Los Angeles Back Injury Lawyers

Suffering from a back injury can leave injured victims with lifelong disabilities or a severely changed quality of life. Our expert Los Angeles back injury lawyers are here to help accident victims and their families get back on their feet as quickly as possible. 

We will provide the best legal assistance to ensure that injured victims receive the maximum compensation they deserve, so they can focus on a healthy recovery.

Back injuries, in most cases, are related to spinal cord injuries. These can be catastrophic in nature. The implications of such injuries can be long-term or lifelong. Victims of a back or spinal injury may suffer permanent disabilities that range from complete paralysis to the inability to walk and a lack of sensation in their extremities.

Living with a back injury can be challenging, as it may require long-term medical treatment. And the cost of rehabilitation, physical therapy, and nursing care can be quite high. Such sorts of losses and damages may not be readily evident. Hence, the victim or their family should immediately contact qualified Los Angeles back injury lawyers to protect their rights.

What is a Back Injury?

The back includes:

• Spinal bones and joints of the spine (vertebrae).
• Discs separating the vertebrae and absorbing shock as you move.
• Muscles and ligaments holding the spine together.

Damage, wear, or trauma to the bones, muscles or other tissues of the back causes back injuries. The lower back is the most prominent site of back injuries and back pain. Common back injuries include sprains and strains, herniated discs, and fractured vertebrae. 

Common symptoms may include:

• Dull, aching sensation in the lower back, 
• Stabbing or shooting pain radiating down the leg, 
• Inability to stand up straight without pain, 
• Decreased range of motion and diminished ability to flex the back.

Lower back pain is the most common injury to the back muscles or ligaments. Back injuries can occur simply from lifting a heavy object, exercising too hard, or poor sitting posture. 

There may also be minor injuries caused by a slip, trip, and falls or sudden spine twisting. Severe back injuries can occur from car collisions, motorcycle accidents, falls from substantial heights, blunt hits to the back, or a penetrating injury such as a stab wound.

Common Causes of Back or Spinal Injuries

A back injury can occur for several reasons, but the most common cause is due to external trauma. These may include several types of accidents. Here are some common causes of back or spinal cord injuries:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Slip and Falls
• Truck Accidents
• Sports Injuries
• Violent Acts
• Medical Malpractice

Common Types of Back Injuries Caused by Accidents

Back injuries can be severe and may demand the victims to undergo prolonged and often expensive medical care to make a maximum recovery. A full recovery is not possible in many cases. Due to this, victims are forced to deal with rising medical expenses, loss of income, severe physical pain, and mental trauma arising from such injuries. 

If you suffered a back injury in an incident in Los Angeles due to someone else’s negligence, you will not have to deal with the incurring expenses on your own. The party responsible for your back injury will be expected to pay for your damages. 

Our Los Angeles spinal cord injury attorneys have the experience and resources to help you recover the fair compensation you and your family deserve in such cases. 

Some of the most common types of back injuries you can claim compensation for include:

Whiplash 

Whiplash injuries are the most common injury to the back and neck following rear-end auto crashes. It is caused by sudden back and forth neck movement, like a whip cracking. Other incidents like physical assaults, slip and fall accidents, and sports injuries can also cause whiplash. Whiplash symptoms may take hours or days after an accident to completely manifest. Typical symptoms include neck and back pain, muscle stiffness, tiredness, and dizziness.

Spinal Cord Injuries 

Spinal cord injuries can be considered severe injuries. Depending on the severity of the injury, this can lead to paralysis. Spinal injuries can further lead to additional medical complications like infections, internal bleeding, blood clots, and spinal fluid leakage. The recovery time can be quite long for a spinal cord injury victim and may require as much help and assistance as their friends and relatives can offer.

