If you have sustained a spinal injury through the negligence of another, you should contact an North Carolina Spinal Injury Attorney to discuss your case and options. The Bishop Law Firm represents personal injury clients with spinal issues in North Carolina and we do not get paid unless we win your case! Read on for more information...
NC Personal Injury Law
NC is a contributory negligence state, which means that for a accident victim to recover, they must not be at fault for their personal injury. Contributory negligence can create unfair outcomes for victims, but unfortunately, it is the law in NC.
In NC personal injury claims, you generally have three years to file a claim for an injury you sustained due to the negligence of another. A victim can recover medical expenses, pain & suffering as well as lost wages. Punitive damages are rarely awarded.
If you injured your spine at work, you may have a NC Workers' Compensation case as well as a Personal Injury case depending on the circumstances of your accident.
Spinal Injuries
Spinal injuries can range from mild to devastating depending on which part of the spine you have injured. Unfortunately, even mild spinal injuries can cause pain with radiation and numbness. Cervical (neck) radiculopathy can be caused by trauma, degenerative changes or anything that puts pressure on the nerve root. While you may have neck pain, you may also have symptoms in your hands. You can have numbness, tingling and loss of coordination in your fingers.
The same bears true for lumbar (low back) radiculopathy except the radiation would be to your hips, legs, or feet. Trauma that results in displacement of the vertebrae of your spine needs to be corrected quickly to avoid permanent damage to your spinal cord. Permanent spinal cord injury can leave the victim totally paralyzed depending on how far up the cord the injury occurs.
Spinal injuries are usually diagnosed after x-rays, MRIs or CTs demonstrate the cause of the pain. Treatments for spinal injuries vary from medication and physical therapy to extensive surgery (laminectomy, diskectomy and spinal fusion).
Some clients with mild to moderate symptoms choose not to have back surgery because their doctors have informed them that it may or may not help their symptoms. For those with severe pain and injuries, surgery may be the only option and worth the risk, even if it only will provide a little relief.
Do you need a North Carolina Spinal Injury Attorney?
If your spine has been injured in an accident that was not your fault, a NC Spinal Injury Attorney can help you recover for your medical expenses, missed time from work, and any other accident related costs.
Gathering your medical records, getting your physician's opinion about your prognosis, obtaining payment for additional medical treatment, valuing pain & suffering and negotiating with the at-fault party's insurance company are all necessary steps that an attorney can help you with.
Unfortunately, most spinal problems do not improve with age. This needs to be taken into consideration before your case is settled to ensure you receive adequate compensation. The Bishop Law Firm represent clients with injury cases in Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Fayetteville, Chapel Hill, Wilson, Louisburg, Smithfield, Rocky Mount and Roanoke Rapids. Call us at (919) 615-3095 for a free case review.
