California Back Injury Lawyer
A serious back injury can be debilitating, leaving sufferers bed-ridden and struggling with excruciating pain. According to statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor, back injuries account for some 24 percent of all workplace injuries and illness and affect more than one million Americans every year. Acute low back pain is the second most common reason for doctor’s visits in the United States, trailing only flus and colds. Back injuries can happen to people of all ages and occupations, resulting in long-term disability that can jeopardize the enjoyment and quality of one’s life.
If your pain and suffering was caused by a dangerous workplace, a negligent driver or unsafe conditions, it’s important to align yourself with a knowledgeable back injury lawyer at Ellis Law. Our legal team has the knowledge and resources to assess the current and future costs of a severe lower back injury, whether caused by a herniated disc, a compression fracture, a strain or a pinched nerve. A successful injury claim can recoup damages for all hospital and medical bills, lost wages, loss of future earnings, emotional distress, and permanent disability.
For more than 25 years, Ellis Law has provided aggressive representation to personal injury victims throughout Los Angeles County and Southern California. Legal consultations are complimentary and we are available to discuss your case 24/7.
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Types of back injury
An estimated 80 percent of adults will experience a back injury during their lifetime. While some injuries like muscle sprains are minor, others can involve vertebra, ligaments and nerves, leaving victims to grapple with severe, chronic pain.
Some of the most common types of back injury include:
- Bulging or slipped disc
- Herniated disc
- Lumbar ligament sprain
- Torn disc
- Fractured vertebrae
- Pinched nerve
- Compression fracture
- Strained and sprained muscles
- Spinal cord injury, resulting in paralysis
If you hurt your back on the job, in a car wreck, or during a fall, it’s imperative to seek medical attention immediately. Back injury symptoms can seem mild at first, or may not manifest for days. Be on the lookout for the following signs:
- Sudden, localized pain (may be a dull ache or sharp and radiating)
- Difficulty standing up straight without pain
- Muscle tightness and stiffness, lack of mobility
- Pain that worsens with movement
- Tingling sensation
- Back soreness accompanied by a fever
- Sharp muscle spasms in the low back
- Numbness that travels down to the buttocks and legs
- Difficulty urinating
Back injury treatment
Back injury recovery time will depend on the kind of trauma sustained, and whether a timely diagnosis was made. Treatments may involve a number of modalities including bed rest, periodic icing, pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory medicines, acupuncture, electrical neurostimulation, physical therapy, ultrasound therapy, chiropractic care, massage, or – in worst case scenarios—surgery.
Back surgery may be indicated in more severe injuries involving herniated discs, vertebral fractures, or spondylolisthesis. In accidents that result in spinal cord injury (SCI), surgery is often performed to help decompress and stabilize the spine, and prevent the progression of neurologic impairments.
What is the value of a back injury claim?
When another person or entity is responsible for your back injury, Ellis Law attorneys will fight to maximize the value of your claim. Every case is different, and while there is no formula to calculate a settlement or verdict, the courts will look at the permanence and magnitude of the injury and its life impact. Back injury settlements stemming from motor vehicle accidents and hazardous workplaces can easily climb into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, once pain and suffering damages are factored in.
Our legal team works tirelessly to achieve fair monetary damages in back injury cases stemming from:
- Construction accidents
- Workplace repetitive motion injuries
- Slip, trip and fall accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Car and truck accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Defective or recalled products
Los Angeles back injury attorneys
The Los Angeles personal injury attorneys at Ellis Law have an outstanding track record handling complex injury claims and knows how to protect your legal rights to fair compensation. From investigations to settlement negotiations, we offer dedicated advocacy and aren’t afraid to go to trial. To discuss your case free of charge, we invite you to call our Los Angeles headquarters today at (310) 641-3335.