New York Back Injury Attorney 

A serious back injury can upend your life for a long time. They often occur because of car accidents, work accidents, and slip and falls. Some cause chronic pain and permanent disability. Depending on the severity, they can prevent you from working, leading to financial and emotional stress. If you suffered a debilitating back injury due to another party’s negligence, you could file a personal injury lawsuit and hold them accountable for your pain and losses.  

A New York personal injury attorney at Douglas & London will fight for your rights so that you have the best chance of recovering compensation. We are not afraid to take on the difficult cases. Our experience, care, and work ethic are second to none. We consult the best experts and specialists and give your case the attention it deserves. We produce extraordinary results. Contact us today for a free consultation.  

The Importance of Legal Representation in a Back Injury Case 

When you hire a back injury lawyer to represent you, they will negotiate with the defendant’s insurance company on your behalf. Insurance companies generally offer lowball settlement amounts to individuals because they want to settle claims quickly and cheaply. When the accident victim is represented by a lawyer, insurers know that these strategies will not work.  

Back injuries are often more complex to prove than other types of injuries. This gives the advantage to the insurance company, who may also deny your claim or minimize its seriousness. Legal representation is crucial in any back injury claim. The insurer knows your lawyer will determine a fair settlement value for damages based on their severity and prognosis and advocate on your behalf. 

A back injury attorney investigates your claim thoroughly. We will review police reports and medical records and work to obtain any surveillance video documenting the accident. Eyewitnesses are interviewed. If your back injury was due to a motor vehicle accident and the at-fault driver is suspected of distracted driving, we can subpoena their cell phone records. 

In addition, we identify all potentially liable parties in pursuing your claim. For example, if a vehicle malfunction contributed to the accident, the manufacturer or a repair facility may also be responsible.  

The Statute of Limitations in New York 

While the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit in New York is three years from the accident date or diagnosis, do not wait to contact a lawyer. Valuable evidence may disappear. It also becomes more challenging to prove that your back injury resulted from a slip and fall or motor vehicle accident, as the insurance company could allege that some other event caused your back pain.  

Remember that if the claim involves a government agency, such as a slip and fall accident in a public school or a motor vehicle accident involving a city bus, the statute of limitations is just 90 days.  

Pursuing Compensation in New York 

Compensation in a New York back injury claim may include economic and non-economic damages: 

  • Bills from physicians, hospitals, therapists, and other healthcare providers.  
  • Wages and salary that the victim is unable to earn while healing. 
  • Transportation costs to appointments for medical services and therapy. 
  • Physical damage to personal property. 
  • Expenses for medications, mobility assistance devices, and modifications to living space that are needed to facilitate limitations due to injuries. 
  • Pain and suffering caused by the injury 

Common causes of back injuries due to negligence include: 

Medical malpractice also contributes to back injuries. Because there are so many nerves in the spinal cord, even a minor error can result in lifelong pain or partial or full paralysis.  

Types of Back Injury Cases We Handle 

The types of back injury cases we handle include but are not limited to the following: 

  • Compression fractures–These fractures occur when one or more vertebrae in the spinal column collapse after damage from a car crash or other type of accident.  
  • Herniated disc–Discs may herniate or rupture due to the impact of a motor vehicle accident or fall. Because the herniated material impinges on nerves, the pain is usually intense.  
  • Spinal cord damage–The most severe type of back injury involves damage to the spinal cord, which can result in partial or total paralysis. 
  • Whiplash–The formal name for this injury is Cervical Acceleration Deceleration (CAD). Usually associated with car accidents, whiplash occurs when the head and neck move quickly forward and backward. While most people recover from whiplash within a few weeks, some suffer from long-term physical and neurological issues. Along with chronic pain, these accident victims deal with limited neck mobility.  

Contact Douglas & London for a Free Consultation 

If you suffered a back injury because of another party’s recklessness, you need the New York Injury Lawyers at Douglas & London. For nearly two decades, we have had the privilege of representing those injured by the negligent or fraudulent actions of others. While most back injury cases are settled, we will take your case to court if the insurance company does not agree to a reasonable settlement. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today. Because we work on a contingency basis, there is no fee unless you receive compensation.