What Compensation Will I Receive for My Back, Neck, or Spine Injuries? Back, neck, and spine injuries can range from minor setbacks to lifelong disabilities. If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve to be fully compensated for the effect it has on your life. At Burger Law, our team of back, neck, and spine injury lawyers will fight for your to make sure you get every penny you deserve to help you in your recovery. Call us now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online.
Compensation for Back, Neck, and Spine Injuries
In general, you will be compensated for two things:
Economic Damages
This would include any financial hardships you incur as a direct result of the negligent or otherwise liable party’s actions. Examples of economic damages are:
Medical Bills (and Cost of Treatment)
This can cover anything from ambulance and emergency room costs, surgical costs, regular doctor or physical therapy appointments, the cost of any special equipment (such as wheelchairs or walkers) you may need, to the cost to any medication you may need, whether permanent or temporary. Additionally, you would also be awarded money for any future medical costs if the injury causes you to need long-term or lifelong care.
Lost Wages
If your back, neck, and spine injuries prevent you from going to work or prevent you from working full time, the insurance company, or party at fault for your injuries, will have to pay you for the money you would have earned if you had been able to work. This is typically calculated by looking at your pay stubs and W2s.
Lost Earning Capacity
In the worst case scenario with back, neck, and spine injuries, a person can become paralyzed or otherwise disabled, and will no longer be able to work in the same field as before, or may be in able to work at all. In awarding damages for lost earning capacity, a consideration will be of how long the person would have kept working, and if their income would have risen in the future. If they need to change jobs, a comparison will need to be made. Typically, medical and financial experts are need at this point. The burden-of-proof for lost future earnings is on the plaintiff, and our team of personal injury lawyers at Burger Law will take that burden of proof on for you.
Noneconomic Damages
This can be anything that lowers your quality of life and contributes to a loss of enjoyment in life, including:
Permanent or Temporary Disability
This can include partial or full paralysis, impaired cognitive function, inability to lift heavy objects, and a variety of other disabilities.
Pain and Suffering
This is the physical pain and emotional distress caused by an injury. Physical pain can include chronic, lifelong pain or headaches. Emotional distress includes lack of sleep, anxiety, fear of reinjury, or depression. A judge or jury ask themselves how your lifestyle, capacity for happiness, or relationships at work or home was affected by the injury. If your ability to perform basic daily tasks such as bathing, eating, or dressing are affected by your back, neck, or spine injury, that will also be taken into account.
There is a naturally subjective nature to the determination of noneconomic damages. Burger Law will fight to get you every dollar you deserve, whether the determination is made by a judge, jury, or a pre-trial settlement.
Pure Comparative Negligence
Missouri is a “pure comparative negligence” state, which means that culpability for an accident or injury can be spread among several parties, including the plaintiff. That means a settlement or court may find that you are owed a certain amount of damages, but if they decide you were 10% at fault for the incident, you will only receive 90% as compensation. Our back, neck, and spine injury lawyers at Burger Law will make sure you’re not blamed for something that isn’t your fault.
Hire a Back, Neck, and Injury Lawyer Today
At Burger Law, we will do whatever it takes to make sure you are fully compensated for the effect that somebody else’s negligence has had on your life and well being. Our dedicated and passionate team of personal injury lawyers has over 70 years combined experience and has gotten our clients over $170 million in compensation. If you or a loved on has suffered a back, neck, or spine injury, Call us now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online.