New Orleans Back Injury Attorney: Peter Diiorio
A back injury after a car accident is a serious issue and one that can result in a lifetime of pain and problems. When you consider that lifting a box that’s a bit too heavy or even sleeping in a strange position can lead to a back injury, it’s easy to see how a car accident can result in a serious back injury. The force exerted against the back and spine during a high-impact car crash makes it easy to see why back pain and neck pain are the primary injuries suffered in a car accident. Your back injury could also be caused by a slip and fall, or other accidents as well. One of the best things you can do following your auto accident is to speak to a knowledgeable back injury attorney from New Orleans Legal.
The attorneys at New Orleans Legal are one hundred percent dedicated to our clients. A Back Injury Attorney at New Orleans Legal will be dedicated to you. We routinely take on the biggest insurance companies, preparing every case as if it will eventually go to trial. We do this to maximize recovery for each client, whether that recovery occurs at settlement or at trial. At New Orleans Legal we help people, and we will help you. We will work aggressively to get you the money you deserve—the money that will help you recover your life. Our sole purpose in helping you through this difficult time is to get your life back on track and solve the problems that are hindering that effort. We will pursue justice on your behalf, and we will never betray the trust you place in the legal team at New Orleans Legal.
What Types of Accidents Can Result in a Back Injury?
The primary types of accidents caused by an at-fault party that can result in serious back injuries include car accidents, large truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, other types of motor vehicle or boating accidents, and other personal injuries like slip and fall accidents. Because the back absorbs an incredible amount of force and pressure from a high-impact vehicle collision, it is important that you seek medical help.
Even if you think your back injury may be minor, when back injuries are left untreated, they can worsen, leading to long-term pain. In some cases, back injury symptoms may not appear until several hours following the crash, or even the next day. Ignoring your back pain or hoping it will resolve on its own could mean you are not compensated for your injuries, lost wages, or pain and suffering.
A back injury can also result from a slip and fall injury (premises liability claim or workers’ compensation claim) can also cause serious back problems for a significant amount of time. After a slip and fall, you may be facing months—or even longer—of difficult recovery, possibly including surgical interventions, prescription drugs, and rehabilitative therapies. Having a back injury and being unable to engage in your normal activities can cause you to lose work and be unable to pay your normal monthly expenses, or even spiral into depression.
What Types of Compensation Could I Be Entitled to Following a Back Injury?
Because the accident that caused your back injury could have left you with moderate injuries that will resolve at some point or with severe injuries that could last a lifetime, it is difficult to say what compensation you are entitled to receive. Generally speaking, you may be eligible for the following types of compensation following your back injury:
- Economic damages are those damages that are quantifiable—that is, they are easy to determine because they are based on actual out-of-pocket or financial losses arising from your back injury. These economic damages could include past and future medical bills, including surgeries, doctor visits, prescription drugs, MRIs and other tests, and rehabilitative therapies. Lost income is also an economic damage, based on your inability to return to work for weeks, months, or perhaps forever. If you can never return to work following your back injury, you could qualify for loss of earning capacity.
- Non-economic damages are those that are not as easy to quantify and are sometimes known as general damages. These damages cover non-monetary losses associated with your back injuries. These are very real damages but are difficult to capture with an exact dollar figure. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium.
- Punitive damages are rare and are only awarded when there is proof that the defendant acted maliciously or willfully. For a jury to award punitive damages, the conduct of the defendant must be considered so egregious that the additional payment is justified—not only to compensate the victim but also to punish the defendant and deter others from acting in a similar manner.
Of course, you should seek medical attention immediately following an accident, simply for your own long-term health. Seeking medical health is also important when your damages are determined. If it can be proven that you failed to take reasonable steps to mitigate your damages, your compensation could be significantly reduced. In the case of a back injury, if your doctor tells you to wear a back brace for at least twelve hours a day, yet you do not wear it at all, your injuries could worsen, and it can be shown that you did not take reasonable steps to mitigate your damages.
What is the Average Settlement for a Back Injury?
There really is no “average” settlement for a back injury. Your settlement will depend on which part of your back is injured, whether that injury prevented you from working and making a living, and how long the injury can be expected to alter your life. If you are only off work for a couple of weeks and your doctor expects no residual problems from your back injury, then your settlement will be much less than for a person whose back injury is expected to prevent them from ever engaging in a normal life again.
What are the Different Types of Back Injuries Following an Accident?
If you are a high-risk individual—like a senior citizen, someone with brittle bones, or have existing back problems—then your likelihood of experiencing a serious injury is greater. Pinched nerves, compressed discs, and torn ligaments can heal or could cause serious injury that lasts a lifetime. Your back injury will either be in the cervical vertebrae (your upper spine), the thoracic vertebrae (middle back), or the lumbar vertebrae (lower back). A compression fracture is most common in the upper lumbar spine and the lower thoracic spine, causing severe pain and even physical deformities.
A slip and fall injury can twist the spine, causing a ruptured disc—meaning the soft, inner portion of the disc herniates, creating pressure on the surrounding nerves. A herniated disc can also be caused by an auto accident. Treatment for a herniated disc often requires surgery but can sometimes be managed early on with physical therapy, chiropractic care, steroid injections, and other medications.
How an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney from New Orleans Legal Can Help
If your back was injured in a car accident, slip and fall accident, or another type of accident where another person was at fault, a Back Injury Attorney at New Orleans Legal can help you get the compensation you need and deserve. We have the experience, knowledge, and skills necessary to ensure you receive a fair settlement—one that will fully cover your damages. We will be with you every step of the way following your injury, helping you get the medical treatments you need, and ensuring you are properly compensated. Our goal is to provide every single client the individualized attention, diligent representation, and prompt communication they deserve, and we will do the same for you. Do not wait—contact New Orleans Legal today.
