Tejada v. LKQ Hunts Point Parts

**What Happened:** Tejada was an employee at LKQ Hunts Point Parts who suffered a back injury at work. He filed a lawsuit claiming his lumbar spine (lower back) injury caused permanent damage and significant limitations that affected his daily life and work. The case involved New York's no-fault insurance law, which sets specific standards for when injured workers can sue their employers beyond basic workers' compensation benefits. **What the Court Decided:** The appeals court delivered a mixed ruling. The court sided with the employer on two of Tejada's claims - that he had permanent consequences from his injury and that his injury met the "90/180-day" threshold (meaning he was significantly impaired for at least 90 of the first 180 days after injury). However, the court allowed Tejada's third claim to proceed - that his back injury significantly limited his use of his lumbar spine. **Why This Matters for Workers:** This case shows how challenging it can be for injured workers to prove their injuries meet legal thresholds for additional compensation beyond workers' comp. Workers with back injuries need strong medical evidence to demonstrate significant, ongoing limitations. Even when some claims fail, workers may still succeed on others if they can prove specific functional limitations.