Slip and fall accidents, auto crashes, and boating accidents are all likely causes of back and neck injuries. A back and neck injury is not something to take lightly as it may worsen or cause physical impairments that can affect your motor functions. This could negatively affect your earning capacity and put you out of a job.
You might decide to speak about recovering damages with a personal injury lawyer. A Boca Raton back and neck injury lawyer can help you determine if your injury is severe enough to meet the serious injury threshold set by Florida's no-fault laws. If your injury meets the criteria, the lawyer will help you begin the claims process.
How to Handle a Back and Neck Injury
The best way to react if you suspect you have sustained a back and neck injury is to get yourself checked out by a doctor. Make sure that you keep all the medical records from your hospital visit. In addition, contact your insurance provider and inform them of the event that caused the injury. Some of the common causes of back and neck injuries are:
- Rear-end collisions between vehicles
- Motorcycle accident
- Slip and fall accidents
- Accidents at work
- Medical malpractice
The nature of the cause of your back and neck injury should determine your response. For instance, the first step you should take after an auto accident is to contact the police. The second is to call an ambulance or request one when speaking to the police.
The third step is to gather evidence for your case. Gathering evidence is key to winning personal injury claims because the burden of proof lies with you, the plaintiff. Having legal representation allows you to focus on your back and neck injury.
Some back and neck injuries, like whiplash have delayed symptoms, some people don't experience pain until a few hours, days or even weeks later. Regardless of when pain starts, do not ignore any symptoms or take over-the-counter drugs to counter their effect. Not receiving proper medical care could lead to worsening of your injury. A back and neck injury lawyer can help ensure that your injury is properly diagnosed and you are receiving the care you deserve.
Insurance Claim Adjusters
The National Library of Medicine estimates that 869,000 cervical spine injuries occur in the United States every year due to vehicular accidents. If your injury was due to an auto accident, you will have to deal with the liable party's insurance companies. An insurance adjuster evaluating your claim will look for any loophole that can reduce the settlement the company has to make.
The insurance adjuster may get you to unknowingly make statements that could negatively impact your claim if you do not have legal representation. The insurance adjuster will try to get you to accept the first offer they make. This is usually a very low offer that may not encompass all the damages you ought to receive. For instance, the offer may exclude:
- Future medical costs
- Pain and suffering
- Cost of therapy and rehabilitation
- Reduced earning capacity
Do not handle insurance claims adjusters or any party representing the liable party's insurer on your own. A back and neck injury lawyer can help you handle all communications and the negotiation process with the insurance company. An insurance claims adjuster may deny your claim if they believe you do not have any evidence to support your claim. If your claim gets denied, reach out to a lawyer to help you establish the liable party's negligence.
How Comparative Negligence Affects Your Claim
Comparative negligence reduces the amount of damages you ought to receive by the percentage of your contributory fault. For instance, if your contributory fault is 20%, and you get compensatory damages amounting to $20,000, you will receive $16,000. The key thing to remember is that you can still claim damages even if you were partly at fault for the injuries but insurance claim adjusters may use comparative negligence to their advantage.
The insurance company may assign you a higher percentage of fault. Alternatively, the insurance claim adjuster may get you to admit that you are partly at fault even when you were innocent. A Boca Raton back and injury lawyer can help ensure that the comparative negligence rules in Florida are not unfairly used to deny you a fair settlement.
A lawyer will advise you on what to do if you suspect that you are partly at fault in the accident that caused your injuries. For instance, you should not:
- Admit fault
- Say sorry or make an apology of any kind to the other parties involved in the accident
- Make assumptions about your degree of fault before the accident is properly investigated
Car accidents can have multiple at-fault parties and they are all liable if an accident occurs. A car accident lawyer will help you use comparative negligence to claim damages from more than one liable party.
Legal Costs
Do not deny yourself legal representation due to the fear of incurring high hiring costs. At Dolman Law Group, we believe that our clients' interests come first. This is why we work on a contingency fee policy which works best for our clients because it eliminates upfront fees or costs.
Reach Out to the Dolman Law Group Today
Talk to a Boca Raton back and neck injury lawyer if you have sustained injuries due to someone else's negligence or lost a loved one due to their injury. You and your family should receive damages if you have suffered an injury. Do not delay in reaching out to the Dolman Law Group today for a free consultation.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA
301 Yamato Road, Suite 1240
Boca Raton, Florida 33431
561-220-4963