Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in St. Louis, Missouri

Back and Spinal cord injury lawyer in St. Louis, Missouri

Back injuries are extremely traumatic due to the crucial role the spine plays in human’ anatomy. If you have endured back injuries, you are likely already heavily impacted by a long-term recovery and unnecessary hardship placed on your St. Louis family. 

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident in St. Louis and sustained back and spinal cord injuries, it is vital that you get in touch with our car crash attorneys at Burger Law so that we can assess your claim and develop a strong case. Call an experienced and award-winning spinal cord injuries lawyer today at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form for a free consultation.

If you or a loved one sustained a spinal cord injury in St. Louis or anywhere in Missouri, see how much compensation you may be eligible for by using our free personal injury calculator.

Burger Law’s back and spinal cord injury attorneys have represented thousands of injured people in both State and Federal Court, and we have high success rates in a multitude of car accident areas. When a person acts unsafely, their actions can cause severe damages including financial harm, loss of wages, continued medical care, pain and suffering, and permanent injuries. We will aggressively fight for the compensation you deserve. 

The back and spinal cord injury lawyers at Burger Law work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you do not pay until we win your case. Our spinal cord injury lawyers are backed by decades of experience, and you can trust that we have the knowledge and resources needed to effectively litigate and recover well for you.

Burger Law’s Back Injury Case Results in St. Louis

• $2 Million Settlement for Woman Injured in Highway Pile-Up
• $1.435 Million Settlement Against Three Defendants After Extensive Litigation
• $1.25 Million Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement
• $600,000 Tractor-Trailer Crash
• $350,000 Settlement in Ladder Case

Compensation and Damages in Back Injury Claims in St. Louis, Missouri

The aftermath of a back injury can be debilitating, affecting various aspects of your life. But you are owed compensation for every way your injuries have affected your life, including:

Compensations

Medical expenses

Back injuries often require extensive medical care, from immediate treatments post-accident to ongoing physical therapy or even surgery. Compensation can cover these costs, both present and anticipated future medical bills.

Lost wages and reduced earning capacity

A severe back injury might prevent the victim from returning to work, either temporarily or permanently. Compensation can account for wages lost during recovery and any decrease in future earning potential due to the injury.

Pain and suffering

The physical pain and emotional distress stemming from a back injury can be significant. You can seek compensation for the non-economic damages you have endured, including the impact on your daily life and overall well-being.

Rehabilitation and therapy costs

Recovering from a back injury often involves more than just initial medical treatment. Rehabilitation and physical therapy can be crucial in regaining mobility and quality of life, and their costs can be included in the claim.

Damages

Economic damages — You need to be compensated for all of your financial losses, present and future. You can get compensation for all of your medical expenses, including:

• • Ambulance and emergency room costs
  • Imaging tests
  • Surgeries
  • Medications
  • Chiropractic care
  • Physical therapy
  • Assistive devices such as wheelchairs
  • Any modifications to your vehicle or home, like ramps or guardrails
• If you will have further medical needs in the future, such as further surgeries, wheelchair replacements or medications, our spinal cord injury lawyers will ensure that is also covered in your compensation.
  Economic damages also include lost wages from time spent off work recovering, and lost earning capacity if your injuries result in permanent disability that does not allow you to earn a living as you used to. We will also get compensation for out-of-pocket expenses like hiring someone to help with household chores or to watch your children.

Non-economic damages — You also deserve compensation for the effect your injuries had on your life that cannot be shown on receipts, W2s or medical bills. That means the physical, emotional and mental impact of your injuries.

Punitive damages — In rare cases, we can also pursue punitive damages if the person who injured you did so intentionally or was extremely reckless.

In back injury cases, understanding the full scope of damages is crucial to ensure you receive the compensation you rightfully deserve. An experienced St. Louis, MO back injury lawyer can help in evaluating these damages and negotiating with insurance companies or opposing parties.

