Injuries to the back and spine can be serious and life-altering. If you suffered a back injury caused by another party, you could be entitled to compensation for lost income, medical expenses, and other damages.
A Tampa back injury lawyer from our law firm could help you recover what you deserve. Our legal team can calculate your damages, identify all liable parties, and pursue a fair settlement or court award. And we do this at no out-of-pocket cost to you.
Contact us today to speak to an experienced attorney at our Tampa location.
Affordable Legal Services in Hillsborough County
We understand that back problems can come with various financial hardships. Legal aid should not be among them.
For this reason, our Tampa personal injury lawyers work on a contingency-fee-basis, meaning you could get our help at no upfront cost. We only seek our attorney’s fees if we win your case, and the fees come from the damages you receive. You won’t owe us any money unless we get you compensation.
Common Back Injuries
Back injuries can happen on the job, during traffic accidents, or as a result of slip-and-fall incidents. Symptoms will vary depending on the injury’s location and severity. Common injuries include the following:
Whiplash
The most common type of back injury is whiplash. This occurs when the head suddenly jerks forward, resulting in neck pain. Whiplash can also cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, and blurred vision.
Herniated Discs
The discs between the spinal vertebrae cushion the spine and keep the bones from grinding together. Herniated discs develop when the soft disc center pushes through the tough outer shell, pinching a nerve.
A back problem like this often leads to sciatic pain radiating to the hip and leg. Moving the wrong way or standing too long might cause severe discomfort.
Neuropathy
The lower back aids with posture and movement, and nerves in the area control various senses. Accidents that compress the lower back nerves can cause chronic discomfort. Sometimes a victim can’t find a comfortable position, even lying down.
Overuse Injuries
Some people experience back and neck problems caused by overuse. They may notice subtle symptoms that worsen with time, especially if they do repetitive tasks.
Someone with an overuse injury caused by their job may submit a workers’ compensation claim to cover medical expenses and lost income while they heal.
Soft-Tissue damage
Muscles around the spine are used during most people’s daily tasks. Strains and sprains to these muscles can cause pain and limit the victim’s activity.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injury victims may suffer numbness and paralysis. Even relatively minor spinal cord damage can cause significant mobility loss. Spinal cord injuries can also reduce organ function below the damaged area, leading to devastating consequences.
Compensation Following a Back Injury in Tampa
No two personal injury claims are the same. So it would be meaningless to provide an average settlement value for back injury cases. However, you could recover damages for the following:
- Past, present, and future medical bills
- Accessibility devices, like wheelchairs
- Loss of income
- Loss of future earnings
- Property damage expenses, such as car repair or replacement
- Transportation costs
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Depending on your circumstances, you could qualify for additional types of compensation. We can discuss the specifics of your claim during a free case evaluation.
Wrongful Death
If someone dies due to a back injury, certain family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party. A loved one who passed away may have had health insurance, but it might not cover all the costs associated with a catastrophic injury.
In addition to money for medical bills, wrongful death compensation typically includes funeral expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and grief counseling costs. Family members may also be entitled to damages for loss of companionship, guidance, and support.
It’s tough to address a legal claim when grieving the loss of someone close to you. Still, you’ll need to act fast if you plan on pursuing a wrongful death claim. Otherwise, the statute of limitations on filing a lawsuit will expire. An attorney can help you file a wrongful death suit within the appropriate timeframe.
Your Limited Window for Filing a Lawsuit
State law limits the time you have to take legal action, as explained by Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a). In Florida, you typically have four years from your accident to hold the at-fault party accountable via a personal injury lawsuit.
If you are pursuing compensation on behalf of a loved one who passed away from their injuries, keep in mind that the statute of limitations for wrongful death is within two years of the accident victim’s death.
Don’t let these time limits discourage you from seeking financial recovery. The deadline to file a lawsuit is extended under certain circumstances. For instance, you have more time to file if you’re unaware of an injury until later. We can discuss how the deadline applies to you during your free consultation.
An Overview of How Our Law Firm Can Help
Our law firm fights for the best possible outcome. We can help your case progress by:
- Assessing your case and identifying all negligent parties.
- Hiring experts to help with analyzing and proving your case.
- Gathering evidence for proving fault and negligence.
