Should I Get a Spine Surgery after my Slip and Fall?

Back Injuries that can Benefit from Surgery

Herniated discs are one type of back injury that may require surgical intervention after a trip and fall or slip and fall accident. When a disc is herniated, the cushioning fluid between the vertebrae leaks out, which results in excruciating pain due to the friction between the bones. The ruptured disc may need to be replaced or repaired, so this is undoubtedly a major procedure.

Spinal fractures can also cause serious pain, along with nerve damage resulting in loss of sensation or mobility. The condition can happen in elderly people due to osteoporosis, but the spinal column can also be fractured in accidents like slip and falls and car crashes. If you sustain a spinal fracture, there are various surgeries that may be recommended, which we will cover in the next section.

Our law firm has an experienced team of slip and fall lawyers who are familiar with the types of back injuries that can happen when you have an unexpected fall. Only you can decide if back surgery is right for you, but whatever you choose, you can count on us to secure the payment you deserve if you were injured from a dangerous condition on someone else’s property.

Common Surgical Procedures for the Back after a Slip and Fall

There are various types of back surgeries that can provide you with relief after a serious accident. Below are the most common procedures that are performed on people who injure their back from a slip and fall:

• Vertebroplasty – the injection of a bone and cement compound into the vertebra to repair a fracture to the spine.
• Kyphoplasty – a procedure where a balloon is inserted to inflate the fractured area in a vertebra before a doctor fills it with a cement / bone compound.
• Spinal fusion – joining, i.e., fusing together 2 or more vertebrae to make the area more stable and relieve pain or provide greater range of motion (most commonly used for herniated discs)
• Laminotomy (or laminectomy) – removing the lamina that covers the spinal cord in order to relieve pressure
• Discectomy – a full removal of the herniated disc

There have been great advancements over the years that have made these surgeries safer and more effective, with lower risk of complications. But they are still risky, nevertheless, and this is just one of many issues you should discuss with a back specialist. The recovery process can be difficult as well, and you will most likely need time off from work. If the expenses you incur during this time are due to an accident caused by someone else, we can help you file a slip and fall lawsuit and fight for the highest possible settlement on your behalf.

What are Back Injury Accident Claims Worth on Average?

Claimants filing for a back injury after a slip and fall typically receive anywhere from $750,000 to $1,000,000, and even more depending on the severity of their injury. Needing surgery will certainly add to the value of a claim, as it indicates a serious injury that may have permanent complications. But, some cases of back injury are relatively minor, and these claims are resolved for under $50,000.

Here are just some of the factors that are used to determine the total amount of compensation for a slip and fall incident:

• Your medical expenses – especially projected / future expenses if you have serious injuries
• If you have other injuries aside from the issues with your back
• The impact of these injuries on your professional and personal life
• If you have emotional trauma that results in PTSD and other mental health conditions
• The act of negligence by the defendant that is responsible for the accident

No matter what type of back surgery you choose, there’s no denying that it’s a major investment with heavy consequences for your finances. You will also have a long and tough recovery ahead of you, and some of your symptoms may persist, even after the procedure. We can’t be there for you with medical advice, but we will work with your doctors to ensure that you receive every penny you deserve from a negligent property owner.

How Long Do Slip and Fall Claims Take to Settle?

If your claim is against a home or residential property owner, we may succeed in reaching a settlement in 6 months or less. If you slipped and fell on a commercial property or due to government negligence, settling a fall accident case can take between 8 and 24 months. In particular, claims against city, county, and state governments take the longest (at least 12 months on average). But there are many issues that add to the amount of time to settle a personal injury lawsuit. We can give you a more specific timeline once we learn the details of your case, but please keep in mind that these are only estimates.

Statute of Limitations to File a Slip and Fall Lawsuit

If you are interested in suing a negligent property owner for a slip and fall, the statute of limitations in California is 2 years. The 2-year window starts from the moment you are injured in an accident, so time is of the essence when it comes to a fall injury lawsuit. If you are more than 2 years from the incident date, there is very little chance that the court will give you an extension.

Please be aware that 2 years is the deadline to sue private entities, like a major retailer, apartment complex, or the owner of a house. If you are seeking damages from the government, you must file a claim within 6 months. For example, many of our clients were injured from slipping or tripping inside a government building, a public park, or a sidewalk / street that’s maintained by the city or county. So, if an entity of the government is liable for your back injury, you only have 6 months from when the accident occurred to submit the appropriate claim forms. This is a complicated process that has to be completed within a very tight deadline, which is why you should contact our law firm as soon as possible.

Free Legal Services from a Slip and Fall Attorney

Most injury victims are aware that help from a lawyer is critical to succeeding in a slip and fall claim. Unfortunately, hiring a lawyer is out of reach for most people, even in the best of times, but especially when they already have unexpected bills and monetary losses from an accident.

Our goal is to even the playing field between accident victims and insurance companies, thereby ensuring that our clients receive maximum payment for the harm they suffered. With that in mind, we charge you absolutely nothing to hire a slip and fall lawyer if you wish to go ahead with a lawsuit. The Zero Fee Guarantee is our promise to you that legal fees are charged to the party you are suing, and you will never receive a bill from us if we fail to win your case.

If you would like a free case review to discuss your rights and legal options, please contact us at your earliest convenience.

Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Should I Get Spine Surgery after my Car Accident
Should I Get a Fusion Surgery after a Slip and Fall Accident