Main Considerations Regarding Your Back Injury Settlement

Back injuries can have a profoundly negative impact on your well-being and overall life, causing severe pain and limiting your ability to do everyday tasks. Some people lose their ability to work, meaning loss of income, while medical expenses rack up from pain management, possible physical therapies, and potential back surgeries.

Who’s to blame, and how can you get legal representation for the average back injury settlement?

Car accidents cause most back injuries, but injuries can also be work-related or due to someone else’s negligence. You deserve compensation to move the healing process forward, and Haug Law can help.

This blog explores key factors that influence back injury settlements, the importance of reliable legal representation, and how we can support you and help you navigate recovery.

The Factors Influencing Your Back Injury Settlement

Levels of Disc Injuries: How severe is your back injury? The answer to this question determines the bulk of a back injury settlement. The spine comprises multiple vertebrae separated by discs, acting as cushions to keep bone from rubbing on bone. When a disc is strained, ruptured, or herniated, it can affect everyday tasks and mobility, resulting in higher payouts if multiple disc injuries are involved.

For example, suppose multiple discs are injured in the lower back (lumbar). In that case, you can request more money in a settlement because this type of injury affects your ability to function normally. The greater the extent of disc damage, the greater the settlement compensation.

Disc Protrusions: When discs protrude, they cause outer tears from the inner material of the spinal cord. This results in nerve damage, compression, and severe pain, increasing the likelihood of long-term health problems because the nerve roots are compromised. The spinal cord controls core and limb movement, and a protrusion can lead to numbness, weakness, and inability to perform basic tasks.

Protrusions are often severe disc injuries, but their severity determines the potential settlement. Most protrusions require extensive medical treatments, like daily pain management, physical therapy, and surgeries, so settlement compensation must cover extensive medical expenses.

Potential Back Surgeries: Do you need back surgery to correct an injury? Spinal fusions, discectomies, and laminectomies are the most common, expensive, and have long recovery periods. Depending on the risk level of the surgery, compensation would include the procedure itself, post-surgical care, and rehabilitation. There’s a potential settlement payout for future surgeries and ongoing medical treatment.

Lifetime Impacts: Some permanent back injuries require lifelong care and management, especially for chronic pain and limited mobility. The more significant the impact on your future, the higher your back injury settlement could be. If lifetime medical care is required, the injury may be ruled a permanent disability, entitling you to extra compensation for lifelong care and possible home modifications for a walker, wheelchair, or other mobility devices.

Navigating Legal Representation for a Back Injury

Initial Consultation and Case Evaluation: A reliable, reputable Haug Law attorney will assess the ins and outs of your back injury case, including circumstances, medical history, and potential recovery. This evaluation helps determine the strength of your case, setting the foundation for a strategic approach.

Building a Strong Case: To maximize your back injury settlement, you must have a strong, indisputable case. There should be zero doubt that your claim is legitimate. To build a solid case, Haug Law attorneys gather medical documentation, including diagnostic test results and expert opinions, documenting the extent and severity of your back injury. 

An attorney will also piece together accident reports, witness statements, and police testimonies if you were involved in a public accident that caused a back injury. By compiling a vital folder of solid evidence, your Haug Law attorney ensures a well-supported case ready for negotiation or fair trial.

Negotiating Your Settlement: This is where your attorney shines. Insurance companies will fight tooth and nail to minimize compensation, but a skilled Haug Law attorney will bypass insurance tactics to present a compelling back injury settlement case. The attorney will negotiate on your behalf, seeking compensation for medical expenses, long-term recovery, pain and suffering, and everyday financial needs. 

In some cases, the back injury claim may be taken to court if a fair settlement agreement can’t be reached. The attorney advocates for your rights in court, ensuring you receive well-deserved compensation.

The Importance of Medical Documentation

Medical documentation is evidence. From the moment of a back injury, you should have sought a healthcare professional for an examination to corroborate an injury. Documentation provides clear, indisputable evidence of severity, treatment history, and projected long-term impact. The more detailed medical records, the easier your case will be and the sooner you can negotiate and receive rightful compensation.

Additionally, healthcare providers are on your side. When experts can provide medical testimonies, it strengthens your back injury case and supports the need for ongoing care. This enhances your chances of a favorable settlement.

Understanding Insurance Company Tactics

Insurance companies will make you jump through hoops to avoid having to compensate you for back injuries. Some of their tactics include lowball settlements or delays in the claims process, all designed to pressure you into accepting less than what you deserve in a back injury settlement case. Hence why legal representation is crucial. Skilled attorneys at Haug Law are assertive and knowledgeable, combating insurance company tactics to protect your rights.

Secure the Compensation You Deserve with Haug Law

Haug Law specializes in personal injuries, including average back injury settlements. Our team is experienced and has combined years of expertise in complex cases, so we recognize and welcome unique challenges with back injury claims. Our commitment is personalized and compassionate, fighting for maximum compensation with solid evidence and a reliable reputation.

Consider Haug Law your GPS for legal representation through consultation, settlement, negotiations, and trial. If you or a loved one has suffered (and are still suffering) a debilitating back injury, you don’t have to brave the legal process alone.

Contact Haug Law now to discuss your back injury case and start the path to recovery.