Catastrophic injuries like those involving damage to the spinal cord can mean facing significant and long-lasting pain that could prevent you from working and keep you from living your life as you prefer. Unfortunately, these injuries are more common than many people imagine. Approximately 80% of the country’s population will suffer a back injury at some point.
If you’ve experienced one of these injuries because of another party’s negligent or wrongful conduct in Georgia, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim and receive compensation. For residents of the Peach State, it’s important to understand the basics of back injuries and why hiring a personal injury lawyer to file a claim can be the right choice.
Common Types Of Back Injuries
There are numerous types of back injuries that can occur from accidents in the state.
Back Strain Or Sprain
Back strains occur when tendons or muscles in your back are stretched or torn. Pain and swelling, as well as muscle spasms, are common symptoms. On the other hand, back sprains happen when you stretch or tear ligaments in your back. You can experience a limited range of motion, severe pain, back instability, and even bruising.
Most of the time, back strains and sprains heal within a few weeks as long as you get rest. Surgeries aren’t typically necessary, but you may have to remain bed-bound as you recover.
Damaged Disc
Your spine has discs that cushion your vertebrae. Herniated discs occur when these jelly-like cushions slip out of place. You can experience symptoms that include:
- Difficulty moving
- Pain
- Muscle weakness
- Tingling or numbness
Healing from herniated discs can require rest, medications, and physical therapy. In severe cases, surgery could be needed.
Spinal Stenosis
If a traumatic accident results in a narrowing of the spinal canal, you can experience spinal stenosis. It’s an issue that often occurs in car accidents, with the force of the impact causing fragments of bones or even a ruptured disc to invade the spinal canal and put pressure on nerves.
Some of the symptoms you can experience include:
- Pain
- Lower body weakness
- Tingling or numbness in the lower body
- Pain while walking or standing
To treat spinal stenosis, doctors typically rely on medication and physical therapy. The most severe of these injuries can result in temporary or permanent disability.
Fractured Vertebra
Suffering a fracture of the spine can be a serious injury that could put your range of motion at risk. A fracture in a vertebra can range from a small fissure that causes temporary symptoms like pain and muscle weakness to a complete severing of the spinal cord. The latter injury can result in a loss of sensation and function below the location of the fracture.
A number of spinal fractures are incurable, but many people can regain some sensation and movement, depending on where the injury is located and how severe it is.
What Accidents Cause Back Injuries?
The majority of back injuries tend to occur either in traffic collisions or in falls. A car accident can result in everything from back sprains to spinal fractures, with truck accidents and collisions involving high speeds being more likely to result in catastrophic injuries.
Falls can also cause back injuries. Slipping on uneven pavement, wet floors, or damaged carpeting can lead you to fall on your back. Construction workers may have additional risk because falling from heights can increase the chances of suffering a spinal cord injury.
Additionally, people who have jobs that require repetitive movements or the constant lifting of weights can experience sprains and strains in their backs from overuse. That can especially be the case if they’re not trained in how to perform these actions safely or they don’t have the appropriate equipment for the job.
Personal Injury Claims After Suffering A Back Injury
If you’ve been in a Georgia accident that resulted in a back injury, you may be able to file a claim. The first step in this process is to establish what caused the accident and who is liable for what you’ve suffered.
In most cases, you’ll have to show that negligent conduct led to your injuries. It’s not always simple to establish negligence, especially when there may be more than one party at fault. You’ll need to demonstrate that the person owed you a duty of care that they breached, resulting in your back injury.
Because of the complexities involved with filing a personal injury claim, you don’t want to attempt the process without legal representation. Hiring a personal injury lawyer can mean receiving fairer compensation because your attorney will aggressively negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
A lawyer knows the type of evidence that can make a difference in these claims and will have access to expert witnesses who can offer testimony to corroborate your claim. Furthermore, if negotiating with insurers isn’t going as well as expected, your lawyer can represent your case in court.
Damages Available In A Personal Injury Claim
Back injuries can result in serious losses, beginning with the financial costs you can experience as a result of the medical care you’ll need. The good news is that you can receive compensation for hospital bills, rehabilitation sessions, and medications, as well as for any necessary future care.
Suffering a back injury could mean not being able to work. You could miss out on commissions, salaries, vacation days, and other forms of income. You can receive compensation for these losses, too. In instances where you won’t be able to return to work in the same capacity, you can also claim loss of earning potential.
Not all losses you experience are financial, however. Back injuries can lead you to suffer physical and emotional distress, and it’s not uncommon for those who have gone through traumatic accidents to develop depression, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. You can claim pain and suffering damages to cover these losses.
If you’re not able to live your life as you used to after the injuries you suffered, you can claim loss of enjoyment of life as well.
Contact An Experienced Back Injury Lawyer Today
Suffering a back injury can be devastating. It may impact your daily life in all manner of ways and could prevent you from supporting yourself and your loved ones. If the injury occurred because of another party’s conduct, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit against them.
To have a chance to receive fair compensation for your injuries, it’s important to hire lawyers who know how to tackle these cases effectively. At Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm, our seasoned team has over 26 years of experience protecting the rights and futures of accident victims in Columbus and beyond.
Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a trusted Columbus personal injury lawyer today at (706) 940-4030.
