St. Louis, Missouri Back Injury Lawyer

St. Louis Back Injury Lawyer When you are in a Missouri car accident, you can seriously injure your back. Back Injuries are the most common injuries handled by our Personal Injury Lawyers. Typical back injuries can include dislocation or fractures of the vertebrae, damage to the soft-tissues, or damage to the nerves in the back. Nearly one-fourth of all back injuries result from car accidents due to being thrust in different directions during the crash.

How We Maximize Your Back Injury Settlement

We are often asked, "What kind of settlement should I receive for my back injury?". There is no general response to this answer and any lawyer who tries to answer this question without knowing more about your case is not the one you want to represent you. Determining the value of your back injury settlement is dependent on a number of factors. Some of these factors include:

Back Injury Diagnosis

Simply put, the insurance companies and juries value your case much differently depending on the diagnosis your doctor gives you. For instance, if your doctor simply says you have a case of whiplash, that case will be worth less than if you have a diagnosis of an acute herniated disc. Thus, it is crucial you get to the right doctor - a specialist such as an orthopedist or pain management physician.

Amount of Your Medical Bills

Probably the biggest factor used by the insurance companies in determining their settlement authority is the amount of your medical bills. This can also include the likelihood of related future medical bills. Simply, the higher your bills, often the higher the case value. One trick the insurance company likes to play is that they will use only your out of pocket expenses in their calculations. This is a gimmick and it is not what the law says. The law says that a jury can consider the total amount billed.

Delay Between Treatment Dates

The longer period of time in between your treatment dates, the less the insurance company will value your claim. This is especially critical for the time period directly after the crash. Do not wait to get into the doctor. It could cost you thousands of dollars.

If You Are Represented By an Injury Lawyer

Insurance companies often offer less money to someone who is not represented. This is because the key to negotiation is leverage and power. They figure that if you do not like their offer, there is not much you will be able to do about it if you do not have a lawyer. Insurance Company studies show that individuals represented by a lawyer recover 400% more on average.

Common Types of Back Injuries

One of the most common back injuries we see is the herniated disc. The space between the vertebrae is cushioned by spinal discs. Spinal discs have external shells that are filled with fluid. When an individual is injured, one or more of these discs can bulge or break. If the spinal disc breaks (known as an annular tear), the fluid could leak onto the spine's nerve roots. If this happens, the pain may become debilitating. The pain can radiate to different parts of the body depending on where the spinal disc has been injured. If the herniation is in the lower back, pain is felt in the legs. If the herniation is in the neck, pain is felt in the arms.

Broken bones or vertebrae in the back and neck are also common injuries. When a person fractures a bone, the pain can be excruciating. Unlike herniated discs, breaks or fractures in the back do not cause pain in other parts of the body unless there is pressure on the surrounding nerves. If you've ever had a broken bone before, you know how painful it can be.

Other common back injuries we see include:

Whiplash
Spondylolisthesis
Spinal Stenosis

Symptoms of a Back Injury

Back injuries can threaten an individual's quality of life. Injuries to the spinal cord and vertebrae sometimes require long-term and expensive care. The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves found in the backbone that controls the body. The symptoms individuals have when their back has been injured in a Missouri car accident are:

Lack of sensation in the limbs
Bowel and bladder problems
Issues with blood pressure
Body temperature issues
Lack of motor function
Chronic pain
Paralysis

If you have been in a Missouri car accident and are suffering any combination of these symptoms, please consult a doctor. The longer you wait to see a doctor, the worse your injuries could become.

How We Prove a Back Injury to a Jury

An injury to the vertebrae is easy to diagnose with a simple x-ray. Herniated discs are often more difficult to diagnose and require the use of a CT scan or MRI to confirm the injury. When we present the injuries to a jury, we use current medical diagnosis and expert witnesses to prove the injury claim. Our Missouri accident lawyers only use the best experts in the medical field and they have the most sophisticated equipment to diagnose back injuries that are a result of a Missouri car accident. When we argue an injury claim in front of a jury, we discuss:

The quality of life after all treatment is provided
The professional diagnosis of the injury
Any ongoing treatment that is needed
The amount of treatment provided
How the injury occurred

What to do if You've Suffered a Back Injury

Missouri car accidents that cause the body to be violently thrown are very serious. A back injury can alter a person's quality of life and affect their family. Back injuries range from minor injuries that require physical therapy, moderate injuries that require surgery, or serious injuries that will require constant medical care for the duration of life. If you have been in a Missouri car accident and have back injuries, it is crucial that you consult an experienced personal injury lawyer that specializes in back injuries.

A Missouri car accident that results in an injury is bad enough, and the insurance company does not have your best interest in mind. Some insurance companies will try to argue that the injury pre-existed the accident or that there is no medical proof of the injury. When you've been injured in a Missouri car accident you have to:

Deal with the insurance company
Deal with the medical expenses
Deal with the loss of income
Deal with the pain

You shouldn't have to deal with these things alone, which is why our experienced personal injury lawyers in Missouri want to help. A Missouri car accident can be a life-altering event that creates many problems. You shouldn't have to fight for your compensation alone. Let us fight for you.

No Medical Insurance? Don't Worry - We Can You Get Into The Doctor

Back injuries that are the result of a Missouri car accident often require expensive medical treatment. Unfortunately, too many people fail to get medical care for their injuries because they do not have health insurance. If you have been injured in a car accident, call and speak to one of our Missouri car accident lawyers immediately. Over the years, we have developed strong professional relationships with many medical specialists across Missouri and can make the necessary arrangements for you to get the treatment you need for your injuries. Most often you will not be required to pay any upfront charges for your care because the doctors are paid when your case is settled.