A spinal injury can change your life in an instant. Many victims who are happy to be alive after a car accident see that joy quickly turned to fear when they are diagnosed with a spinal cord injury. Unlike broken bones and torn ligaments, spinal cord injuries may never fully heal, causing permanent disability and hardship for victims and their families. Depending on the location and extent of the injury, victims can be left disabled by varying degrees of paralysis, and may even need lifelong nursing or hospital care.
If you or a loved one is facing this kind of injury, working with an experienced spine injury attorney can help you protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Florida Crash Victims May Face Lifelong Complications From Spinal Injuries
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injury (SCI) in the United States. Victims of SCIs require many costly medical treatments over long periods of time, and may never be able to go back to work. If you were injured because of another driver’s negligence, you deserve compensation for your hospital bills, lost wages, future care, and pain and suffering. During this difficult time, the Browning Law Firm will fight to see that you receive just compensation for your injuries. Call us today to find out how we can help.
Types of Spine and Back Injuries You Can Sue For
Spinal injuries from car accidents can affect the neck, upper back, or lower spine. In some cases, the damage impacts all three areas. These are the most common types of back injuries a back injury attorney handles:
Whiplash
Rear-end collisions are the most common cause of whiplash, an injury to the neck and spine as the head is thrown backward, then forward. Victims can suffer severe pain and headaches as a result of whiplash, as well as dizziness, vision problems, difficulty concentrating, lapsed memory, and ringing in the ears.
Herniated discs
The bones of the spine are separated by discs, small cushions of tissue that make the back flexible and absorb impact to the spine. The force of a car accident can cause these discs to rupture, or herniate, squeezing the soft center of the disc out of its surface. This can cause a variety of problems ranging from pain and weakness in the back to tingling or loss of feeling in the arms and legs.
Spinal fractures
A seatbelt can save your life in a crash, but it can also contribute to a back injury called a compression fracture. The upper body is often thrown forward in a crash while the lower body is held down by a seatbelt, pulling the vertebrae in different directions. This can cause fractures in the bones of the spine, usually in the victim’s middle or lower back. Patients often suffer overwhelming pain and restricted movement as a spinal fracture heals, and some fractures can result in a spinal cord injury if bone fragments become embedded and sever nearby nerves.
Nerve damage
Slipped discs and vertebral fractures can lead to spondylolisthesis, a condition where a displaced bone presses on nearby nerves or on the spinal cord itself. Depending on the location of the damage, a victim may endure pain, numbness, or weakness in the legs, and will often have difficulty walking. These symptoms can take years to appear, and can cause loss of bladder or bowel control if the spinal cord is affected.
Spinal cord injuries
Spinal cord injuries are the most serious type of back injuries, and can result in partial or total paralysis. Victims can suffer numbness or inability to control different areas of the body, which may be temporary or permanent. In addition, many victims of spinal cord injuries suffer secondary complications, including blood clots, infections, internal bleeding, and pneumonia.
Why You Need a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Fort Walton Beach
Spinal injuries affect more than your body. They affect your job, your finances, and your future. Recovery may take months or years. For some, the damage is permanent. At the same time, insurance companies often delay or deny high-value claims.
As a former Florida State Trooper, attorney Coy H. Browning has seen firsthand how victims can suffer from the unexpected impact of a car accident, and can investigate the circumstances of your crash to help you file a successful back injury claim.
We have reached multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for accident victims throughout Florida, and we do not charge any legal fees unless we win your case.
We Can Help You Hold Someone Accountable for Your Suffering
If you suffered a spinal injury in a car crash, you should not face the consequences alone. Whether you are dealing with chronic back pain or permanent paralysis, our spinal cord injury attorney in Fort Walton Beach is here to help.
Call Browning Law Firm at 850-864-4384 or fill out this contact form to schedule your FREE CONSULTATION with a trusted spine and back injury attorney serving Walton County, Okaloosa County, and Santa Rosa County.