Spinal Fractures 

Spinal fractures occur when the head or spine endures a severe force hit. A common form of spinal fracture is a compression fracture, which is a slight crack or fissure around the vertebrae. This may either inflict little or no pain. The excruciating pain and discomfort can escalate even by breathing or walking. Spinal fractures are treated based on the severity, while some can recover through rest, others may require surgical options.

Herniated Discs 

During an accident, the discs cushioning the vertebrae in the spine can be exposed to excessive impact. The force will shift the discs, causing them to pinch nerves and induce pain or numbness. This is called a herniated disc injury. Sometimes, this type of damage can also be known as a slipped, ruptured, or bulging disc injury. Non-invasive methods are the best ways to treat a herniated disc. However, some severe cases may require surgery. 

Spondylolisthesis 

Spondylolisthesis occurs when the fractures cause the vertebrae to shift out of their aligned position. This causes the nerves or the spinal cord to compress, resulting in pain, numbness, discomfort, fatigue, and trouble walking. Most cases of spondylolisthesis may be treated using physical therapy or chiropractic adjustments. But, some cases can only be dealt with by surgery.

Spinal Stenosis 

While spinal stenosis is usually not directly triggered by an accident, but a collision may cause a person with asymptomatic spinal stenosis to begin experiencing symptoms. A spinal injury medical specialist can assess if your accident has exacerbated the effects of spinal stenosis, and you may file a personal injury claim and recover monetary compensation for your injury.

Soft Tissue Damage 

Injuries to the soft tissues of the back arise when the head, spine, chest, and shoulders of a person in a car accident are suddenly jolted around. This can cause muscles and ligaments to tear apart or rupture. Such injuries may severely affect your ability to perform daily activities. Sprain or a strain to the thoracic and lumbar spine are common examples.

Most back injuries don’t show up immediately. Therefore, it is vital that you seek prompt medical help in order to have your back injury properly diagnosed.

If your injuries were the result of someone else’s negligence, you should speak to a skilled attorney specializing in back injury claims as quickly as possible to protect your rights and explore your legal options.

Compensation for a Back Injury in Los Angeles

Although compensation claims won’t make up for all the pain and suffering, they may help ease the financial pressure and stress that might have been imposed upon you and your family. Contact a Los Angeles back injury lawyer today to discuss your case. 

As a back injury victim, one can seek financial compensation from the negligent party or an organization that is legally responsible for the direct cause of their injuries, or the underlying factor that contributed to their injuries. The compensatory damages in a back injury claim in Los Angeles may include: 

• Present and future medical bills
• Rehabilitation expenses
• Costs for occupational and job-retraining
• Compensation for household services
• Loss of wages due to inability to work
• Future earnings loss
• Pain and suffering, including mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium for affected spouses
• And many more

In rare back injury cases, punitive damages are awarded too. Punitive damages are awarded when the conduct of the defendant is considered so egregious or outrageous that the defendant’s behavior needs to be punished.

Factors That Can Affect a Back Injury Claims Value

While the value of a claim for a back injury will determine primarily on the severity of the injuries, there are two additional factors that will likely affect the amount of compensation received: 

• Failure to Mitigate Damages: You are expected to minimize bodily harm after you have sustained a back injury by taking appropriate action to mitigate the damage. Failure to take such steps will provide an opportunity for the defendant’s (the at-fault party responsible) insurance provider to reduce a significant portion of damages.
• Comparative Negligence: If you were found 20% at fault in the accident, your compensation award will be reduced by 20%, and you will be able to receive 80% of the total awarded damages.

Injured in an Accident? Contact Us Today!

Have you or a loved one sustained a back injury from an accident due to the reckless actions of a responsible party? We are here for you! Farahi Law Firm’s legal team of Los Angeles back injury lawyers have years of experience, and they advocate fiercely to protect the interests of injured victims. 

We work on a contingency fee basis. This means we won’t collect a single cent unless we win! Contact us or call us at (310) 601-4925 to schedule a free consultation.

Los Angeles Back Injury Lawyers: FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about back injury claims in Los Angeles.