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If you were in a car accident and experienced a back or neck injury, learn about the elements that influence settlement amounts. Emerson Straw Injury Law's St. Petersburg automobile accident lawyer can teach you how to optimize your lower back pain compensation.

Severity and Nature of Your Injury
The severity of your back and neck injuries is critical for determining your settlement costs for medical care, rehabilitation, and assistive devices. Soft tissue injuries, such as muscle and tendon strains in the arm or leg, may require only rest, ice packs, compression, and elevation of the injured body part.

Severe injuries, like spinal cord damage, may require extensive treatment. A spinal cord injury could lead to medical costs ranging from $290 to $612,590 for emergency treatment. In case of a spinal cord injury from a car accident, immediate surgery may be needed to take out bone fragments and herniated discs, in order to avoid further harm to the spinal cord.

Ongoing Medical Care
To gain independence and improve your quality of life after a spinal cord injury, you must undergo rehabilitation and physical therapy. Inpatient therapy for a spinal cord injury may cost between $19,360 to $443,040.

The first year of continued medical expenses after a spinal cord injury costs $32,240 to $1,156,400, with succeeding years ranging from $4,490 to $251,450. Walkers, leg braces, and wheelchairs are examples of assistive or adapted devices that can help with movement. If you have tetraplegia, or upper and lower body paralysis, you will require adaptive gadgets to write, type, and use the telephone.

Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
The length of your hospital stay can have an impact on how much money you lost as a result of your car accident injuries. A spinal cord injury patient's hospital stay lasts an average of 12 days. Patients aged 18 to 29 remained in the hospital for an average of 13.5 days, while those aged 60 and up stayed for an average of 10 days.

If your injuries and continued rehabilitation prevent you from working, the settlement you get should be based on your future earning capacity. This compensation is meant to cover the money you would have earned in your lifetime if you had not been wounded.

Pain & Suffering
Back and neck injuries cause a rapid loss of movement, physical functions, and independence, which has an impact on mental well-being. A spinal cord injury can cause melancholy, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. A study of 443 spinal cord patients discovered that 48.5% suffered from mental health issues. Their quality of life was poorer, and they felt more distressed than the general population.

Your settlement may include non-economic damages for pain and suffering caused by a back or neck injury. A St. Augustine lawyer from Emerson Straw Injury Law can help you calculate these damages.

Insurance Policy Limitations
All Florida automobiles must carry personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL) coverage of at least $10,000. You can file a claim with your motor insurance provider to recover compensation for your medical bills following an accident.

If you suffered significant back and neck injuries, you can claim compensation from the other driver if your injuries result in any of the following conditions:

Permanent loss of a significant bodily function

Significant and lasting scars or deformity.

Reasonable permanent injury, barring deformity and scarring.

Death

Florida follows the comparative negligence rule, which means that any amount of responsibility on your part in the accident or injuries may diminish your compensation. If you seek a settlement from another driver, their insurer may claim that you were at fault for the damage in order to reduce your payout.

Working with an Emerson Straw Injury Law specialist will help you grasp comparative negligence and show the extent of your injuries. Your attorney can show that the other motorist was to blame for your injuries, as well as the emotional and financial implications of the accident. They can use your medical data and witness testimony to negotiate a back and neck injury compensation sum.

How To Determine The Severity Of Your Back And Neck Injury


Your lawyer can present proof to the insurance to support the validity of your claim and the other driver's liability. Several pieces of evidence contribute to the typical neck and back injury settlement, including:

Medical Records You can work with your lawyer to collect and save all of your medical documents and bills from your healthcare providers to support your case. The records prove your injury diagnosis and confirm that you underwent post-accident therapy.

Your medical documentation may contain:

Emergency room records.

Medical imaging, such as X-rays, CAT scans, and MRIs.

Hospital stays.

Referrals to experts, including psychologists

Medical prescription records.

Physical Therapy Appointments

Costs of transportation to and from medical visits, including fuel and parking Assistive equipment include wheelchairs and leg braces.

Home modifications Your medical records may contain notes from healthcare specialists regarding the psychological impact of the injury on your daily life, such as activity limitations or mobility. These notes can help illustrate your injury-related pain and suffering, as well as the fact that you sought mental health therapy.

Expert medical testimony
Your lawyer can use their network of professional medical witnesses to deliver testimony. An expert's testimony relates your injuries to the motor vehicle collision and describes their severity to an insurance adjuster. They can also talk about the treatment options for your back and neck injury, such as regular rehabilitation, physical therapy, and assistive equipment.

Journal of Your Medical Treatment
A medical treatment record can be quite helpful in demonstrating the extent of your injuries after a vehicle accident. Writing down your symptoms and the extent of your pain and suffering as a result of your back and neck injuries might demonstrate how the event has affected your life.

You can also provide details on your emotional issues as a result of the injury. Your attorney can utilize a diary to assess the value of your non-economic damages in a settlement.

Speak With A Florida Car Accident Lawyer
If you were involved in a car accident and sustained back and neck injuries, Emerson Straw Injury Law has considerable expertise processing personal injury claims. We calculate your compensation based on the typical settlement for a vehicle accident back and neck injury, including all medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Our lawyers have a proven track record of success in vehicle accident claims, and we will take your case to trial if required.

Contact us immediately to set up a free consultation and find out how the average compensation for a car accident back and neck injury may impact your case.

FAQ



What Should I Do If I Think I Have a Neck or Back Injury After A Car Accident?


If you have back discomfort, acute neck pain, or headaches as a result of your injury, consult your doctor. The doctor will assess you and recommend a treatment plan for your recuperation. You should also consult with a lawyer if you suffered a lasting injury, such as a spinal cord injury.