A back injury can make life difficult in many ways. You might be unable to move, work, or live as you could before the back pain. Even simple functions like sitting up straight or walking can be debilitating with a severe back injury.
Even worse, you might have a back injury due to an accident that you didn’t cause. If you or a loved one were injured in this way in Stonecrest, you have legal rights. You might be entitled to financial recovery for your injury costs.
Our Stonecrest back injury lawyers know what to do. At John Foy & Associates, we have 20-plus years of experience helping accident victims. To ensure you know your compensation rights, contact us today. Call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online for a FREE consultation.
The Physical and Financial Toll of Back Injuries
Back pain is not always apparent right after an accident. You might feel slight pain or discomfort, but the full pain can set in over time. Since your body is in “fight or flight” mode after an accident, adrenaline and other hormones might mask the pain.
Hours or days after the accident, you might notice severe back pain during moving, walking, or other activities. Major back injuries might need surgeries, physical therapy, or other treatments. Medical care is often incredibly expensive, and you might be unable to work at the same time.
If someone else’s actions caused your back injury, you might have damages like:
- Doctor and hospital bills
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy or rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Vehicle or property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Back injuries can impact daily movement, bladder or bowel control, the ability to work, sexual functions, and more. The back is involved in many different bodily functions. A sudden injury might make it important to carry on working or living as before.
If you were not at fault, you might deserve compensation for these losses. When someone’s negligence causes an accident, they have breached their legal duty of care. A breached legal duty entitles you to financial recovery, according to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) §51-1-6.
You can seek compensation through a personal injury claim or lawsuit. Most of the time, injury victims can achieve a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
Get the strong arm
Types of Back Injuries
Back pain might result from a variety of injuries, such as:
- Broken bones
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Spinal cord injuries
- Contusions
- Sprains and strains
- Pinched nerves
- Whiplash or other neck injuries
Car accidents, slip and falls, and other accidents can cause back injuries. Some back pain goes away within a few weeks, while many back injuries last for 12 weeks or more. Some back injuries plague a victim for life or lead to disabilities.
Talk to a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident-related back injury. You might be entitled to compensation for your injury costs and more. To discuss your rights with a personal injury lawyer, call John Foy & Associates at (404) 400-4000 for a FREE consultation.
Proving Fault After a Back Injury
If someone else’s actions led to your back injury, you might be able to recover damages. To have a valid case, you must prove the following:
- The at-fault party owed you a duty of care.
- That duty of care was breached.
- The breached duty led to your accident.
- You suffered injuries and other damages from the accident.
For example, maybe you were driving through an intersection when another person ran a stop sign. The other driver’s car collided with your vehicle, causing a crash. After leaving the scene, you notice pain in your back that gets steadily worse.
If the other driver was at fault, they are responsible for your accident injuries. You can file a claim with the driver’s insurance company for your damages.
Back injuries are often costly. They might require medical treatment for many months or years. A personal injury claim can help you recover all of your costs and begin to move on.
What to Do After a Back Injury
If an accident caused your back injury, you have rights. However, you will need to bring a legal case yourself for what you deserve. A Stonecrest back injury lawyer can help, and there are steps you can take to gather information.
Here are some ways you can protect your legal rights.
Report the Accident
If you were in a car accident, call the police to report it. If you fell on someone’s property, notify the property owner or manager.
Don’t simply leave the scene if you were injured. Make sure the accident gets reported so that there is a record of it happening.
Take Pictures
Use your phone or a camera to take pictures of the accident scene. If you have any bruising, cuts, or other visible injuries, photograph them. Picture evidence helps preserve the scene long after you’ve left it.
Look around to see if there were eyewitnesses. Ask those people for their contact information. Your lawyer will contact them later for witness statements.
See a Doctor
Always see a doctor after an accident someone else might have caused. Even if you feel alright, have a doctor examine you for possible injuries.
Neck and back injuries can worsen with time. Tell your doctor about any pain or discomfort, no matter how small. They might order imaging tests to look for underlying damage.
Visiting the doctor will also create a record of you getting treatment. You’ll know if other injuries need medical care. If you wait too long to see a doctor, it will hurt your injury claim.
Document Your Damages
Save all bills and receipts of your damages. You’ll need documentation to support your losses in your claim. Your lawyer can also use everything you’ve collected to build your case.
Talk to a Back Injury Lawyer for Free Today
Don’t get stuck paying for a painful and costly back injury you didn’t cause. At John Foy & Associates, we can help you build a strong claim for the financial recovery you deserve. We have over 20 years of experience, and we’re not afraid to fight for your rights.
Call us at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online to get a free, no-risk consultation. There is no charge unless we win you compensation.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form