Back and Neck Injury

It is well documented that injuries to the back and neck are one of the leading reasons people seek medical care.

Because the spine has such an extensive concentration of nerves, extensive trauma to the neck or the back can lead to spinal cord injury or other devastating conditions that may result in chronic pain, permanent disability, paralysis, and, in extreme cases, death.

Serious and often-crippling back and neck conditions are commonly caused by automobile accidents, slips and falls, sports-related injuries, and medical malpractice.

The severity of back or neck injury depends not only on how the injury happened, but also on the victim’s age. Because the spine is not as elastic in older individuals, healing can be a prolonged and painful process. Younger victims with serious injuries, however, can also suffer extreme pain and extended recovery.

Without proper medical treatment, even back and neck injuries that seem minor at first may become more severe in time.

Statistics You Should Know:

• More than six million cases of back pain in the United States are treated annually.
• Whiplash, which is an all-too-frequent and painful condition that occurs in automobile accidents, is the most common traumatic injury to the neck.
• In the United States, there are approximately 11,000 spinal cord injuries each year.
• Males are victims of 82 percent of all spinal cord injuries.
• Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in people under the age of 65, while falls are responsible for the majority of these injuries in individuals over the age of 65.
• According to the University of Alabama National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the average first year expenses for a spinal cord injury are $198,000.

People who become victims of serious, accident-related back and neck injuries suddenly are compelled to cope with exorbitant medical bills, lost earnings, and emotional depression, while adapting to a new way of life that may be marred by intense pain, limited mobility, and an extensive scope of physical and mental disabilities.

Luckily, these accident victims have legal rights if the injuries are caused by the negligence or misconduct of another individual, an employer, or any other entity. Injury victims may be entitled to receive monetary compensation for their pain and suffering, as well as reimbursement for their current and future medical expenses.

It is, however, the victim’s responsibility to prove that another party was at fault.

Have You Suffered a Back or Neck Injury?

There are five critical steps that you must take if you become the victim of an accidental back or neck injury:

1. Obtain the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all people who witnessed the accident.
2. Seek medical attention immediately. Assemble a file of all your medical records and bills to use as evidence if you pursue legal action.
3. If the injury occurred due to an automobile accident, obtain contact and insurance information from the other driver(s) and passenger(s) and call the police.
4. If the accident happened in the workplace, notify your employer.
5. Contact an attorney who specializes in back and neck injuries.

Why You Need a Personal Injury Attorney

Filing a back or neck injury claim can be a complicated process. Depending on the nature of the accident, you may be entitled to workmen’s compensation if the injury happened on the job. If you were involved in an automobile accident, you may be entitled to compensation from your insurance and/or the insurance company of the other driver(s). If the injury occurs on public property, a qualified attorney will help you determine who should be held accountable.

Aggressive legal representation may be required to ensure that you receive adequate compensation for your medical expenses, as well as your lost earnings and pain and suffering.

To find a personal injury lawyer in your community with experience in back and neck injuries, please enter your city name in the grey search box at the top of this page.

THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE - PLEASE CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY REGARDING YOUR SPECIFIC CASE