The DJF Law Firm, PLLC

Houston Back Injury Attorneys

If you sustained a back injury caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, contact The DJF Law Firm, PLLC immediately. You might be entitled to compensation from the at-fault party.

An injury to any part of the back can be debilitating. Completing routine tasks is challenging when the muscles, nerves, or spinal cord becomes compromised.

The DJF Law Firm, PLLC knows the struggle of dealing with a back injury after an unexpected accident. We can help you pursue action against the negligent party and seek the compensation you deserve. Call us at 832-529-3476 for a free consultation with one of our dedicated Houston back injury attorneys to learn more.

Common Types of Back Injuries

A back injury is one of the most common and serious injuries that occur in accidents. Certain parts of the back enable you to bend, turn the body, and lift objects. Damage to these vital parts can limit function and impair physical abilities.

The back is a large area of the body spanning from the bottom of the neck to the hips. Numerous systems and parts make up the back to allow free movement and motion. An injury to any part of the back, whether in the upper part near the neck or the lower part near the hips, is called a back injury.

The most common parts of the back a person can injure are:

  • Ligaments – Ligaments surround and stabilize the spinal cord. If you pull a ligament by overexerting yourself, you could experience back pain, spasms, and swelling at the site of the injury.
  • Muscles – Back muscles control posture and movement. Reduced back strength and a loss of mobility can result from spraining, pulling, or tearing these muscles.
  • Discs – Between each pair of vertebrae in the spine is a disc. A herniated or ruptured disc limits a person’s ability to move the back.
  • Nerves – The nerves transmit signals and deliver blood to and from a person’s brain. Nerve damage in the back can lead to pain and functional problems.

The spinal cord is another crucial part of the back. It’s a column of nerve tissue that begins at the base of the skull and runs down the back. Damage to the spinal cord can cause functional problems and lead to a loss of feeling and sensation below the injury site.

The severity and location of a spinal cord injury determine its classification. A spinal cord injury can fall under one of two classifications:

  • Complete – A complete spinal cord injury means a total loss of feeling and motor function below the injury site.
  • Incomplete – An incomplete spinal cord injury refers to some loss of sensory or motor function below the affected area.

The body parts affected by the damage determine the type of spinal cord injury:

  • Paraplegia – Paraplegia is paralysis from the waist down.
  • Quadriplegia – Quadriplegia occurs when all four limbs become paralyzed. It can also affect certain internal organs.

Common Symptoms of Back Injuries

You should look for warning signs of a back injury after an accident. The most common signs include:

  • Difficulty moving
  • Tenderness or pain
  • Stiff back
  • Swelling
  • Pain that worsens while coughing, moving, laughing, or sneezing
  • Pain radiating down one or both legs
  • Trouble standing up straight
  • Bruising
  • Muscle spasms in the back

A severe back injury can cause additional symptoms, such as:

  • Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
  • Paralysis
  • Pins and needles or numbness in the legs, arms, feet, or hands
  • Blood in the urine
  • Difficulty passing stool or urinating
  • Fever

You should seek immediate medical care for a back injury. Once you leave the accident scene, go to the hospital so a doctor can examine you. They can recommend a treatment plan to manage your symptoms. You might require ongoing physical therapy or rehabilitation to restore mobility or movement. Sometimes, surgery is necessary for severe back injuries.

Common Causes of Back Injuries

A range of scenarios and contributing factors can lead to a back injury. Anyone could get hurt, whether at work, dining out, or driving to the store.

The most common causes of back injuries are listed below.

Car Accidents

Accidents involving cars, bicycles, and motorcycles can seriously injure drivers and passengers. Back injuries are common due to the violent impact of a crash. The most common causes of car accidents include:

  • Tailgating
  • Distracted driving
  • Driving under the influence
  • Speeding
  • Failure to yield the right of way

Truck Accidents

Commercial vehicles are massive. They take up significant space on the road and can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. The occupants of a small car could get pinned beneath the weight of an overturned truck or sustain debilitating back injuries from the force of the collision.

