At what point do you know you should talk to a personal injury lawyer?
If you’re experiencing ongoing back or neck pain after an accident—especially pain that radiates into your arms or legs—it may be a sign of a more serious spinal injury.
At what point do you know you should talk to a personal injury lawyer?
If you’re experiencing ongoing back or neck pain after an accident—especially pain that radiates into your arms or legs—it may be a sign of a more serious spinal injury.
A back or spinal injury can change your life in an instant. Symptoms such as those above can indicate a disc injury that is putting pressure on a nerve, which may lead to long-term or even permanent problems.
When symptoms like these develop after a car crash, fall, or other injury-causing event, it can indicate a disc injury that is putting pressure on a nerve, which may lead to long-term or even permanent problems. And it’s worth speaking with a personal injury lawyer.
An attorney can help you understand your rights, preserve important evidence, and make sure you don’t miss critical deadlines. Since most personal injury consultations are free, there’s little downside to getting legal advice and understanding your options.
At Maurer Law, we understand how devastating these injuries can be. We have helped people throughout Northern California pursue compensation after suffering serious back, neck, and spinal injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. Whether your injury resulted from a car accident, truck accident, motorcycle crash, bicycle collision, slip-and-fall accident, or another preventable incident, we are here to help.
Many people assume (or hope) a back injury is simply a matter of rest and recovery. Unfortunately, that is often not the case.
Back and spinal injuries can create chronic pain, mobility limitations, nerve damage, and permanent disability. Even injuries that initially seem minor can worsen over time and affect nearly every aspect of a person’s life.
Some of the most common spinal and back injuries we see include:
A herniated disc occurs when the soft center of a spinal disc pushes through its outer layer. This can place pressure on nearby nerves and cause:
Bulging discs might not require surgery, but they can still create significant pain and limitations. Many victims require months or years of treatment.
Broken vertebrae can occur during high-impact crashes or falls. Depending on the severity, these injuries can result in permanent impairment and ongoing medical needs.
Damage to the spinal cord is among the most catastrophic injuries a person can suffer.
Serious spinal cord injuries can result in:
Compressed or damaged nerves can affect movement, strength, and sensation throughout the body. These injuries often require extensive treatment and rehabilitation.
Insurance companies often dismiss whiplash as a “minor” injury. Anyone who has experienced severe neck pain, headaches, limited mobility, or chronic discomfort knows otherwise.
Whiplash injuries can significantly impact a person’s ability to work, sleep, drive, and enjoy everyday life.
California personal injury law allows injured victims to seek compensation when someone else’s negligence causes harm. To succeed in a personal injury claim, it generally must be shown that:
While this may sound straightforward, back and spinal injury claims are often heavily contested. Insurance companies will take strides to reduce how much they have to pay in any way they can. They will frequently argue:
These arguments are particularly common in spinal injury cases because many injuries cannot be seen with the naked eye.
This is one reason why having an experienced California personal injury lawyer is so important for your back or spine injury case.
After a serious accident, insurance companies often contact victims quickly. They may sound helpful, sympathetic, and willing to offer a settlement right away.
But be careful. Insurance companies understand that injured people are often facing the pressures of medical bills, missed paychecks, financial stress, and uncertainty. They know that a quick settlement can be tempting.
The problem is that spinal injuries often take months or even years to fully understand. You may not know:
And once you accept a settlement, you generally cannot go back and ask for more money later. That’s why we encourage clients to fully understand their medical condition and speak with a personal injury lawyer before resolving their claims.
At Maurer Law, we understand that a serious spinal injury affects far more than your physical health. It can affect your career, family, finances, independence, and future.
Our job is to protect your rights and pursue compensation that reflects the full impact of your injury.
Every injury is unique. We take the time to understand how your injury has affected your life and what you need moving forward.
Our personal injury lawyers carefully investigate each claim by gathering:
We work to clearly connect the accident to your injuries and document the full extent of your damages.
Back and spinal injury claims often require expert testimony. We work with physicians, surgeons, specialists, and rehabilitation professionals who help explain:
Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers working to minimize payouts. We handle communications and negotiations on your behalf so you can focus more time on healing.
You often need more than you initially think for recovery. Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include:
Many people underestimate the seriousness of a back injury because symptoms do not always appear immediately after an accident. Herniated discs, nerve damage, and soft tissue injuries can take days or weeks to fully develop. If your injury required medical treatment, caused pain, limited your activities, or affected your ability to work, it is worth speaking with an attorney.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can review the facts of your case and help determine whether compensation may be available.
We also recommend always seeing a doctor or urgent care center after a vehicle or other potentially severe accident, even if you feel all right immediately afterward. Detecting injuries early can not only help your recovery, but also the strength of your personal injury case.
BLOG: Why Seeing a Doctor After a Car Accident is Always a Good Idea
Having a pre-existing condition does not automatically prevent you from recovering compensation.
Under California law, you may still be entitled to compensation if an accident aggravated or worsened an existing condition. Insurance companies often try to blame symptoms entirely on prior injuries, but medical evidence can often show that the accident caused a significant worsening of your condition.
These cases can be complex, which is why experienced legal representation is especially important.
There is no universal answer because every injury and every person is different. Factors that may affect case value include:
A case involving temporary pain may be valued very differently than a case involving spinal surgery or permanent impairment. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you determine the specifics of your case.
In most personal injury cases, California’s statute of limitations is two years from the date of the injury.
However, certain circumstances can shorten or alter this deadline. For example, claims involving government entities often require action within a matter of months.
Because deadlines can be strict, it is best to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
BLOG: 3 Common Misconceptions in Personal Injury Cases
Most personal injury claims settle before trial.
However, insurance companies are more likely to make reasonable offers when they know an attorney is prepared to take a case to court if necessary.
At Maurer Law, we prepare every case thoroughly from the beginning. While many claims resolve through settlement, we are prepared to litigate when needed to pursue fair compensation.
There is no upfront cost to hire us.
We handle back and spinal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
We also offer free consultations so you can learn about your rights and options without financial pressure. You are under no obligation to hire us after a consultation, either.
If you or a loved one has suffered a back or spinal injury because of someone else’s negligence, don’t assume the insurance company will do the right thing. These injuries can have lifelong consequences, and it is important to understand the full extent of your condition before accepting any settlement.
At Maurer Law, we are committed to helping injury victims throughout Northern California receive the care, support, and compensation they need to move forward.
Contact our offices in Auburn, Grass Valley, Truckee, or Lincoln today to schedule a free consultation. We are here to listen, answer your questions, and help you understand your options.
"*" indicates required fields
