If you or a loved one has suffered a neck or back injury as a result of an auto accident, the attorneys at Brown & Crouppen are here to help. Getting started with your case is easy. Call 888-801-4736 or get a free case evaluation online. If you’re eligible to recover compensation, our legal team will help you understand your legal options, build a strong claim, and pursue financial compensation for damages. We’ve recovered a over $1 billion for clients, including those who have suffered back and neck injuries as a result of a car accident. And remember, there are no upfront costs or legal fees – we only get paid if you win.
Use our legal checklist to learn what to do after an accident and understand key legal considerations for recovering financial compensation.
What Impacts the Value of a Neck or Back Injury Settlement?
Like most car accident settlements, the value of a neck or back injury settlement depends on multiple factors, including:
- Severity of the injuries – The extent of your injury, including the severity of pain, limitations in mobility, and any long-term effects, will heavily influence the settlement value. More severe injuries often lead to higher settlements.
- Medical treatment costs – The cost and extent of medical treatment your injury requires, such as surgery, therapy, and medication, plays a significant role in the value of your settlement, with greater expenses translating to higher settlement value.
- Lost wages and income – If your injury prevents you from working or reduces your earning capacity, your lost wages and income will be factored into the settlement. The greater the losses, the greater the value of your potential settlement.
- Permanent disability or impairment – If your injury results in permanent disability or impairment, such as paralysis, loss of limb function, or chronic pain, the value of your settlement may be higher to account for long-term consequences.
Back & Neck Injury Settlement Examples
At Brown & Crouppen, we’ve secured millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for clients who have suffered back and neck injuries in various accidents. Our case results speak for themselves. Here are some notable results:
Client injured neck & back after at-fault driver hydroplaned across a multi-lane highway, hitting the them head on
Client injured back after being rear-ended
Client suffered a neck injury while he was stopped at a red light and was rear-ended by a semi truck
Get started with a free consultation with one of our skilled Personal Injury Lawyers today.
Types of Damages Available to Back & Neck Injury Victims
People who sustain a neck or back injury due to another’s negligent actions are eligible for two types of compensation: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic
Economic damages are directly related to the financial losses you experience due to your neck or back injury from a car accident. They may include:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Lost income or wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Lost employment benefits
- Home modifications
- In-home assistance or care costs
Non-Economic
Non-economic damages compensate for the losses that are not easily quantifiable, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent impairment and disability
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
How To Prove a Back & Neck Injury
Proving a back or neck injury from an auto accident involves four key elements: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. This process can be complex, as many factors can contribute to each phase, so it’s important to have help from a skilled auto accident injury lawyer.
Your lawyer will begin by establishing the defendant’s duty of care. Since this is an auto accident case, your lawyer would establish that the at-fault driver was responsible for operating their vehicle safely to avoid causing harm to another person.
Next, your lawyer must prove that the at-fault driver breached this duty of care. For example, suppose the other driver was on their mobile phone while driving, thus breaching the duty of care through distracted driving. This step requires various types of evidence, which may include:
- Accident reports
- Eyewitness testimonies
- Expert testimonies
- Surveillance footage
- Cell phone records
- Vehicle maintenance records
- Photos and videos of the scene and injuries
Using this information, you must prove that the at-fault driver’s negligent actions caused your accident. Each case varies, but in this example, your lawyer must demonstrate how the at-fault driver could have avoided the accident and prevented your injuries had they not been on their phone.
Lastly, your lawyer will connect the dots, bringing the causation points to the resulting damages. They will demonstrate the damages you have suffered because of your back or neck injury, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Your lawyer plays a pivotal role in each step of the car accident settlement process. By hiring a skilled auto accident injury lawyer, you can fight for the most compensation possible.
Common Types of Back & Neck Injuries After An Auto Accident
Car accidents can cause various back and neck injuries due to the sudden impact and force involved. Some of the most common injuries include:
- Whiplash: Sudden movement of the head backward and forward, straining neck muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
- Neck Sprains and Strains: Damage to muscles and ligaments in the neck, often from violent jerking movements.
- Cervical Disc Injuries: Damage to the discs between the vertebrae in the neck, potentially causing herniation.
- Cervical Fractures: Fractures or breaks in the cervical vertebrae, which can be severe and may require immobilization.
- Pinched Nerve (Cervical Radiculopathy): Compression or irritation of the nerves in the neck, causing pain, tingling, or weakness that can radiate to the arms.
- Herniated Disc: The cushioning discs between vertebrae can rupture or bulge, pressing on nerves and causing pain, numbness, or weakness.
- Spinal Fractures: Fractures in the vertebrae, which can range from mild to severe, possibly affecting the spinal cord.
- Thoracic Spine Injuries: Injuries in the middle and upper back that may involve fractures or herniated discs due to the force of impact.
- Lower Back Strains and Sprains: Soft tissue injuries in the lower back, affecting muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
- Sciatica: Injury to the lower back that causes irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, leading to pain radiating down the legs.
- Spondylolisthesis: A condition where one vertebra slips over another, often due to trauma, causing instability and pain.
- Compression Fractures: Small cracks in the vertebrae that can cause pain and limit movement, often affecting older adults.
Each of these injuries can range from mild to severe, and some may have long-term consequences if not treated properly.
Call Our Experienced Auto Accident Injury Lawyers
A car accident lawyer can help you maximize the compensation of your settlement by collecting evidence, handling the legal process, and negotiating with the insurance company. If you or a loved one has suffered back and/or neck injuries as a result of a car accident, call 888-801-4736 or request a free case evaluation to see if you are eligible to recover compensation.
The accident & injury attorneys at Brown & Crouppen have helped our clients recover over $1 billion dollars as a result of settlements and verdicts. With over 250 legal professionals and attorneys in St. Louis, Kansas City, and other locations throughout the Midwest, we can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
