Back and Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers in Raleigh, NC

It’s easy to take a strong back for granted. A back injury quickly reveals just how much back problems can affect your daily life. While back pain frequently causes a major disruption to work and daily life, damage to the spinal cord may cause irreversible paralysis. It is important to take precautions.

If your back injury or spinal cord damage happened while you were at work or resulted from an accident that was someone else’s fault, you may be entitled to compensation. At Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A., in Raleigh, our attorneys help back injury and spinal cord injury victims seek the money and other benefits they are entitled to.

Here are a few reasons why you should work with Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A.:

• Client service is our priority, and we treat clients like family.
• Our attorneys have experience fighting for the rights of injured people in North Carolina.
• Most of our staff members have been with the firm for a long time.
• Our firm is an affiliate of the North Carolina Chiropractic Association.
• Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys also includes two Board Certified Specialists in Workers’ Compensation Law — Chip Younce and David E. Vtipil.
• Our team of professionals is committed to helping victims of back injuries and spinal cord injuries.
• Members of the staff speak both English and Spanish.

It costs you absolutely nothing to talk with us about your situation and your legal options. Even if you don’t hire us, you will know your rights.

Contact us today for a free back injury claim review. We will help you learn more about how we can help you with your back injury or spinal cord injury. We can advise about your legal options.

Back Injuries in Workplace Accidents and Car Crashes

The backbone and soft tissue in the back have a hard job to do. The back is very prone to injuries at work, in car crashes and other accidents. Here are some of the most common back injuries people in North Carolina suffer at work and in car accidents:

• Back strain: Sometimes called a “pulled back,” this injury includes damage to the muscles or tendons in the back.
• Back sprain: Torn or stretched ligaments in the back are known as a back sprain.
• Slipped or herniated disc: The 26 individual vertebrae (backbones) are cushioned by supple discs. A slipped or herniated disc happens when an injury causes the soft inner portion of a disc to poke out of the strong outer part.
• Ruptured disc: When a disc is damaged and the outer portion tears open, this is called a ruptured disc.
• Pinched or compressed nerve: Serious back pain and limited movement can result from pressure on a nerve in the back.
• Nerve damage: Trauma or compression and other factors can cause damage to the nerves in the back, often resulting in debilitating pain.

Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis

When the spine is subjected to force in an on-the-job accident, a car accident or some other type of trauma, damage to spinal cord can result. The spinal cord could actually be cut or torn. A dislocated disc could press on the spinal cord, as could inflammation or a damaged vertebra.

Any injury to the spinal cord could result in some form of paralysis affecting the muscles and nerves below the point of injury.

Spinal cord injuries are categorized by the part of the spinal cord affected:

• Quadriplegia (also called tetraplegia) results from injuries to the upper section of the spinal cord. It causes loss of motor and sensory function in both the legs and the arms, as well as the trunk of the body.
• Paraplegia comes from injuries to the lower parts of the spinal cord. Someone with paraplegia has paralysis in the lower portion of their body but can still use their arms and hands.

Quadriplegia and paraplegia can be complete (total loss of motor and sensory function below the level of injury) or incomplete (some function remains below the level of injury).

Loss of function due to paralysis may cause:

Other types of spinal cord injuries include:

Spinal Cord and Back Injury Compensation

If your back was hurt or you suffered a spinal cord injury in a workplace accident, you are likely entitled to North Carolina workers’ compensation benefits. Although these benefits are supposed to be paid without regard to fault, many claimants still face problems recovering the compensation they deserve.

For example, since spinal cord injuries have such a major impact on the injured person’s life, the costs are usually very high. The workers’ compensation insurance carrier will likely attempt to minimize the payout as much as possible. That’s why you need a strong advocate on your side. This is to fight for the full benefits the law says you are entitled to.

Depending on the circumstances of a workplace injury, there may be third parties other than your employer and co-workers who could be liable for the accident. If so, that could open the door to additional compensation for you.

Spinal cord injuries in car accidents can be very complex for the same reason. Since so much money is on the line, you can count on the insurance companies. This is to fight to save every dollar they can.

Back injuries can be difficult to establish because many times the source of the pain cannot be easily identified with standard medical tests. It may require extensive expert medical and occupational testimony to show the extent of your injuries and the related losses. This is true in both workers’ compensation claims and car accident claims.

The bottom line is this: If you’ve suffered a back or spine injury at work or in a car crash or other type of accident, you need an experienced personal injury and workers’ compensation attorney on your side.

Need Help With Your Back Injury or Spine Injury Claim? Our Lawyers Are Here for You

Let the lawyers at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A., deal with the insurance companies, the courts and the other concerns related to your worker compensation. With us fighting for you, you can focus on fighting to get your life back together.

Let’s get started. It costs you nothing to discuss your personal injury case with an experienced North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. Call us now or contact us online for a free claim review and advice about your legal options.