability award. At Lee Partners Law, our team of former insurance defense attorneys now fights exclusively for injured workers across California. We know the system, and we know how to win.
Common Work Scenarios That Cause Cervical Spine Injuries
Neck injuries affect a wide range of California workers across nearly every industry:
Construction workers: Awkward postures, overhead work, heavy lifting, or falls from ladders or scaffolding.
Office workers: Prolonged sitting with poor posture, repetitive keyboard/mouse use, and ergonomic strain.
Warehouse employees: Repetitive lifting, constant neck movement (especially looking up at inventory), or being struck by falling objects.
Delivery drivers & transportation workers: Motor vehicle accidents, repeated turning of the head while driving, and whiplash from sudden stops.
Healthcare workers: Lifting patients, pushing equipment, or sudden jerking motions during emergencies.
Even if there’s no single “accident,” you may still qualify for workers’ compensation through a cumulative trauma claim under Labor Code §3208.1. These injuries build gradually due to repetitive stress—and the law protects you even if you didn’t realize the injury was work-related until seeing a doctor.
Common Cervical Spine Conditions in Workers’ Comp
The most frequently seen neck injuries in California workers’ comp cases include:
Cervical sprains and strains: Soft tissue injuries from whiplash, poor posture, or repetitive motion.
Herniated or bulging discs: The cushioning between spinal vertebrae tears or protrudes, compressing nerves.
Fractures or dislocations: Often caused by falls or auto accidents, leading to intense pain and limited mobility.
Nerve root compression / radiculopathy: Causes burning or tingling sensations down the arms or into the hands.
Tetraplegia (a form of quadriplegia): Severe spinal cord trauma causing paralysis in all four limbs.
What Benefits Am I Entitled To?
Once your injury is documented, you're entitled to the following workers' compensation benefits:
Medical Treatment – All reasonable care needed to cure or relieve the effects of your injury.
Temporary Disability – Wage replacement of up to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, tax-free, if you can’t work.
Permanent Disability – A disability rating under the AMA Guides (5th Edition), which translates to a monetary award.
Supplemental Job Displacement Voucher – A retraining voucher if you have permanent disability and no return-to-work offer.
Future Medical Care – Lifetime treatment if not bought out by settlement.
How Is My Cervical Spine Injury Rated?
If your case is denied or disputed, you’ll likely be evaluated by a Qualified Medical Examiner (QME). The QME will assess your injury under Chapter 15 of the AMA Guides using one of two methods:
Diagnostic Related Estimates (DRE): Based on imaging and medical findings.
Range of Motion (ROM): Based on how far you can move your neck, often resulting in higher impairment ratings.
Examples:
A muscle spasm without positive imaging may result in 5–8% whole person impairment.
A multi-level disc injury or significant ROM loss can result in 10–25%+ impairment, especially if combined with radiculopathy or documented nerve damage.
Knowing how to present your symptoms—and understanding how doctors rate you—is critical. At Lee Partners Law, our attorneys are experts at navigating the AMA rating system and ensuring our clients get the highest possible disability award.
Don’t Delay: Legal Deadlines Matter
The general statute of limitations to file a California workers’ comp case is 1 year from the date of injury under Labor Code §5405. However, under Labor Code §5412, the clock may not start until you knew—or should have known—your injury was work-related. This often happens only after seeing a doctor.
If you haven’t been given proper workers’ compensation forms by your employer, you may still have time. That’s why it’s crucial to speak with an experienced attorney immediately.
Lee Partners Law – Serving Workers Across California
Whether your neck injury was caused by lifting, driving, sitting at a desk, or years of repetitive stress—we’re here to help. We proudly serve workers across:
Los Angeles, Pacoima, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Palmdale, Lancaster, Inland Empire, and the High Desert.
Let our team of certified workers’ compensation experts fight to get you maximum medical care and the highest possible permanent disability award. Don’t wait—your future health and financial security may depend on it.
📞 Free Consultation — No Fee Unless We Win CALL TODAY OR TEXT (310)295-0822.
Injured your neck at work? Call Lee Partners Law today to schedule a free case review. We’ll help you take the next step toward treatment, benefits, and long-term recovery.