How long does it take to Settle a Back – Neck – Spine Injury Lawsuit?

What is a Back Injury?

A back injury involves any strain or damage to the bones, joints, tissues, muscles, and nerves in your back. These injuries can happen naturally through a variety of tasks, like lifting a heavy box or starting a new workout that’s too hard on your body. Injuries can also occur in or around the neck, as it’s an area that’s directly connected to your back.

Back injuries can also happen from an accident, and those who were injured through an act of negligence can sue the responsible party for monetary compensation. Compensation is essential, considering the effects of a back or neck injury on a person’s life. Injury to the spinal cord, for example, can cause permeant loss of function, as well as changes in critical body functions. This can impair your ability in many areas of your life, such as going to work and taking care of your family.

If you have suffered a back injury due to someone else’s negligence, our lawyers can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Contact our law firm and schedule a free case evaluation.

Accidents that can Cause a Back Injury

Now that we’ve covered the medical definition of a back injury, let’s look at the accidents that can result in such an injury. Generally, damage to the back occurs from trauma, meaning the body is forced to endure a blunt and penetrating force. Due to the impact and sudden nature of these forces, your body is unable to protect itself from an injury.

Trauma-related injuries to the back and neck mostly occur from the following accidents:

• Car / truck accidents
• Bike / motorcycle accidents
• Public transportation accidents (bus, train, etc.)
• Slip and fall
• Trip and fall
• Falling objects
• Sports injury
• Assault and battery
• Workplace accident

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Different Types of Back and Neck Injury

There are several types of back injuries that you can sustain from an accident. If you’ve been hurt in a slip and fall, car crash, or another traumatic accident, here are the most common back and neck injuries you can sustain:

• Soft tissue injury
• Herniated disc
• Whiplash
• Spinal stenosis
• Neck fracture
• Vertebral fracture
• Neck sprain
• Pinched nerve

These conditions can happen naturally through wear and tear, typically due to old age. However, injuries like whiplash, fractures, and herniated disc are commonly associated with traumatic accidents.

How long does it take to Settle a Back – Spine – Neck Injury Case?

On average, it can take anywhere from several months to a couple of years to settle a back, spine, or neck injury case. Much of this timeframe has to do with the severity of your injury, especially in the case of spinal cord damage. However, even a lower back or neck injury can take away your ability to perform your job duties and engage in activities you enjoyed before your accident. These are just some of the elements we consider when we calculate the full value of a client’s losses.

If an insurance company makes a fair settlement offer, or is willing to negotiate in good faith, your case may be settled anywhere from 30 days to 6 months. But it your case proceeds to a lawsuit, it can take 2 years or more to recover your damages.

Why does it take so long to Settle these Cases?

While some back and neck injuries are minor, others are life-threatening and lead to conditions like paralysis, loss of bowel control, and sexual dysfunction. All these losses factor into the compensation a victim deserves, which is why many of these settlements are in the 6 to 7 figure range. When that much money is involved, insurance companies will do everything they can to minimize liability. Presenting indisputable evidence of a client’s damages and negotiating a settlement can take months, even up to a year.

Elements that Prolong the Settlement of a Back Injury Case

A back or neck injury case may be prolonged by the following factors:

• The other side’s willingness to admit liability.
• Disagreements over the severity of your injury, and the treatments needed for recovery.
• The insurance company’s cooperation in negotiating a fair settlement.
• If there are third parties that may be responsible for your accident.

Your case may involve other factors that can hold up the settlement process. Without a lawyer, it can be difficult to overcome these obstacles and achieve a settlement that’s adequate for your losses. To ensure a favorable outcome in your case, don’t hesitate to contact our office.

Why is the Insurance Company Stalling on my Claim?

It may seem like the insurance company is playing games, but in many cases, they’re simply taking the time to investigate your accident. Generally, the more serious your injuries, the longer an insurance company will need to investigate the accident. Additionally, these companies are handling many claims at once, and it’s not unusual for weeks to go by before an insurer gets back to you.

However, if the company is engaging in stall tactics, that’s something your lawyer should take care of right away. There are legal remedies for dealing with bad faith insurance tactics, which we can explain to you during a free consultation.

Factoring Future Medical Expenses in a Back Injury Claim

Depending on the extent of your injury, you may need on-going treatments and medications throughout your life. You may also need rehabilitation services like physical therapy long after you’ve reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). These costs are factored into your settlement, but it can be a struggle to get insurance companies to agree to these payments. It’s important to make the strongest case possible in order to recover future medical costs, which our lawyers can assist you with.

Can I Sue for a Back – Neck – Spine Injury?

Yes, you can sue for a back, neck, or spine injury if you were harmed by another party’s negligence or misconduct. Proving negligence can be challenging, so you should work with an attorney who has extensive experience in back injury lawsuits. Our lawyers will find the necessary evidence to show that someone else is responsible for your accident. Then, we will take any and all available legal actions to bring you the compensation you’re entitled to. However, it’s essential to get started right away on a back injury claim, so give us a call and speak to a California back injury lawyer without delay.

How can I Settle my Back Injury Case Faster?

Retaining an experienced lawyer who sees you as a priority is the best way to settle your back injury case in a timely manner. Unfortunately, many victims end up with incompetent or uncaring lawyers who see them as case values rather than injury victims. As a result, your case sits on the back burner month after month. Some law firms also have the habit of taking on cases they’re not experienced in, resulting in costly errors and delays for the client.

One option is to change lawyers, which you can do even with a pending insurance claim or lawsuit. But how do you know if finding new representation is the right choice?

Free Second Opinion

If your current lawyer is taking too long to settle your back injury case, our lawyers can assist you with a second opinion. We can offer our expert opinion on whether your lawyer is doing all that they can to settle your claim. Depending on the details of your accident, we may be able to settle your case in 30 days.

If switching your lawyer is in your best interest, we’ll transfer your case to our law firm at no cost to you. Once your case is with our firm, we will take aggressive action to get you the results you deserve. All you have to do is give us a call and schedule a free second opinion with one of our attorneys.

Schedule a Free Case Evaluation

Our lawyers are here for you if you’re struggling to recover damages from an accident that injured your back. We offer a Zero fee guarantee so you pay nothing upfront when retain our services. That means we can take action on your claim and fight to bring you compensation without charging you a single penny. We only get paid if we win your case, and if we don’t win, you pay us nothing as a promise under our Zero fee guarantee. No matter what you decide in regards to your injury case, the consultation is completely free, so there’s nothing to lose by giving us a call.

Contact Normandie Law Firm and schedule a free case review as soon as you can.