Determining Liability in St. Louis, MO Back Injury Cases

When it comes to back injuries, particularly those sustained in accidents or workplace incidents, establishing who is at fault is crucial for compensation claims. Here is a breakdown of how liability is determined in St. Louis and Missouri back injury claims:

• Duty of care — Before establishing negligence, it must be proven that the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff. For example, property owners have a duty to warn you of dangers on the property, and drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles safely.
• Breach of duty — Once it is established that a duty of care existed, the next step is to demonstrate that there was a breach of this duty. This could be a driver speeding in hazardous conditions or a store employee failing to mop up a spill.
• Causation — It is not enough to show that there was a breach of duty; it must also be proven that this breach directly caused your back injury. For instance, if you slipped and fell in a store, you must show that the spill you slipped on occurred.
• Damages — Finally, there must be tangible damages resulting from the injury. This includes economic damages like medical bills, lost wages and other quantifiable losses, as well as non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

If your injuries occurred at work, you generally file a claim regardless of how the injury occurred. Contact our St. Louis worker’s compensation lawyers to discuss your case in further detail.

Back and Spinal Cord Injury Statistics

• 80 percent if adults will sustain a back injury in their lifetime
• 2 million back injuries occur each year
• 38.5 percent of all work-related musculoskeletal disorders involve back injuries
• Back pain costs the U.S. an estimated $250 billion annually

When dealing with a back injury in St. Louis, whether it is work-related or was caused by another person’s negligence, it is highly suggested to hire a lawyer to ensure that you are fully compensated for all of your damages. 

If you have sustained a back injury while working while enjoying a restaurant or venue or if your back was injured in a car accident, you can pursue legal action against the person or business that caused your injury. 

What Are Common Types of Back and Spinal Cord Injuries

Back Injuries

Back injuries can be difficult to treat and diagnose, even when an experienced medical professional provides care. Composed of a column of tissue and bones, the spine extends from the base of the skull to the top of the pelvis, and within this column of tissue are numerous important nerves that are responsible for sending messages from the brain to the body. Even the slightest injury to the spinal cord or the area around it can result in severe pain and disability. Common back injuries in St. Louis include:

• Sprains and strains
• Herniated or bulging discs
• Fractured vertebrae
• Spondylolisthesis
• Sacroiliitis
• Cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve)

Spinal Cord Injuries

• Whiplash — Whiplash is a general term for injuries to the neck, ranging from strains and fractures. While they can be relatively mild compared to other spinal cord injuries, they are sometimes life-threatening.
• Fractured vertebrae — The spine has 33 vertebrae. A dislocation or fracture of any one of those vertebrae can affect the surrounding nerves and tissue, and the function of your nervous system. Mild fractures may be healed with rest, while more serious ones need emergency surgery. Not getting a vertebrae fracture treated could lead to lifelong disability.
• Disc injuries — Discs are the rubbery substance in between vertebrae that act as cushions. A herniated, bulging, fragmented or ruptured disc occurs when part of a disc is forced out of the spinal column. This can cause immense pain and limit movement when they impinge on a nerve. Treatment can range from pain management to surgery.
• Pinched nerves — A pinched nerve occurs when too much pressure is applied to a nerve by surrounding bone, cartilage, muscles, or tendons. This disrupts the nerve’s ability to communicate with the brain and can cause tingling, pain or weakness.
• Spinal stenosis — When a bone breaks or moves out of place, it can make the space inside the spinal column too small. It is most common in the neck or lower back, and most people experience pain, numbing, or weakness that gets worse over time.
• Tetraplegia — Also called quadriplegia, this refers to a person’s inability to move all four limbs. In most cases the paralysis is permanent.
• Paraplegia — This is an inability to move the lower parts of the body and is also almost always permanent.

Consequences of a Spinal Cord Injury After a St. Louis Car Accident

After sustaining a spinal cord injury, many individuals find they are unable to live a normal life. This can be remarkably distressing for a person who was previously able to work and take care of themselves, but must now seek continuous medical care due to the devastating impact of an injury.

Spinal cord injuries can cause any or several of the following medical conditions:

• Inability to control bladder and bowels
• Difficulty regulating body temperature and blood pressure
• Poor resistance to respiratory illnesses and infections
• Chronic pain
• Full or partial paralysis
• Sexual dysfunction

Such medical conditions can leave a person in need of lifelong medical care, which can be a debilitating financial burden. Individuals with spinal cord injuries are also more prone to major depressive disorder than non-injured individuals.

How Common Are Spinal Cord Injuries in St. Louis and Missouri Car Accidents?

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, there are 54 spinal cord injuries per one million people in the U.S., and about 17,730 new cases a year. Auto accidents account for about 39.3 percent of them. Almost half of the injuries are incomplete tetraplegia, or partial weakness or paralysis in all four limbs. The average age of someone who sustains a spinal cord injury is 43, and men account for 78 percent of new cases.

