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Carlsbad Back Injury Car Accident Lawyer
Were you recently involved in a Carlsbad car accident caused by another driver’s carelessness? Are you experiencing new back pain or the worsening of existing back injuries? Are you frustrated by the medical bills that keep coming in, even though you weren’t at fault for the accident? If this describes your situation, you need a lawyer who can help you understand your options. You need an attorney who has extensive experience working with client clients suffering from back and spine injuries after a Carlsbad car accident. You need a lawyer who will take your case as seriously as you do. Contact our Carlsbad car accident attorney for a Free Consultation.
We are The Levinson Law Group
We are The Levinson Law Group, a respected Carlsbad car accident law firm with extensive experience working with clients who suffered spine injuries in motor vehicle collisions. Unlike most other personal injury law firms in the area, we only handle car accident claims, which gives us an unparalleled knowledge of what goes into these cases.
At The Levinson Law Group, we believe that you should not be accountable for the medical bills related to an accident you did not cause. Our experienced team of personal injury lawyers represents clients who have suffered back injuries in Carlsbad car accidents. We understand how these injuries impact your life, and can help you identify what amount of money you would need to cover your lifetime expenses. To learn more about your options, give The Levinson Law Group a call. We accept cases on a contingent fee. That means that if there is no recovery in your case, you pay no fee. And in most cases, we even advance the costs.
Back Injuries from Car Accidents
An estimated 450,000 people across the United States suffer from some type of spine injury. And every year approximately 17,000 people experience a newly diagnosed spine injury.
According to the most recent data from the National Spinal Cord Statistical Center, car accidents are the most common cause of spinal injuries. Males are more likely to suffer a spinal injury than females, in fact, males comprise 78 percent of all new spine-injury patients.
The average length of a hospital stay among those suffering a spine injury is 11 days, while the average length of stay at a rehabilitation facility after a back injury is 34 days. At the time of hospital discharge, less than 1 percent of people experienced complete neurological recovery. Approximately 30 percent of people with a spine injury are re-hospitalized within a year, resulting in an average hospital stay of 22 days.
The Costs of Spinal Injuries
The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center provides estimates about lifetime costs for someone suffering a spine injury. Of course, the total cost depends on the extent of the injury.
- High Tetraplegia: $1,149,629 for the first year, and $199,637 for each following year. Assuming the injury occurred at age 25, this results in a lifetime cost of $3,727,066.
- Low Tetraplegia: $830,708 for the first year, and $122,468 for each following year. Assuming the injury occurred at age 25, this results in a lifetime cost of $3,727,066.
- Paraplegia: $560,287 for the first year, and $74,221 for each following year. Assuming the injury occurred at age 25, this results in a lifetime cost of $2,494,338.
The Basics of Back and Spine Injuries
When someone is experiencing back pain, it can be due to a few different underlying causes. However, for those who did not experience back pain before being involved in a car accident, there are fewer causes. That said, the spine is an extremely complex organ, and doctors are still learning about spinal trauma and its lifelong impacts. Before getting into the types of back injuries that are common after a Carlsbad car accident, it helps to understand how the back and spine work.
The spine is responsible for transmitting nerve impulses that originate in the brain to other parts of the body. Thus, the spinal cord is responsible for all movement, not just movement in and around the back.
The spinal cord is a fragile, gel-like structure that can very easily be damaged on its own.
The spinal cord runs right down the center of the back, through the spine, which protects the spinal cord. The adult spinal column consists of 24 vertebrae, which are small block-like bones with small holes in the center, which the spinal cord travels through. In between each vertebra, there is a cushiony disc that acts as a shock absorber.
A back injury can refer to damage to any of the following structures:
- The spinal cord
- The vertebrae
- The discs
- The soft tissues (muscles, ligaments and tendons)
Typically, the most serious car accident-related back injuries involve damage to the spinal cord itself. Often, this is due to damage to the spinal column, which then places additional pressure on the spinal cord. However, in some very serious car accidents, the spinal cord can get severed.
Common Carlsbad Back Injuries Resulting From a Car Accident
A car accident can cause a variety of back injuries. However, given the way people sit in the car, a few types of injuries are more common than others. For example, the following are common back injuries stemming from a Carlsbad car accident:
Herniated Discs
Fractures
The Real Cost of Carlsbad Back Injuries
The treatment for back injuries varies widely, depending on the type and extent of the injury. In less serious cases, medication, rest and physical therapy may be enough to reach a full recovery. However, if you’ve suffered serious spine damage in the accident, you could face a long—and costly—road to recovery. For example, you may end up spending days, weeks or even longer in the hospital. Once released from the hospital, you may require additional surgeries and will almost certainly need extensive physical and occupational therapy. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, those who suffer even moderate spinal injuries can expect to pay upwards of $1.5 million in direct medical costs. Of course, those who suffer more severe injuries will incur much higher treatment costs, potentially reaching into the millions of dollars for the lifetime cost of treatment.
While this may seem like an overwhelming amount of money, it is only the tip of the iceberg. If you’ve suffered a spinal injury in a Carlsbad car accident, your ability to work will also be impacted; certainly, while you are recovering, and maybe even into the distant future.
Damages in a California Car Accident Lawsuit
Before you decide whether to bring a claim against another driver, it is important to know what you could recover by bringing the case. This gives you an idea of what you may be leaving on the table if you choose not to pursue a claim.
Generally, California law allows two broad types of damages in car accident claims: compensatory and punitive.
Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages, compensate motorists for the injuries they suffered in the crash, both physical and psychological.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages, which are relatively rare in California accident cases, focus on punishing an at-fault party for conduct that amounts to malice, oppression, or fraud.
Accident Resources
Reach Out to The Levinson Law Group to Schedule a Free Consultation Today
If you are experiencing back pain after a Carlsbad car accident, don’t hesitate to get checked out by a doctor. The sooner you obtain a diagnosis, the sooner you can begin your road to recovery. At The Levinson Law Group, our dedicated team of San Diego car accident lawyers is here to help you in any way we can.
If you have questions about the recovery process, we can answer them. If you are not sure you want to bring a case against the other driver, that’s fine; we will not pressure you. We only want to make sure that you are informed, so you can make the best decision for yourself and your family.
When you decide to work with The Levinson Law Group, you can rest assured that you will have someone in your corner throughout the entire process. We begin by explaining the recovery process in understandable terms, and make ourselves available to answer your questions whenever they come up. To learn more about your options, give The Levinson Law Group a call at 760-827-1700. We accept cases on a contingent fee. That means that if there is no recovery in your case, you pay no fee. And in most cases, we even advance the costs.
