What Kind of Compensation Do Back Injury Settlements Get in Colorado?
Back injuries can be some of the most debilitating types of injuries that you can sustain. They can impact your ability to work, enjoy life, and perform everyday activities. If you’ve suffered a back injury in a car accident, slip and fall, workplace injury, or in some other way due to someone else’s negligence in Colorado, you could be entitled to compensation for the costs related to your injuries.
If you have been seriously injured in a car accident resulting in a back injury, we invite you to reach out to our team. At the Law Offices of Rodemer | Kane, we want to do all we can to help you through this difficult time, and we have the knowledge and experience with personal injury claims to get you the compensation you need to help cover the costs of your medical treatment. Contact our Colorado Springs law office online or call 719-635-7886 to book a free case consultation.
Types of Back Injuries
Your back quite literally holds your body together, as such it is an integral part of your body and when it becomes injured the recovery can be slow. Back injuries can vary widely, and have different symptoms. Here are some common types of back injuries a person could sustain:
Back Strains and Sprains – When the muscles or ligaments in the back are stretched or torn due to sudden movement or a blow to the body. These can be quite common in both car accidents and slip and fall cases. It is also possible to sustain a back sprain by lifting a heavy object.
Herniated Discs – A herniated disc, sometimes referred to as a slipped disc, occurs when the soft inner gel of the intervertebral disc that sits between the vertebrae protrudes through a tear in its outer layer. This can cause compression in the nearby nerves, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness in the back and legs. The disc can also be damaged by bulging in a section without a tear. The pain of a bulging disc back injury is similar to that of a herniated disc.
Fractured Vertebrae – In events where serious injuries occur such as car accidents, falls, or sports injuries, the vertebrae can actually end up fractured. These fractures can be extremely painful and typically require significant medical treatment, including immobilization or surgery.
Spinal Cord Injuries – Your spinal cord in the nerve highway of your body, sending impulses from your brain to your extremities. In a serious accident the spinal cord can be crushed or severed which can be catastrophic, leading to partial or complete paralysis below the level of the injury. These injuries often result in life-changing consequences.
Whiplash – The term whiplash actually encompasses a number of symptoms that occur from the sudden, forceful back-and-forth movement of the neck that often occurs during a car accident. While whiplash primarily affects the neck, it can also cause lower back pain.
Lower Back Injury – Your lower back area is referred to as the lumbar part of your back. Lower back pain can be quite common after a car accident and could be caused by soft tissue injuries like a strain or a tear, or it could possibly be a lumbar fracture. If you experience pain, swelling, muscle spasms, weakness, or bowel or bladder problems, it’s important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. A lower back pain car accident settlement can be significant when injuries are serious.
Factors Influencing Back Injury Settlement Amounts
When looking to move forward with a back injury claim, it is important to understand that no two accident claims are the same. There are a number of factors that will be considered when determining the amount for a back injury settlement in Colorado. Understanding these factors can help you set realistic expectations and make informed decisions regarding your case. Some of the factors that will be considered include:
- Severity of the Injury – The extent of your injury will be one of the most significant things that is looked at when determining an amount for your back injury claim. Minor strains and sprains will typically settle for less than severe injuries. Back injury settlements without surgery will typically not yield as large a settlement as those that do require surgery because of the added medical costs.
- Medical Expenses – The cost of your medical treatment, including emergency care, back surgeries, physical therapy, and ongoing medical needs, will heavily influence the settlement amount.
- Lost Wages and Future Earnings – If your back injury affects your ability to work, either temporarily or permanently, you could receive compensation for the money you have lost by being unable to work, including potential future earnings if you are not able to continue in your chosen profession.
- Pain and Suffering – In Colorado you can also recoup non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life, when you have suffered a back injury due to the negligence of someone else.
- Level of Fault – The state of Colorado follows a comparative negligence rule. This rule means you may receive compensation for an accident as long as your level of fault is less than 50% but that your settlement could be reduced proportionally by the amount that you are found to be at fault in the accident.
- Insurance Limits – An important factor to understand is that of insurance limits. Your settlement amount will be affected by the at-fault party’s insurance policy limits, as this will be the cap on the amount you can receive. If the at-fault party in the accident is underinsured or uninsured, your settlement may be negatively impacted, which is why it is worth it to consider adding underinsured driver coverage to your own policy.
Average Back Injury Settlement Amounts in Colorado
It can be difficult to give an average for back injury claims. According to research conducted by one West Virginia law office looking at settlement figures from across the country, the average back injury settlement ranges between $179,267 – $450,000 in Colorado. Again, these figures are only a guide. Depending on the circumstances, back injury settlements could settle for as little as a few thousand dollars or sometimes upwards of over a million dollars. It’s always best to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney near you to get a more accurate idea of what sort of back injury settlement you might expect.
Contact a Back Injury Car Accident Attorney Near You in Colorado
A back injury can have long-lasting impacts on you and your family, recovery is very slow and much of the time the effects of the injury are permanent. Understanding the factors that will contribute to your back injury settlement after you’ve been in a car accident is important if you are seeking compensation. With the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer, you can navigate the complexities of the legal system and work towards obtaining a fair settlement that addresses your medical expenses, lost wages, and the overall impact of the injury on their well-being. If you live in or near Colorado Springs, CO and have suffered a serious back injury in a car accident, we invite you to reach out to the team here at the Law Offices of Rodemer | Kane. We are here to help. Contact us online or call us at 719-635-7886 to set up a free consultation.