Neck Back & Spine Injury

In an accident, there does not have to be a direct impact to cause serious damage to the neck, back or spine. A sudden stop or crash can be enough to force a person against the seat belt, resulting in whiplash, pinched nerves, or small fractures to the vertebrae. If you have injured your neck, back, or spine in an accident, you should seek legal representation. At The Walker Law Group, our experienced neck, back & spine injuries attorneys have been helping accident victims achieve the best possible results in personal injury litigation for more than 20 years.

Workers' Compensation Claims

If your injury occurred at work, workers' compensation benefits may be your first avenue for compensation. Workers' compensation is designed to cover medical bills, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs, regardless of who is at fault for the injury.

For a workers' compensation claim, your injury must be work-related. This includes accidents that occur on the job, repetitive motion injuries, or injuries sustained due to unsafe working conditions.

Once you file a claim with your employer, you may need to attend medical evaluations to verify the extent of your injury. If approved, you will receive compensation for medical care and lost wages. However, the amount might not cover all of your expenses or pain and suffering. For more significant compensation, you may need to explore other legal options, especially if you suffer from a severe injury.

Personal Injury Lawsuits

If your neck, back, or spine injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, a personal injury lawsuit may be an option. Unlike workers' compensation, personal injury claims allow you to seek compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and any long-term effects of the injury.

A personal injury claim requires proving that someone else’s actions (or lack of actions) directly caused your injury. This could involve a car accident, a slip and fall on someone’s property, or medical malpractice. Evidence such as medical records, witness testimony, and expert opinions will help strengthen your claim.

A successful personal injury lawsuit may allow you to recover a wide range of damages, including:

• Medical Expenses: This covers hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment.
• Lost Wages: Compensation for income lost due to your inability to work during your recovery.
• Pain and Suffering: This compensates you for the physical and emotional toll your injury has caused.
• Future Damages: If your injury leads to long-term or permanent disability, you may be entitled to compensation for future medical costs and lost earning potential. A paraplegia injury attorney can help you seek compensation if your spinal column injury leads to paralysis.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can be classified into several types, with each having different degrees of severity. The most common types are complete spinal cord injury and incomplete spinal cord injury. A complete spinal cord injury results in a total loss of function below the level of injury, often leading to paraplegia or quadriplegia. An incomplete spinal cord injury means some function remains below the injury site, but the degree of impairment can vary.

Medical Malpractice Claims

In some cases, a neck, back, or spine injury might be the result of a medical professional’s negligence. If a doctor, surgeon, or other healthcare provider made a mistake that directly led to your injury, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim. Proving medical malpractice requires showing that the healthcare provider's actions deviated from the accepted standard of care, and that this deviation caused your injury. Compensation typically includes medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages, and the amount varies based on the severity and long-term impact of the injury.

Disability Claims

If your injury has caused a long-term or permanent disability that affects your ability to work, filing a disability claim may be an option. Both short-term and long-term disability insurance can provide income replacement if you are unable to return to work due to your injury. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits may apply to more severe injuries expected to last at least one year or result in death. Alternatively, private disability insurance can offer coverage through policies from your employer or personal plans.

Settlement Options in Florida

In Florida, settlements can often be reached outside of court in personal injury cases involving neck, back, or spine injuries. The two primary settlement options available are lump-sum settlements and structured settlements.

Lump-Sum Settlement

A lump-sum settlement offers the injured party a one-time, upfront payment that covers all of their damages, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future care costs. While this option provides immediate financial relief, it requires careful consideration because it may not fully account for long-term medical expenses or rehabilitation.

Structured Settlement

In contrast, a structured settlement offers regular, periodic payments over time. This arrangement ensures ongoing financial support, which can be particularly beneficial for injuries that require long-term medical treatment or affect the person’s ability to work for an extended period. Structured settlements may be tailored to fit specific needs, such as escalating payments to keep pace with inflation or providing larger payments for specific future medical treatments.

The choice between a lump-sum and structured settlement in Florida will depend on your personal financial situation, the severity of your injury, and your future medical needs. Consulting with an attorney can help you decide which option is best suited for your circumstances. If you’ve sustained a serious injury to your spinal column, it’s essential to have legal counsel that understands how these injuries can affect your future financial security.

Helping Clients Get Full and Fair Compensation

The Walker Law Group has the resources to handle even the most catastrophic and serious injuries. We have helped countless clients get compensation for spinal cord trauma, from whiplash to paralysis. We fight to get our clients the awards they need to help them move forward with their lives.

We understand that a serious neck, back, or spinal cord injury requires extensive financial and emotional resources. By holding wrongdoers accountable, our Florida personal injury lawyers enable our clients to hire physical therapists and participate in rehabilitation. Proper compensation also enables spinal cord injury victims to modify their homes and cars to make them more accessible for people with disabilities.

The strategy for giving you the best chance of success varies with the facts of each case, so it is important to consult with an attorney before making important decisions about what actions to take following a back or neck injury. Regardless of which strategy you choose, we believe that all cases demand care and immediate attention. With experience in serious injuries like brain, jaw, and paralysis-related complications, we are ready to put our experience to work for you.

We hold negligent parties accountable for actions that result in spinal cord injuries. Call us at 727-865-5724 or schedule online now to set up a free consultation with an experienced accident attorney.