Suffering a back injury in a collision can be a traumatic experience that can substantially change your life. Apart from your emotional and physical pain, you may miss work, accumulate medical bills, and have to adjust your daily routine. If you sustained a back injury because of someone else’s wrongdoing, it is vital to do the following to protect your legal rights.
- Seek medical attention: When you are injured in a collision, it is essential to seek medical attention immediately. Back injuries can be severe, and you may not understand or feel the full extent of the damage until days or weeks after the crash. However, waiting to see a doctor about your back injuries can worsen them, resulting in more severe symptoms and injuries.
- Document everything: You should document everything related to the collision and your injuries. This includes how your injuries impact your daily life, how much work you miss, and the treatment plans your doctor recommends. You should also start and maintain a pain journal, which documents how your injuries make you feel and how they impact your ability to do daily tasks. The more information you have, the more helpful it can be.
- Keep detailed records: Keeping detailed records is vital to the success of your case. The better your records, the easier it will be to prove your losses as you seek the compensation you need. You should keep any bill related to the crash in a safe place.
- Contact a personal injury attorney: If someone’s wrongdoing caused your back injury, it is crucial to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. They can help you navigate the complex legal system, protect your rights, fight for your best interests, and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
- File an insurance claim: Virginia is an at-fault car accident state, meaning you can file a third-party insurance claim with the at-fault driver’s insurer. To do this, you will need to contact the other driver’s insurance company or have your attorney do it for you. Once you file a claim, your attorney can negotiate with the insurance adjuster for the compensation you deserve.
- File a lawsuit: If you cannot reach a fair settlement agreement with the insurance company, you may file a personal injury lawsuit. In the lawsuit, you can seek compensation from the insurance company and the at-fault driver.
These steps can help protect your legal rights and get you the compensation and justice you deserve.
Recoverable Compensation for Back Injuries
Back injuries can be costly because of their seriousness. As a result, there are numerous types of compensation you can seek, but the most common include:
- Past and future medical expenses: Back injuries can require surgery and ongoing treatment. As a result, you can recover the medical expenses you’ve already accrued and the estimated cost of future medical expenses. This is to help ensure you do not have to pay out-of-pocket for another person’s mistake.
- Physical therapy expenses: Back injuries can sometimes require physical therapy. If that is the case for you, you can seek those expenses from the at-fault party and/or their insurance company.
- Lost wages: You might have missed some work if you have a severe back injury. Instead of losing that money permanently, you can seek it from the negligent party.
- Reduced earning ability: Depending on the severity of your back injury, there may be a reduction in your overall earning ability. If so, the at-fault party could be liable for it.
- Pain and suffering: Back injuries are painful both emotionally and physically. If you experience any pain or suffering, you can seek compensation.
- Home modifications: In extreme cases, you may need to modify your home to live in it after your back injury. If that is the case for you, the negligent party might be liable for the cost of the modifications.
When someone causes your injuries, you can seek compensation from them. To ensure the best outcome in your case, you should contact a personal injury attorney at Deering Hedrick. Our attorneys understand the complexities of back injury cases and are ready to fight for you. To get started today, call us at (757) 383-6848 for a confidential case evaluation.
