Atlanta Back Injury Lawyers
Back injuries are painful and debilitating and often permanent, leaving the injury victim with a lifetime of chronic pain and limited mobility, painful reminders of the injury with every step or movement. Treatment for a back injury often involves surgery, including spinal fusion and attachment of metal hardware such as cages to the vertebrae, or disc removal and artificial disc replacement. Some back injury victims face a lifetime of epidural steroid injections or medications for pain management, and many can no longer work at their former job or at all.
Dealing with the costs and complications of a back injury is expensive, and the physical pain and suffering can take a toll on one’s quality of life. At Shiver Hamilton Campbell, our Atlanta back injury lawyers take on cases involving the most costly, complicated and catastrophic injuries, and we have a record of winning major verdicts and recoveries for our clients. If you have suffered a back injury at work or in a motor vehicle accident in metro Atlanta, or if you are an attorney needing tried and true co-counsel to litigate your client’s back injury case, call our office at 404-593-0020 for a free consultation and get started today on your road to recovery.
Types of Back Injuries
When a back injury impacts the spine, the spinal cord can get cut or bruised, causing temporary or permanent and partial or complete paralysis. Depending on the level of injury, paralysis can affect the lower extremities or the entire body and can even prove fatal. Not all back injuries involve direct trauma to the spinal cord, however. Serious back injuries can occur in other ways as well.
Herniated discs – Discs are pillow-shaped bodies with a tough outer layer and a fluid-filled inner layer that act as cushions between the vertebrae (bones) in the spine. Properly functioning discs are essential to the movement of the spine and therefore to walking, bending, sitting down and getting up, etc. A herniated disc, also known as a slipped disc, bulging disc, or ruptured disc, occurs when a portion of the inside of the disc is pushed out or leaks out through a tear or rupture on the outside of the disc. A herniated disc can result from a trauma such as a fall or a car crash, or it may be the result of degenerative disease over time. Even when the disc is subject to degeneration, a crash or other injury can accelerate or exacerbate the process, causing the disc to rupture prematurely. Symptoms of herniated discs include pinched nerves and pain that radiates throughout the body.
Fractures – A “broken back” generally refers to a fractured vertebra or spinal fracture, which may or may not cut or impinge on the spinal cord. These fractures can be painful and affect the ability to bend, flex or extend the body. Rib fractures are also painful and can make it difficult to breathe. Rib fractures could also potentially injure an internal organ or cause internal bleeding. Some rib fractures can heal on their own while others are a medical emergency, making it essential to get prompt medical treatment after any fall, car crash or other serious accident.
Spinal Stenosis – Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces within the spine, which can put pressure on the spinal cord, leading to a loss of feeling (numbness), pain or tingling, or paralysis. Spinal stenosis can occur as a result of a ruptured disc or due to a car accident or other trauma that causes a vertebral fracture or dislocation.
Facet joint injury – Facet joints are located all along the spine and help keep the spinal column stable while also contributing to flexing and extending the back within a normal range of motion. The results of a facet joint injury are pain, limited mobility and stiffness.
Causes of Back Injuries in Atlanta
Back injuries are often the result of sudden trauma or degenerative disease. In the case of degenerative disease, the immediate injury is often still brought on by a traumatic event that turns the condition into a medical emergency or otherwise requires immediate treatment and ongoing care. Some of the leading causes of back injuries in Atlanta include the following:
Car Accidents – Rear-end collisions can cause back injuries through whiplash injuries or when the seat dislodges or the seatback fails upon impact. Back injuries are also likely in more serious accidents involving a rollover or roof crush. Motorcycle riders, as well as passenger car occupants struck by a tractor-trailer, are also at risk of suffering a debilitating back injury in a crash.
Construction Accidents – Ladder falls and scaffold collapses are highly likely to cause back injuries. Construction workers can also get struck in the back by swinging, flying or falling objects, or they can be thrown to the ground by the force of an explosion.
Unsafe Workplaces – Workers who engage in repetitive motions on the job such as bending, lifting and reaching overhead, or who sit or stand for long stretches at a time, are at risk of suffering a work-related back injury. A back injury can also occur in a one-time traumatic event such as lifting a too-heavy object or catching an object falling from overhead. Workers can suffer injuries when they are not provided with the proper equipment or protection or when unsafe workplace practices are ignored. Shiver Hamilton Campbell helps injured workers bring third-party liability claims for unsafe workplace injuries caused by negligent contractors and other third parties.
Help Is Available From A Atlanta Back Injury Lawyer
If you have suffered a back injury at work or in a metro Atlanta car, truck or motorcycle accident caused by the negligence of another, call Shiver Hamilton Campbell at 404-593-0020 for a free consultation. We take on cases involving the most serious catastrophic injuries or wrongful death, and we fight to secure significant compensation for our clients who were hurt because of another’s negligence or wrongful conduct.
