Gastonia Back Injury Lawyer

Experienced Back Injury Attorney in Gastonia, NC

Suffering a back injury can come with devastating and even fatal consequences. These injuries have a tendency to disrupt your daily life, cause chronic pain that can last for the rest of your life, and, in the cases of spinal cord damage, lead to paralysis and even death. If you suffered a back injury in North Carolina, you may be entitled to certain forms of compensation like lost wages or medical bills, and a skilled Gastonia back injury lawyer can help.

Causes of Back Injuries in Gastonia, North Carolina

Back injuries can happen for a wide range of reasons, most often occurring as the result of another party’s negligence or reckless behavior. In these situations, you have the legal right to hold these parties responsible for the damages you sustain. The most common causes of back injuries in Gastonia include the following:

• Motorized vehicle accidents. When you are injured in a car or truck collision, devastating injuries can occur. Back injuries can be quite common and leave individuals suffering intense amounts of pain, partial or complete paralysis, and can often result in death. If you suffered a back injury because of the reckless or distracted driving of another party, Roberts Law Firm, P.A., can help recover compensation.
• Slip and fall accidents. When an individual enters the property of another in a lawful manner and suffers a slip, trip, or fall that results in a back injury, they have a right to hold the owner of that property responsible for their injuries and any monetary damages that may arise as a result. These accidents tend to occur due to loose carpeting, exposed wires, inadequate lighting or guardrails, and the presence of uncleared ice or snow.
• Motorcycle accidents. Individuals on motorcycles can often be the victims of another person’s reckless or negligent driving. Motorcycle accidents can cause horrific injuries and even death because of the fact that the rider of a motorcycle typically has less protection than the drivers of other vehicles. If you suffered a back or spinal cord injury due to a motorcycle accident, the personal injury lawyers at Roberts Law Firm, P.A., can help.
• Medical malpractice. When you place your trust in a doctor, nurse, or medical system and they betray that trust, injuries, including back injuries, can occur. As a result, you have the right to file a personal injury claim against the liable physician and the hospital system.
• Workplace accidents. When a back injury is suffered on a job site through no fault of your own, you have the right to file a claim with your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance to cover all damages suffered as a result of your injury, such as medical costs or lost wages.

How to Prove Negligence in a Back Injury Case

Back injury laws require plaintiffs to prove that the defendants in their cases were liable for their injuries. This can be done by showing that the defendants were negligent. There are four elements of proving negligence:

• Duty of care. There must have been a legal duty of care owed to the plaintiff by the defendant.
• Breach of duty. The defendant must have failed to uphold their duty.
• Causation. The defendant’s failure must have caused the plaintiff’s accident.
• Damages. The accident must have led to actual, compensable damages, such as medical bills and lost wages.

Your attorney can help you gather the evidence required to prove negligence in your back injury case. The types of evidence required to prove your claim will vary depending on the nature of the accident that caused your back pain, but often include medical records, police reports, photos, and videos of the accident.

When to Hire a Back Injury Lawyer

Back pain is the leading cause of disability across the world. It’s caused by all kinds of issues, ranging from chronic pain conditions to acute injuries. Spinal cord injuries alone affect around 294,000 Americans, many of whom suffered injuries during accidents.

If you’ve suffered a back injury, the ideal time to hire a back injury lawyer is as soon as possible after the accident occurred. Your Gastonia back injury attorney can assist you with everything from filing your initial claim to negotiating a settlement agreement with the liable party’s insurance company or litigating your case should it go to court.

FAQs

Does an MRI Increase Your Settlement Amount?

An MRI can increase your settlement amount if it shows proof of the severity of your back pain. MRIs don’t always show the causes of back pain, though, and may complicate the situation by showing signs of age-related wear and tear that have nothing to do with your accident. Doctors generally recommend MRIs only if your pain is persistent or you are suffering from certain red-flag symptoms, such as sudden leg weakness or numbness in the groin area.

How Much Compensation Can You Claim for a Back Injury?

How much compensation you can claim for a back injury depends on the severity of your injury and whether you were determined to be in any way at fault. Typically, the more severe injuries that cause lifelong disability will garner larger settlements than those that resolve quickly on their own with minimal medical intervention. If you’re determined to be even partially at fault for the accident, you’ll be barred from recovering damages.

How Much Is Pain and Suffering Worth in North Carolina?

How much pain and suffering is worth in NC varies. There is no one set value or mathematical formula used to determine this metric. Courts may use the multiplier method, multiplying economic damages by a factor that varies depending on the severity of your injuries, or apply the per diem method by assigning a dollar amount for pain and suffering to each day that it takes you to heal from your injuries.

How Hard Is It to Prove a Back Injury?

It can be hard to prove a back injury for several reasons. First, many forms of medical imaging show damage due to ordinary wear and tear in addition to acute causes of back pain, which can complicate your claim. Second, the intensity of pain is highly subjective. Third, it can be difficult to locate the actual physical source of the pain if it isn’t something obvious, such as a spinal cord injury.

Contact Our Lawyer Team to Discuss Your Back Injury Case

If you suffered a back injury in Gastonia, North Carolina, you are likely feeling an incredible amount of pain and may be uncertain as to where to turn next. Look to the personal injury and workplace injury lawyers at Roberts Law Firm, P.A. With over 40 years of experience, we are ready to assist you. Contact our offices today to schedule your initial consultation.

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