Philadelphia Back Injury Lawyer
A back injury is one of the most common types of injuries suffered in accidents, and they can become chronic or debilitating, causing long-term pain, discomfort, and disability. Although a traumatic back or neck injury is relatively common, the plaintiff’s attorneys at the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania law firm of The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers, treat each case uniquely and our lawyers recognize that your back injury is anything but common to you. If you or a loved one has suffered a back injury in an accident, you should contact The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation.
Typical Causes Of Back Injuries
The back is enormously complex—one of the most complicated parts of the body. It is made up of muscle, bones, joints, tendons, and skin. Running down the center of your back is your spinal column, which includes your spinal cord surrounded by protective vertebrae. If you suffer a jarring motion or blunt impact, then any number of things can go wrong. People commonly injure their backs in the following ways:
- Slipping and falling
- Automobile or motorcycle accident
- Sports injury
- Repetitive motion
- Medical malpractice
When someone else is to blame for the injury, then you might be able to sue them for financial compensation. For example, a business owner who did not keep their premises safe could be legally responsible for your injuries if you suffer a slip and fall, just as someone who accidentally rear-ends you is legally responsible.
Because each situation is different, you should contact a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to review the facts of your case. You may be able to sue more than one person or company, which can increase the likelihood that you will receive needed compensation.
Common Back Injuries
Some back injuries are visible, such as cuts and bruises. These injuries are serious and must be cleaned and dressed before they become infected. However, most back injuries are invisible to the naked eye because they are internal. And it is usually these internal injuries that cause the most pain and are the hardest to treat. Common back injuries include:
- Sprains, which are stretched or torn ligaments that connect bone to bone.
- Strains, which are stretched or torn tendons or muscles.
- Ruptures to the discs between your vertebrae (herniated disc)
Fractured Vertebrae
Sprains and strains should clear up in a matter of weeks with sufficient bed rest. You may feel significant pain which you can nevertheless manage with prescription drugs and heat or ice. Whatever your doctor’s treatment, remember to follow it to the letter, otherwise you will only make the back condition worse. If you ultimately bring a lawsuit, you might also undermine your case because the person you sue can claim your own conduct has aggravated your injuries.
Some devastating back injuries might require surgery and/or much longer recovery periods. A serious car crash could crush vertebrae which must be operated on to stabilize your spine. And some back injuries might never heal. For example, in the event of a back vertebrae fracture, you might end up paralyzed in your arms and legs and have difficulty breathing or eating on your own. You might need rehabilitation to learn how to take care of yourself and vocational rehabilitation to allow you to return to some sort of productive work.
We understand that a back injury, which may be caused by car and motorcycle accidents, slip and fall accidents, or from many other causes, dramatically change our clients’ lives. There are the obvious visible injuries, such as cuts, scrapes and bruises. But quite often, there may be internal injuries that can turn out to be the most serious. Our lawyers understand the different diagnoses – including herniated discs, bulging discs, myositis, myofascitis, fascitis, neuropathy, soft tissue injury, spondylosis, arthritis, stenosis, spondylolisthesis , scoliosis, whiplash, pinched nerve, radiculopathy and parasthesia – of internal injuries resulting from back trauma.
Financial Compensation Is Available For Your Injuries
Accident victims are not required to suffer in silence. In fact, the Pennsylvania court system was created so that victims can hold the at-fault party responsible for the injuries they have suffered. The person responsible for your injury should shoulder the financial burden—not you. For example, personal injury victims can receive money for the following:
- Medical expenses, including doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, and surgery
- Rehabilitation costs
- Long-term medical care, if your back injury won’t heal
- Therapy or counseling to help you cope with the emotional effects of a bad back injury
- Lost wages, if you can’t work while you recover
- Lost future wages, if you can’t return to the same job (or to any job in the future)
You can also receive a sum of money (called “damages”) for any emotional pain caused by the injury. Many people experience a reduced quality of life after a severe back injury and are unable to socialize or even leave the house. They may withdraw from family or friends, which can contribute to emotional isolation, and they may become depressed if they can no longer play with children or pursue their hobbies.
Chronic pain is also a real concern. Many accident victims suffer for the rest of their lives with back pain that at best can be managed with prescription drugs. To help compensate you for this physical pain, you can receive pain and suffering damages. Although a pain-free back might be what you want the most, unfortunately, the courts can only give you money as an imperfect substitute.
Back injuries can change a person’s behavior, and destroy a person’s ability to perform the types of functions we all take for granted. Back injuries sometimes require long-term care and rehabilitation and may involve extraordinary medical expenses. At The Levin Firm, we understand the severity of these traumatic back injuries, and work with our clients, their friends and family, as well as their doctors, psychologists, long-term care planners, and others, to assure that our clients receive not only the finest legal representation but also the finest support and medical care.
Build Your Case Now
Representing clients with traumatic back injuries requires a team of aggressive investigators and lawyers all devoting their maximum effort to their clients. At The Levin Firm, our Pennsylvania, and New Jersey personal injury attorneys work together with a team of investigators and support staff to investigate every claim so that we may aggressively and zealously represent our clients and obtain the best possible results. Our team will fully review the factual circumstances and find evidence to help you win your case. For example, we will:
- Ask you questions about the accident to better understand what happened
- Interview witnesses
- Visit the scene of the accident
- Review medical records
- Secure a copy of any police report
- Consult with expert witnesses to better understand your injuries
And once a lawsuit is filed, we can collect even more evidence, such as:
- Ask the defendant questions under oath
- Request important documents from the defendant
- Send subpoenas requesting documents from third parties
- Have the defendant admit or deny key facts about the case
Collecting enough evidence to bring a lawsuit requires time and expertise that most people lack. At The Levin Firm, our personal injury lawyers know how to identify what information is necessary for your case—and develop an action plan to find it.
Speak With A Personal Injury Lawyer In Philadelphia Today
Accident victims need compensation to pay medical bills, replace lost wages, and get back on their financial feet. At The Levin Firm, we carefully review the factual record to identify who to hold responsible for your back injuries. Our experienced team of personal injury lawyers will then build a strong case tailored to the individual facts to increase your odds of receiving fair compensation. When you need a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or New Jersey personal injury attorney to represent you, a family member or friend who has suffered a back injury, contact The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers, who represent every client zealously in order to obtain the best results possible in each case. Call us today for a free consultation at 215-825-5183 or send an email through our online contact form.