Have you suffered a back injury in a San Diego accident? Do you find that it is difficult to navigate your physical, emotional, and financial injuries? If someone else is responsible for your accident you may be entitled to compensation. The money you receive can help with medical bills and even make up for lost wages or disability.
Contact Injury Trial Lawyers, APC to learn about the benefits of filing a personal injury lawsuit. Our San Diego back injury lawyers can help you fight to recover the money you need and deserve. Call today to schedule a free case assessment and learn more.
Types of Back Injuries in San Diego
Back injuries can involve any damage to muscle, tissue, and/or bone. Injuries to the back can occur because of acute trauma or be the result of chronic overuse. Since the back is so complex, there are actually many different types of back injuries. Each type of injury carries its own unique symptoms and consequences.
Compression Fractures: There are 26 different vertebrae in the spinal column. Compression fractures occur when these vertebrae break, collapse, and compress together in the spine. This can cause extreme pain and limit your mobility. Many compression fractures occur when you suffer from a degenerative disease, such as osteoporosis. The bones become weak and brittle over time and are more susceptible to fractures. Causes of compression fractures can include heavy lifting, chronic overuse, falls, or traumatic accidents.
Burst Fractures: Burst fractures occur when the vertebrae in your back shatter or are crushed. Bone shards from the vertebrae can be propelled into nearby soft tissue and muscle. Burst fractures typically happen when the body is subjected to sudden and intense force. This can occur if you fall from a great height or are involved in a traumatic car accident.
Herniated Disc: Small discs are situated neatly between the vertebrae in your back. These discs are filled with a jelly-like substance and act as shock absorbers and protective barriers between the bones. Trauma can cause these discs to rupture. When a disc ruptures (or herniates) the fluid from within can seep through its tough exterior. Contact with the nerves in your back can cause numbness, extreme pain, and limit your mobility.
Bulging Disc: The discs in your spinal cord are supposed to be rigid and tough. Trauma can cause these discs to become misshapen and lose their structure. When this happens, the discs can bulge and extend into your spinal column. Bulging disc injuries can be caused by acute trauma or the be the result of degeneration over time.
Sprains and Strains: Tendons and ligaments in the back help to keep everything in place and allow you to be flexible. Strains and sprains occur when these pieces of soft tissue become worn-down or damaged because of trauma.
Nerve Damage: The spinal cord is responsible for relaying communication from the brain to various parts of the body. This is done using 31 different nerves. When you suffer trauma to the back these nerves can become damaged. This directly affects the body’s ability to communicate with itself. As a result, nerve damage in the back can cause impaired motor function, affect your ability to control your bladder and bowels, and even limit your ability to speak or control your muscles.
Common Causes of Back Injuries
Back injuries happen every day. In fact, 8 out of every 10 people will suffer a back injury at some point in their life. While back injuries can happen for many different reasons, certain causes are reported more frequently than others. Common causes of back injuries in San Diego.
Have you been involved in a San Diego accident and believe someone else is to blame for your back injury? Contact Injury Trial Lawyers, APC for legal assistance today. We’ll review your case and help you fight to recover the money you deserve.
Work-Related Back Injuries
Back injuries account for 20 percent of all workplace-related injuries. In fact, back injuries are the leading cause of disability in the United States. Each year, employees miss more than 264 million days of work because of a debilitating back injury. That’s two full work days for each worker in the country.
Why are back injuries so common in the workplace? Causes of workplace back injuries include:
- Heavy lifting
- Improper lifting techniques
- Repeated movements and overuse of the back
- Sitting for an extended period of time with poor posture
- Failure to use safety devices
- Overextension
- Inadequate job training
- Sudden twisting
- Overexertion
- Unsafe work conditions, and
- Workplace accidents.
Of course, workers in certain fields are more likely than others to sustain back injuries on the job. Statistics show that one-quarter of all back injuries are suffered by truck drivers, freight laborers, stock and material movers, nurses, nursing assistants, and janitors or maintenance staff. These jobs tend to be very physically demanding and require repetitive motions. Injuries can happen when improper techniques are used, employees rush to finish a job, or if there are unsafe work conditions.
Recovering Compensation for a Back Injury in San Diego
If you have suffered a back injury in a San Diego accident you may have the right to recover compensation. The process you’ll use will depend on (a) who is at fault and (b) where the accident happened.
Personal Injury Insurance Claim: If you were injured because of another person’s negligence, you may be able to file a personal injury claim with their insurance company. This is standard procedure if you’ve been injured in a San Diego traffic accident. The driver’s insurer will consider your request for compensation and either deny your claim or offer a settlement. Insurance companies will do whatever they can to minimize your payout, so it is always best to consult with an attorney before accepting an offer.
Personal Injury Lawsuit: You can also pursue compensation by filing a civil lawsuit for damages in a California state court. This lawsuit would be filed against the person (or parties) who are responsible for causing your accident and back injury. This may be the best option if insurance companies are being difficult or if the at-fault party does not have insurance. Lawsuits may also be the best course of action if you were injured because of a defective product or while on another person’s property.
Workers Compensation Benefits: If you were injured at work you may be entitled to collect workers compensation benefits. Most employers in the state are required to purchase and carry a valid workers compensation insurance policy. The benefits can help to pay for medical bills and lost wages. If you become disabled, the benefits can also compensate for other financial losses. However, when you collect workers compensation benefits you do waive your right to file a personal injury lawsuit against your employer. You do, however, have the right to file a lawsuit against a third-party who may also be to blame.
Damages Available to San Diego Back Injury Victims
Back injuries can be extremely painful and debilitating. Some injuries can linger and affect your ability to live a normal life. If someone else is responsible for causing your back injury you have the right to ask for compensation. When you file a personal injury lawsuit, you can recover damages to compensate for:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Disability
- Embarrassment
- Disfigurement
- Medical devices
- Loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
Hiring an attorney to handle your personal injury case will significantly increase the chances of recovering the money you need and deserve. Contact our San Diego back injury lawyers today to learn more.
Speak to a San Diego Back Injury Attorney
Were you involved in a San Diego accident? Are you struggling with a painful back injury? If so, contact one of our personal injury lawyers to find out how we can help you assert your legal rights. When someone else causes your injury, you have the right to demand compensation. Our attorneys are here to make sure that you get the money you deserve. You only have a limited amount of time to file your claim, so call our office today to get started with a free consultation.