Compensation for Back Injuries in North Carolina Accidents | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

February 20, 2020

Blog, North Carolina Personal Injury

Most people don’t give their back a second thought – until something happens to cause back pain. Suddenly, that’s all they can think of because that pain interferes with their ability to enjoy a pain-free day.

The back is compromised of a complicated system of bones, nerves, muscles, and tissues. The spine itself is made of 33 bones. These bones surround and protect all the delicate nerves that are located in the spinal cord. It’s no surprise, then, that when a person suffers an injury to the back, there is often extreme pain, which also limits their mobility. Even a minor back injury can wreak havoc on a person’s life, causing discomfort or pain that can be absolutely debilitating.

A victim who has sustained a back injury in an accident that was caused by another party’s negligence should be aware that they may be entitled to financial compensation for the losses that their back injury has caused them through a personal injury lawsuit.  

Back Injuries Caused by Negligence

There are numerous causes for back injuries that could result in a personal injury lawsuit if that injury results in medical bills, missed days of work, and more. Most of the accidents that cause back injuries are a result of negligence on the part of another party.

For example, a distracted driver who is texting and doesn’t see the person crossing the street at the crosswalk is legally negligent for the pedestrian accident and losses the victim suffers because of the injuries they sustained in the accident. Another example is a property owner who fails to fix a hazard that results in a visitor to the property becoming seriously injured. In each of these cases, it was the negligence of another party that caused the victim to suffer injuries.

Some of the most common types of back injuries the personal injury attorneys at our firm see include:

  • Soft tissue injury: When there has been damage to ligaments, muscles, and tendons in the back, the victim can suffer serious pain and have a significant reduction and difficulty in mobility.
  • Slipped discs: There are discs between each vertebra in the spine that work as shock absorbers and allows movement. In an accident, the discs can become broken or damaged. A herniated or ruptured disc often causes a victim a great amount of pain.
  • Fractured bones in the back or vertebra: When a bone in the back is fractured, the shards of the bone can cause damage to muscles, nerves, soft tissue, or other bones. The closer the fractured bone is to the spinal cord, the more dangerous the risks of serious injury and permanent damage.
  • Nerve damage: If nerves in the back become damaged in an accident, the victim can suffer reduced muscle control or loss of sensation. One of the most serious nerve injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis.

Let a Carolinas Accident Attorney Help

If you have suffered a back injury in an accident, you are likely dealing with the physical and possible emotional effects of the accident. Accident victims often are faced with financial difficulties because of the accident, too. Injuries often mean expensive medical bills; the more severe the injury, the more astronomical the bills.

Depending on the severity of the injury, there is often a period of time that the victim is ordered by their doctor to not work because they need rest to recover. This is especially true for back injury victims. Unfortunately, many back injury victims are unable to go back to the professions they had before the accident and injury occurred because there is often some degree of permanent damage and/or chronic pain.

If the accident was caused by another party who behaved recklessly or negligently, North Carolina allows victims to take legal action in order to obtain financial compensation for all of these financial expenses. Victims can also pursue damages for losses that are not economic, such as pain and suffering, scarring emotional anguish, and more.

If you would like to discuss your situation, contact our office to speak with a seasoned North Carolina accident attorney. Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp has been advocating for accident victims for more than three decades and will work diligently to get you the compensation you deserve.

 

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