Lower Back Pain and Spinal Cord Injury

Can Your Lower Back Pain Indicate That You Have a Spinal Cord Injury?

Though many people might suspect that they could have lower back pain, a spinal cord injury may also be the source. According to a graph from Statista, the leading causes of spinal cord injuries in the U.S. between 2015 and 2020 were from motor vehicle accidents (38.2 percent), falls (32.3 percent), violence (14.3 percent), sports (7.8 percent), medical accidents (4.1 percent), and other unknown causes (3.3 percent).

With this being said, if your back pain started after being injured in an accident, it is very likely that the source of this pain could be from a spinal cord injury. For this reason, it is crucial to receive adequate and comprehensive medical attention as soon as possible.

It is understandable for people to have a growing concern over receiving medical treatment for a spinal cord injury since it is very costly. However, if your injury was triggered by another individual’s negligent actions, you could file a lawsuit against them to acquire compensation for damages. 

At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our experienced spinal cord injury attorneys will help you build your case, negotiate with insurance companies, and get you the compensation you deserve.

To schedule a free consultation, please contact our 24/7 legal team by calling 213-927-3700 or filling out our quick contact form.

Links Between Lower Back Pain and Spinal Cord Injuries 

The lower back, also known as the lumbar zone, is where the lumbar spine is located. The lumbar spine is the lower end of the spine that is responsible for a variety of functions. It supports the body’s entire nervous system, weight of the upper body, twisting and turning of the back, and the lower body function. 

The muscles located on the lower back are what protects the spinal cord. Oftentimes, due to the location of the muscles, a person with a lower back injury may assume that the pain is from a pulled muscle, yet the cause is actually from a spinal cord injury.

Lower Back Pain Symptoms Showing Signs of a Spinal Cord Injury 

The symptoms of lower back pain can show signs of a spinal cord injury. If you are injured in an accident, you should have yourself thoroughly medically examined as soon as possible. If you are experiencing these following symptoms, you should go to the emergency room.

• Pain that is concentrated in the lower back area.
• Stinging or burning pain that spreads to the lower back, behind the thighs, and other lower parts of the body. This can result in numbness or loss of feeling.
• Pain that worsens after sitting or standing for long periods of time.
• Issues with sitting, standing, or walking.
• Issues with transitioning from sitting and standing. 

Covering the Medical Costs of a Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries can be very costly and are a life-long financial burden. However, if the victim was injured in an accident for which they were not at-fault for, they could file a personal injury claim against the negligent party. 

Filing a personal injury claim against the party at-fault will open up an investigation. An attorney can represent you to build your case,  file your claim, and ensure that the insurance companies offer you the compensation that you deserve. 

Available Damages

The recoverable damages that you receive as compensation from filing your personal injury claim are intended to cover all the medical bills that have resulted from the accident and any subsequent losses. 

Compensation for injuries are also known as damages and there are two types of damages available: economic and non-economic. 

Economic damages refers to costs that can be readily calculated based on the past and future tangible financial expenses and losses related to the spinal cord injury, such as: 

• Medical bills, which should cover all costs related to treatment for a spinal cord injury. 
• Lost wages, which occurs when the victim is unable to receive income since they are unable to work.
• Loss of earning capacity, which refers to all the future financial losses that a spinal cord injury victim will incur due to the inability to work.

Non-economic damages refers to the invaluable losses that an injured victim experiences. Non-economic damages for spinal cord injuries include, but are not limited to:

• Pain and suffering, which refers to the painful experiences and losses that a victim may face due to a spinal cord injury. 
• Loss of enjoyment of life, which refers to the victim having no intention of seeking enjoyment in their lives due to the complications of living that come with a spinal cord injury.
• Loss of consortium, which refers to the victim not being able to maintain a stable relationship, have intercourse, and/or the ability to have a child.

West Coast Trial Lawyers Is Here to Help 

If you are a victim of spinal cord injury due to another individual’s negligence, West Coast Trial Lawyers has certified California spinal cord injury attorneys with over 60 years of collective legal experience in handling personal injury cases. We will help you recover economic and non-economic damages. This includes medical expenses, emotional distress, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

No fees will be charged until your case has been settled. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation with the attorneys at our firm. Reach out to our 24/7 legal team by calling 213-927-3700 or filling out our contact form.