Should I Get a Fusion Surgery after a Car Accident?
Car crashes and other auto accidents are associated with severe, disabling injuries to many parts of the body. But even a relatively minor fender bender can cause neck and back injuries that require extensive medical treatment.
The impact of a car accident often has devastating consequences for the regions of your spinal column, like the lumbar spine, the thoracic spine, and the cervical spine. All of these areas are surprisingly fragile, which is why immediate medical attention is so important after a rollover, a head-on collision or any other type of auto accident.
Based on the degree of injury and the complications you end up with, your doctor may recommend a surgical procedure known as a spinal fusion. But how can you be sure that surgery is the best way to deal with the injuries to your back after a car accident?
- How much will the procedure cost, and will it be covered if I file a claim against the other driver?
- Should I get a lawyer to help me file a lawsuit if I have a serious back injury from an auto accident?
Victims of negligence by a careless or reckless driver have many questions about their rights and legal options. We are here to help, 24 hours, 7 days a week, so contact our law firm and talk to a car accident injury attorney.
What is Spinal Fusion Surgery?
Spinal fusion, or spondylosyndesis, is a surgery where two or more vertebrae are fused (joined) together. This is done so that the vertebrae can support each other, thereby minimizing back pain and other spinal cord and nerve issues. During the procedure, bone graft material or an artificial bone is placed in between the affected vertebrae. Metal plates, rods, and screws may be used as well to hold the vertebrae together, which is essential to the healing process.
There are different types of spinal fusions based on what portion of the spine is affected. These include:
- Cervical spinal fusion
- Lumbar fusion
- Posterior spinal fusion
- Anterior spinal fusion
- Anterior lumbar interbody fusion
- Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion
When is Spinal Fusion Necessary after a Car Accident?
A spinal fusion procedure may be the right course of action after a car accident if less invasive treatments are not effective. That means you are experiencing significant pain and instability in your back, and this is the last resort to try and restore mobility in that area. Conditions that can justify the need for a spinal fusion after a car accident include:
- Chronic lower back pain
- Herniated disc
- Spinal stenosis
- Fractured bones
- Weak or unstable spine
- Abnormal curvature
Only you and your doctor can decide if this is the right way to proceed if you injured your back in a car accident. However, we can help you recover the compensation you need for medical bills, physical therapy, time off from work, and other expenses.
Settlement Values for a Back Injury Accident Case
Insurance claims for car accidents resulting in a back injury can have values ranging from $80,000 to $1,000,000. But some cases have much higher values – perhaps $3,000,000 and above – and this is due to a number of factors, which include:
- Other injuries that were caused by the accident
- The long-term implications of these injuries on the victim’s life (job loss, medical care, interference with daily tasks, etc.)
- Level of pain and suffering, as well as emotional distress resulting from the accident
- Negligence by the defendant, particularly criminal / reckless conduct that caused or contributed to the incident
There’s no denying that a spinal fusion affects your life in many ways, and as we mentioned before, it’s a last resort to try and undo the damage from an accident that was caused by someone else. Plus, there is no guarantee that you won’t experience some level of nerve damage and other serious mobility issues, even if the surgery is successful. These are just some of the issues that must be examined when we determine the value of your accident claim. A California car accident lawyer is waiting to assist you, so please take a moment to contact our law firm.
How Long is the Process to Settle a Car Accident Lawsuit?
Car accident lawsuits may be settled in 6 to 12 months based on the level of bodily harm and emotional trauma. If you sustained a serious injury that requires long-term medical care and invasive treatments, like spinal fusion surgery, it can take between 1 and 2 years to reach a settlement. Now and then, we do have lawsuits that are tried in court, and these cases normally take over 3 years. However, it should be noted that only a tiny fraction of cases go this route, so the general expectation is that your case will be settled through back and forth negotiations.
Statute of Limitations to File a Car Accident Claim
All accident claims involving negligence by another driver must be filed no later than 2 years from the date of injury. For the most part, this is referring to the accident date, but you may end up finding out about an injury later on, and if that’s the case, you have 1 year to file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company. You can base the deadline of your lawsuit on whichever date comes later, but it’s in your best interest to file a claim as soon as possible. Remember that the longer you wait to start the legal process, the longer it will take before you receive compensation for your monetary losses.
Here’s something important that may be relevant to you: was your accident caused by an entity of the government? For example, maybe you were hit by a police vehicle or a fire truck, or a construction vehicle that was being operated by a city contractor. In that case, you only have 6 months to file a claim against the applicable agency. Please note that each entity has its own claim forms and instructions on how to file the claim. Because the procedures to sue the government are incredibly complicated, we recommend that you contact a personal injury law firm as soon as possible.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Injury Lawyer
Legal representation can make the difference between a favorable settlement award and struggling with financial hardship for many years into the future. Our objective is to secure the funds you are entitled to without causing you further worry and stress. The Zero Fee Guarantee is our reassurance to you that you will never pay out of pocket for the cost of legal services. Attorneys’ fees are a part of your settlement from the defendant, so in order to get paid, we have to win your case. Otherwise, we eat the costs and charge you $0, no matter how much time and work we invested in your lawsuit.
For a free case review with an auto accident lawsuit attorney, contact the offices of DTLA Law Group.