Common Causes of Back Injuries in St. Louis, Missouri

Back injuries can occur under a wide range of circumstances. As painful as they can be, you are likely even more upset when the injury is caused by the negligent actions of another. Back injuries in St. Louis can be the result of:

• Workplace accidents
• Car accidents, truck accidents and motorcycle accidents
• Slips and falls
• Sports
• Physical assault
• Defective products and product liability
• Medical malpractice, such as surgical errors

When someone’s careless actions cause you to sustain an injury, you may be able to file suit against them. A St. Louis personal injury injury lawyer can help show that the other party owed you a duty of care and broke that care, owing you full compensation for your injuries. Compensation and Damages in Back Injury Claims in St. Louis, Missouri

How Much is My Spinal Cord Injury Claim Worth?

When you are determining the value of a spinal cord injury claim, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Each case is unique and requires a thorough evaluation of various factors to make an accurate estimate. Many people try to look at average settlement amounts, but the reality is that there is no real “average,” as every spinal injury is so different. 

Do You Have Permanent Disabilities from Your SCI?

One crucial factor that can greatly affect the value of a claim is whether the injury is permanent or not. Spinal cord injuries can range from temporary discomfort to lifelong paralysis, with varying degrees of severity in between. Naturally, a permanent injury that results in paralysis or long-term disability will typically result in higher costs and a higher settlement value compared to a temporary injury that can be fully recovered from.

In addition to the permanence of the injury, other factors that can influence the value of a spinal cord injury claim include the extent of the medical treatment required, the impact on the victim’s quality of life, the loss of income and future earning potential, and the emotional and psychological toll the injury has taken.

Always Let Our St. Louis Spinal Injury Lawyers Calculate Your Damages

To accurately assess the value of a spinal cord injury claim, you must consult with our experienced personal injury attorneys. We have the experience and knowledge necessary to conduct a thorough investigation and evaluate the various factors involved in your case. 

Our attorneys can review: 

• Your medical records
• Consult with medical experts
• Calculate past and future medical expenses
• Assess the financial impact the injury has had on your life
• Assess the intangible impact the injury has had on your life

Insurance companies will try to minimize the value of your claim and may attempt to settle for less than what you deserve. Having our skilled attorneys by your side can help level the playing field and ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries.

How Can a St. Louis Back and Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Help?

When dealing with the complexities of back injury claims, having a dedicated legal expert by your side can make all the difference. Here is how a St. Louis, MO, back injury lawyer can help you:

• Evaluating and building a strong back injury claim — Every back injury case is unique. An experienced attorney will thoroughly assess the specifics of your injury, gather necessary evidence and structure a strong claim. This includes consulting with medical experts, collecting medical records and determining the full extent of damages.
• Negotiating with insurance companies and employers — Insurance adjusters often aim to minimize payouts. Similarly, employers may try to downplay their liability for workplace injuries. A back injury lawyer knows the tactics these entities use and can negotiate assertively to ensure you are fully compensated for all of your damages.
• Representing you in court if necessary — While most back injury claims are settled out of court, some cases may require litigation. In such instances, a lawyer will advocate for your rights in front of a judge and jury, presenting a compelling case for maximum damages.
• Ensuring you receive the maximum compensation you deserve — Back injuries can have long-lasting repercussions, both physically and financially. A back injury lawyer will strive to ensure that you receive compensation that fully addresses your current and future needs, from medical care to lost earning potential.

Navigating the aftermath of a back injury can be overwhelming, but with a dedicated St. Louis back injury attorney, you can focus on their recovery while their legal rights are fiercely protected.

Speak to a St. Louis Back and Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today

Our spinal cord injury Lawyers have taken on a variety of back injury and spine injury cases and can help you with yours as well. We know how traumatic a spine injury can be, as we have consulted with doctors and physicians in our cases to ensure our clients get the full care they need. Your spinal cord injury deserves medical treatment, and you deserve to recover financially for your injury. Never believe an insurance company before speaking to a lawyer. You did not ask for your spinal cord injury and you should not have to settle for anything less than 100% of the care you need to recover. If you need help with your spinal cord injury claim, or need an experienced and dedicated St. Louis spinal cord injury lawyer to fight on your behalf, call Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.