Neck and Back Injury Lawyers
Neck and back injuries can hide themselves.
Car accidents are the main cause of neck and back injuries. These types of injuries can be mild to severe. It’s important that you understand that neck and back injuries aren’t always the most severe directly after an accident. If you have been in an accident a neck and back injury lawyer can help you navigate your accident.
It can take days, weeks, and even a year or more for the pain to fully mature from an accident. We’ve worked several cases where our clients neck or back injury was much, much worse as compared to just after or weeks after the accident.
If you feel your accident was the cause of someone else’s neglect you should give us a call right away. Avoid talking to their insurance company, taking any settlement, signing any papers, or giving statements to anyone other than the police. We can help guide you on what to do next.
Protect Yourself
Neck and Back Injures can be caused from several different types of accidents. Most of these accidents are going to fall under Personal Injury Liability Law. However, if your injury happened in the workplace, Workers’ Compensation can be a better place to start. If you’re unsure we really only a phone call away.
What to do After an Accident: Neck and Back Injuries
If you’ve just experienced an accident that might have injured your neck or back you need to take the proper steps to make sure you’re protected. With most injuries it might not seem as worse as it really is directly after an accident. It can take days for your body to let you know if something is really wrong.
- Get Professional Medical Help
It’s advised to seek the medical advice of a professional. Get to a doctor as soon as you can. Get to an ER if you feel your injury is VERY serious. You can also use an urgent care if you feel it’s less serious. We are not medical professionals, and when you’re hurt you might not have the best idea of how bad your injuries are either. - Report the Accident
If you were in a car accident, report your accident to the authorities. If the accident occured at work or in a business, report it to your employer or the business owner so it doesn’t happen again. - DOCUMENT EVERYTHING
Document as much as you can. Take notes, take pictures or video. Sometimes right after a car accident you have to move your car. Take note of where was. - Don’t Talk to Anyone (besides making a statement)
After a car accident be sure not to admit fault, even if you feel it was. Accidents happen very fast and there are many instances where our client thought they were at fault but they weren’t. Insurance companies will also try to get a statement and ask you how you feel, etc. Right after an accident your body is tense so injuries won’t show as fast. They know this and can use your statement against you later on. - Talk to Our Accident Lawyers
Our Rockford Accident Lawyers have won many types of accident cases. Our clients come to us when they are in pain, risk expensive medical bills, and need guidance as to what their legal rights are. Call Us Right Away – (815) 964-8303.
Neck and Back Injuries Can Get Worse
Even minor injuries can lead to ongoing pain. During an accident most people get a large boost of adrenaline to their system. Adrenaline has the ability to remove pain so you can fight or flight. But once that adrenaline wears off you’ll realize just how hurt you really are.
Seeking medical care immediately after an accident can:
- Help improve treatment outcomes. Doctors can diagnose and monitor your condition so you have the best chance at recovery.
- Protect you when your injury claim is being challenged as illegitimate. Refusing to seek medical care can diminish your claim.
If you are involved in a collision or other accident and believe you might have suffered a spinal cord, neck, or back injury – do not hesitate to reach out to a doctor for treatment or a diagnosis. By NOT doing so you risk further damage or injury and you risk the validity of your claim if you file one.
We work with these types of cases on a regular basis. We can provide you with the guidance to keep you protected. Not every accident and injury will lead to a lawsuit. Our consultation is always free. And if you have a case you won’t pay anything unless we win.
Was The Other Driver(s) in Your Car Crash Negligent?
Don’t be so fast to assume that your accident wasn’t something that could have been prevented. Everyday we work with accident victims who are unsure who was at fault, if anyone, for the accident they were in.
Motor vehicle crashes are the most likely causes of spinal cord injuries and lead to nearly half of the traumatic spinal cord injuries every year in the United States. The vast majority of car crashes happen because a person fails to use the appropriate level of caution.
Legal Speak: The law deems a person negligent when they fail to act as a reasonably prudent person.
Or – a person is negligent when they are doing something that is reasonable for a driver to do. And that’s not for you or our lawyers to decide but jor a judge or jury. We just need to state our case if we feel there is adequate evidence. And we have several years of experience in determining how strong a case can be.
Suing for Neck and Back Injuries
Recovering damages for neck and back injuries related to a car crash vary drastically.
For instance, if a person suffers minor injuries and recovers in a short amount of time, the total damages will likely be a smaller sum than those recoverable in a traumatic case with a victim who suffers permanent paralysis.
The types of damages a victim can sue for are economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.
Economic Damages
This is the actual financial loss a victim experiences. Loss of work and pay (or loss of income), medical bills, future medical bills, loss of vehicle, etc.
Non-Economic Damages
This refers to a person’s pain and suffering. There is no precise way to calculate a person’s pain and suffering. Courts have to come up with ways of determining a fair amount of compensation for a person who suffered pain and whose quality of life diminished because of an accident. The non-economic damages in cases often are for amounts that exceed the economic damages.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages do not compensate the victim but are punishment. Drunk drivers are an example of individuals who might face punitive damages claims.
What Happens if I’m Partially at Fault for the Accident That Caused My Injury
Car crashes often involve more than 2 drivers. Sometimes more than one driver is found to be partially “at-fault” for the accident. This is called Comparative Negligence and Culpability in Illinois.
When this happens the crash victim has to prove the other party is more at fault for their injuries. Illinois has a modified form of comparative negligence and isn’t as strict as some other states. Some states will and can ban someone from recovering damages for their injuries if they were even slightly at fault.
Illinois – Drivers Must be 50% at Fault or More
In Illinois, a driver who is more than 50% at fault cannot recover from a driver who is less than 50% at fault.
However, the driver that is partially at fault, but less than 50%, can collect reduced damages. Courts will reduce the injured person’s damages to reflect their fault.
Filing a Lawsuit for Neck and Back Injuries
Neck and back injuries from a car crash fall under Personal Injury. Our Neck and Back Injury Attorneys frequently work in and around Rockford. View the areas we serve here. If you think you might have a case you should contact us first. It’s free of charge and very easy to do.
You can file a lawsuit for your injuries yourself, but more cases are won – and more compensation is awarded – when you use an attorney. A lawyer who has experience working cases like yours will be better than a lawyer who practices another type of law.
For instance, don’t hire a traffic attorney for a personal injury case. Get a personal injury attorney that works with cases like yours.
Steps Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit
- File a complaint.
This is a document that includes allegation of wrongdoing, facts of the case and the amount in damages you’re seeking. - Discovery Process
This is when each part will seek information from individuals associated with the case. Witnesses, doctors, etc. Medical records are very important. - Deposition
This is a form of an interview while the witness is under oath. Both parties will be subjected to this, even possibly any witnesses. - Settlement Offer or Jury
After everything has been collected and analyzed it’s time to agree on a settlement. If a settlement can’t be agreed upon a jury might need to get involved. Most cases settle and don’t go to a jury.
Finding the Right Lawyers for Your Case
At Rockford Personal Injury Lawyers, we take the rights of those suffering from neck and back injuries seriously.
For a 100% free, no hassle, and honest consultation about how we may be able to assist in your recovery, please call, text message, or email us directly 24/7/365 at (815) 964-8303.