$2.5 Million
$2,287,495
$54 Million
$22 Million
$1.9 MIllion
$1.5 Million
$600,000
$1,975,000
Sadly, the mantra of doing more with less can be taken too far. When you enter a CVS location in Oakland, CA, you might find only one or two staff members working in the entire store. That means little attention is being devoted to cleaning and ensuring the safety of guests. While the corporate office might claim it is keeping prices down, it is also contributing to the increase in hazards found throughout the stores, which can include:
- Water or drinks spilled on the floor
- Ice falling to the floor from damaged bags pulled from the freezer
- Wet or saturated floor mats at the store entrance
- Litter and trash falling from overflowing trashcans
- Leaking or damaged plumbing fixtures flooding the floors
- Pipes, hoses, or tubes leaking on the floor
- Clogged floor drains back up onto the floors
- Floors that were recently mopped but do not display the necessary caution signs to alert customers of the added slip and fall hazard
Damaged packaging that allows items like salt, powder, or cleaning products to leak onto the floor
If you recently visited a local CVS in Oakland, CA, and suffered a slip and fall injury, please know there could be grounds to sue the company if the staff failed to meet their obligation under duty of care.
What Is Duty Of Care?Premise liability laws were created to help protect the safety of guests on public or private property. They define the care a property owner and their staff must provide to ensure a safe and hazard-free space. Duty of care goes a step further to describe the level of care and action required when a patron discovers or reports a safety issue. It requires the staff to react at least to the same level as the average prudent person in a similar situation.
Imagine the action you would take if you saw water on the floor in your home. You would immediately clean up the spill to prevent a slip and fall injury accident. That is also what is required of the staff at CVS if they have a safety issue in the store. If they fail to act in a reasonable amount of time, they can be deemed negligent in their duty of care. In addition, if that negligence is later found to have caused or contributed to a patron’s injuries, CVS can be held responsible for the losses and expenses incurred by the victim due to their injuries. If you think staff negligence was a factor in your CVS slip and fall injuries in Oakland, CA, please contact DTLA Law Group today to discuss your claim with a seasoned CVS slip and fall attorney in Oakland, CA.
How Much Is The Average CVS Slip And Fall Injury Lawsuit In Oakland, CA Worth?It is essential for victims of a personal injury accident to understand that each lawsuit compensation value is independently determined based on the actual losses and expenses of the victim. There is no predetermined amount for specific injuries or accidents. Instead, you will work closely with your CVS slip and fall attorney in Oakland, CA, to compile all the allowable expenses you suffered because of your injuries. The items will then be tabulated to determine the compensation amount sought by your CVS slip and fall injury lawsuit. Items that are typically used for this process include but are not strictly limited to:
- All legal expenses related to the preparation, filing, and litigating of the CVS slip and fall lawsuit in Oakland, CA
- The replacement value of any personal property that was destroyed or damaged during the CVS slip and fall injury incident in Oakland, CA
- All lost income if the victim is unable to work at their regular job until they are fully recovered from their injuries or if income is lost because of time spent at medical appointments related to the CVS slip and fall injuries in Oakland, CA
- All current and projected medical expenses related to the care and rehabilitation of the CVS slip and fall injuries in Oakland, CA
In addition, if the victim suffers severe injuries and requires a lengthy recovery time, it is possible to seek added compensation for pain and suffering. However, because this is not a documented amount, such as a medical bill, you must select an amount you seek in your lawsuit. Your DTLA Law Group CVS slip and fall attorney will guide you in determining a reasonable amount based on the results of recently resolved cases with similar injuries or recovery times to ensure you are fully and fairly compensated for your pain and suffering.
The Statute of Limitations allows victims of personal injuries two years to file their lawsuit. If the case is not filed by the second anniversary of the injury incident, the victim loses the right to submit a claim and seek compensation for the losses caused by that incident. It is also noteworthy that there are minimal exceptions to this time limit, so victims are advised to contact DTLA Law Group as swiftly as possible to determine the time needed to prepare and file their lawsuit. Once the Statute of Limitations has expired, there is little any CVS slip and fall attorney in Oakland, CA can do to help victims seek any compensation that might have been owed to them.
No Added Financial Stress And WorryWhen you work with the dedicated team at DTLA Law Group, you will quickly learn that many factors set them apart from the others. Not only are they the hardest working and most compassionate, but they are also focused on always putting their client’s needs first in everything they do. This begins with the generous payment policy that pledges you never need to pay any upfront legal fees. The promise continues throughout the case. We will never give up on seeing our client attain justice and the compensation they need to overcome the hardships created by their CVS slip and fall injuries.
Finally, if DTLA Law Group fails to win your CVS slip and fall lawsuit in Oakland, CA, you owe us nothing for our time and investment in building your case. This simple policy ensures that our clients will never suffer added financial issues or struggles due to legal fees if they are not compensated for their injuries. Please know this is not a ploy to get hired for cases and then pass along a bill with fine print and added out-of-pocket legal fees and expenses. We are willing to work for free if we fail to meet our pledge to get you the compensation you need after suffering a slip and fall injury at CVS in Oakland, CA.
Please contact DTLA Law Group today to learn more about our skilled DTLA Law Group CVS slip and fall attorneys in Oakland, CA, and how they can offer solutions to the challenges you face due to someone else’s negligence.
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