The most common causes of truck accidents include:

  • Taking a turn too fast
  • Changing lanes without checking blind spots
  • Improperly loading or overloading cargo onto the truck
  • Sudden or improper braking
  • Tailgating
  • Inexperienced or unqualified truck driver

Boating Accidents

Boat accidents can lead to back injuries during a vessel collision, slipping and falling on a slippery surface, or falling overboard. Common causes of boating accidents include:

  • Speeding near sandbars and the shore
  • Operator inattention or distraction
  • Crashing into waves at high speeds
  • Approaching a dock carelessly
  • Lack of slip-resistant surfaces on the vessel

Premises Liability

Anyone visiting someone else’s property could get hurt due to the dangerous conditions there. Someone could fall down the stairs or slip on a recently mopped floor. Back injuries commonly occur on commercial and residential properties due to factors such as:

  • Defective stairs
  • Slippery floors
  • Damaged railings
  • Loose carpeting

Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse refers to a caregiver intentionally harming a resident. Various types of abuse can take place and result in a back injury, such as:

  • Sexual abuse
  • Physical abuse
  • Neglect
  • Abandonment

Workplace Accidents

An employee might hurt their back while performing their job duties. When that happens, they could pursue workers’ compensation benefits or a third-party lawsuit depending on the circumstances.

The most common causes of on-the-job back injuries include:

  • Falling from heights
  • Repetitive motion or overexertion injury
  • Being struck by machinery or an unsecured object on a shelf
  • Slip/trip and fall

Determining liability might be a challenge, especially if the incident involves multiple parties. You should take the necessary steps to prepare your case to protect your rights to compensation. That can include seeking immediate treatment after leaving the accident scene and maintaining any documents related to your injury.

Do not hesitate to contact The DJF Law Firm, PLLC if you sustained a back injury because of someone else’s careless actions. We can review the facts of your case and determine what we can do to get you the compensation you need. We will tirelessly work to hold the negligent person or company accountable, so you can get your life back on track.

Compensation Available for a Back Injury

Debt is an understandable concern following a back injury. You might not have the financial means to pay for your medical bills. You could face economic struggles if you don’t have the money you need to cover the expenses you incur. Someone else should provide the monetary award you deserve so you’re not forced to pay out of pocket for injuries that weren’t your fault.

At The DJF Law Firm, PLLC, we know the challenges you face after an accident leaves you injured and in pain. You can count on us to file an insurance claim or lawsuit on your behalf and pursue compensation from the at-fault party.

The money you receive might compensate you for:

  • Hospitalization, assistive devices, rehabilitation, and other medical costs
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Expenses for making your home accessible for a disability
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Physical impairment
  • Loss of household services
  • Out-of-pocket expenses
  • Damage to personal property

You could also recover exemplary damages in a lawsuit. This type of financial award punishes the defendant and deters similar misconduct in the future. However, the law strictly enforces the conditions you must meet for the court to make such an award to you. You must show clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with fraud, gross negligence, or malice.

Statute of Limitations for a Back Injury Case

If you want to sue the negligent party for your back injury, you must adhere to the statute of limitations. In Texas, the statute of limitations allows a two-year timeframe to file a lawsuit. That means you have two years from the date of the accident to initiate your lawsuit in court. Once the timeframe passes, you will likely lose your right to compensation for your injury.

Contact Us

The Houston back injury attorneys of The DJF Law Firm, PLLC will protect your rights and fight by your side until the end. You can count on our legal team to provide the guidance and support you need to get through this traumatic ordeal. We believe in holding people and companies liable for the harm they cause, so we can be your advocate and seek the justice you deserve.

If your back injury happened in an accident someone else caused, call The DJF Law Firm, PLLC at 832-529-3476 for your free consultation. Let us help you recover and move forward with your life.