- Estimating the value of your damages.
- Negotiating with insurance adjusters.
- Representing your best interests.
- Fighting for you in court if we cannot achieve an agreeable settlement.
We’ve been providing responsive legal representation to Florida clients since 2006. Now, we’re ready to help you.
Our Comprehensive Suite of Legal Services
Our motto is: “You worry about getting better while we take care of everything else.” In other words, we don’t want you to give your case a second thought while we’re handling it.
Our firm can help you in several ways:
Determining Whether You Are Eligible for Compensation
We could help you seek damages if another party’s negligence or willful actions caused your back injury and financial losses. Our team will review the information in your case to determine what caused your back problems and who is responsible.
For example, you could pursue damages if another party injured you due to the following:
- Reckless driving
- Failing to maintain their premises
- Medical malpractice
- Dangerous products
- Unsafe workplace conditions
- Assaults
Even if you were injured by other factors not included here, you could still have grounds for an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Collecting Evidence of Negligence
Your claim’s success will hinge on the evidence we find. We must prove that you were hurt due to another party’s negligence. Supporting evidence could include the following:
- Police records and reports
- Witness statements
- Photographs and videos
- Expert witness testimony
Your medical records, employment records, and property damage receipts could also help your case.
Proving Negligence
Negligence is the basis of most personal injury lawsuits. When someone fails to act like a reasonable human being, they breach their duty of care to you.
This breach of duty can lead to physical, mental, financial, and social harm. To prove negligence, a plaintiff must establish each of the following four elements:
- There was a duty of care owed by the defendant to the plaintiff.
- The defendant breached that duty.
- As a result of the breach, the plaintiff suffered harm.
- The defendant’s conduct was a legal cause of the plaintiff’s harm.
An experienced personal injury attorney could help prove that another party’s negligence caused your back problems.
Estimating the Value of Your Losses
A severe back injury doesn’t just leave you with medical bills; it can also leave you unable to work. This means you could face a growing stack of bills with no way to pay them. Our firm can evaluate the financial consequences of your injuries to determine your economic damages, meaning those with financial value.
An accident’s physical and mental repercussions can also be substantial. To calculate the value of your pain and suffering, we will assess the following:
- Your pain levels
- The nature of your impairment
- How you were hurt
- Your ability to work and function
- Your day-to-day life since the accident
You should not have to deal with these hardships if another party’s actions caused your injury. Our back injury lawyers in Tampa can provide legal help during this stressful time.
Handling Insurance Companies
Getting fair compensation from the liable party’s insurance company can come with many hurdles. Mainly, the insurer may refuse your personal injury claim or try to minimize your settlement. One of our experienced lawyers can build a strong case and negotiate with the insurer on your behalf.
We will aim for a comprehensive settlement covering your present and future damages. However, our team will also inform you when filing a lawsuit is necessary.
Steps To Take Following a Back Injury in Tampa
Certain decisions you make now can drastically affect the outcome of your personal injury claim. The following considerations could support your case for compensation:
Visit a Healthcare Provider
A back injury can get worse without treatment. Because of this, you should visit a medical professional as soon as possible. They may prescribe medications and physical therapy to improve your condition. They can also provide testimony to prove that a certain event caused your injuries.
Follow Your Treatment Plan
It’s not enough to visit a doctor; you must follow their recommendations. Examples could include taking certain medications, attending follow-up appointments, and getting physical therapy.
These measures aren’t just important for your health; they’re important for your case. If the other party discovers that you didn’t follow your treatment plan, they could assert that you made your condition worse.
Document Your Losses
The following items could help your personal injury attorney calculate the value of your expenses, such as:
- Your medical treatment
- Your employment records
- Testimony from your healthcare team and our financial experts
- Invoices, receipts, and billing statements
- Photos of your injuries
We want to account for every loss in your case. Documenting your losses throughout your case’s progression helps us do that.
Call a Tampa Back Injury Lawyer Now for Help
Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine for a free consultation if you or a loved one has sustained a back injury. We are committed to helping accident victims get the compensation they need after a life-altering accident.
Don’t let an insurance company take advantage of you. Instead, allow one of our Tampa back injury attorneys to review your claim. We are here to help! Contact us today.
We Can Help.
