Can I Sue for a Back Injury in a Car Accident?

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Can I Sue for a Back Injury in a Car Accident?

If you live in or visit Newport Beach long enough, you get used to traffic being part of daily life. Even the scenic roadways of Pacific Coast Highway, Jamboree Road, and the turns around Balboa Island have traffic. While you can get used to this traffic, you can’t get used to being in an accident or suffering a potentially severe, lingering back injury during such a collision.

There is no way for a victim to prepare for the jarring, painful, financially destabilizing effect of a car accident in Newport Beach. What you can do, though, is demand fair compensation, possibly by suing one or more liable parties.

You may not have been prepared for the crash, but the Newport Beach car accident lawyers at Bentley & More LLP are prepared for your case. We see and represent auto collision victims every day, and we are real trial lawyers who don’t shy away from suing when clients need us to. Contact us to complete your free consultation.

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Your Back Is at Imminent Risk When Vehicles Collide in Newport Beach

When people hear the term back injury, they often think of soreness or a muscle strain that requires little more than rest and perhaps some ice. Those who’ve suffered back injuries in car accidents know how serious these injuries can be, and simply hearing the word “back injury” may send a shiver up their spines.

The spine is a complex structure of vertebrae, discs, nerves, and supporting tissue. A sudden impact, or even an awkward, unexpected movement, can disrupt that system in devastating ways.

In Newport Beach, we see back injuries caused by:

• Rear-end collisions on Coast Highway, where traffic is known to stop abruptly
• Side-impact crashes at intersections like MacArthur Boulevard and Bonita Canyon Drive
• Multi-vehicle pileups on the 73 freeway
• Rideshare accidents involving Uber or Lyft drivers navigating Newport Beach’s crowded streets
• High-speed crashes on nearby freeways during commuting hours

These collisions can cause injuries such as herniated discs, bulging discs, spinal fractures, nerve impingement, and soft tissue damage that causes chronic pain.

Some clients continue working for weeks before realizing their symptoms are not just “normal” pain. Much harm can be done to an insurance claim or lawsuit during that time, which is why you should not dismiss accident-related back pain as “normal.” Instead, contact our team as soon as possible after the collision.

Answering Your Question: Can You Sue for a Back Injury in a Newport Beach Car Accident?

Yes, you may sue for a back injury resulting from a car accident if another party’s negligence caused the collision and your injury caused harm. California follows a fault-based system, meaning the person who caused the accident is responsible for the damage it caused. If insurance proceedings don’t lead to a fair settlement, you might elect to file a lawsuit against the negligent party (or others).

A lawsuit may be appropriate when:

• Your back injury requires surgery, injections, or other expensive or prolonged types of care
• You miss work for an extended period or are forced to retire
• Pain substantially interferes with your daily activities, recreation, or sleep
• The insurance company disputes the severity or cause of your injury (or lowballs you for any other reason)
• Available insurance coverage is simply not enough to cover your damages

Many cases begin as insurance claims and only become lawsuits when insurers refuse to offer fair compensation. The Newport Beach car accident attorneys at Bentley & More LLP know the claims process well, but we are just as experienced in leading car accident lawsuits for our clients.

When an Insurance Claim Might Be Enough

Not every back injury leads to litigation. In many cases, insurance claims produce fair compensation for car accident victims in Newport Beach, particularly when:

• The injury is clearly documented and improves steadily with time and medical care
• Medical treatment is not particularly extensive or costly
• The accident victim can return to work
• The at-fault driver is insured
• Fault and liability are undisputed

Our lawyers have negotiated fair insurance settlements for many clients throughout California.

However, the insurance claims process in California is complicated and littered with challenging questions. Our state has more than its fair share of uninsured motorists. There is almost always a chance that a car accident will lead to a lawsuit, which may lead to a trial.

We frequently advise clients in Orange County to wait until their doctors have a clearer understanding of their prognosis before settling. We will only know whether a lawsuit is the right course of action once we know how much your back injury has cost you.

Why Back Injuries Are Often More Expensive Than They Appear

Back injuries can be uncommonly costly (financially and in other respects) for several reasons. The back is a uniquely interconnected and complex part of your body. The web of bones, joints, and tissue can make diagnosis and treatment difficult, and pain or dysfunction in one part of your back can radiate throughout other parts of your body.

Recovery from a back injury does not typically come easy, and costs can add up quickly when the car accident victim requires:

• Diagnostic imaging, such as MRIs and CT scans
• Physical therapy
• Pain management resources
• Epidural injections or nerve blocks
• Surgical intervention
• Post-surgical rehabilitation
• Ongoing medication
• Home and vehicle modifications

A back injury can quietly (or obviously) undermine your professional performance and diminish your career trajectory. These long-term effects are often overlooked by insurance adjusters focused on short-term medical bills.

Add in the cost of psychological and emotional distress, lost physical abilities, lost earning power, and other economic and non-economic harm, and you can see why back injuries can be uniquely expensive.

Our firm works closely with medical professionals in and near Newport Beach who understand spinal trauma. Their insight helps document how an injury affects your life now and in the future, which will be critical as we pursue fair compensation for you.

High Value Cases Demand High-Level Preparation

Back injury cases can’t be rushed. Insurance companies know which firms are willing to try cases and which prefer quick settlements, and you must seek a lawyer who is all-in on your case.

Bentley & More LLP has spent years building a reputation for deftly leading complex litigation, including back injury cases involving unusual facts and challenging circumstances. If you want a law firm that will never back down in the face of a challenge and will see the job through until it is done the right way, look no further for your car accident attorney in Newport Beach.

Our Newport Beach Car Accident Lawyers Don’t Just Want You Paid, We Want You Healthy, Too: Here’s What That Means

We don’t offer “standard” legal service. Our relentless legal team brings a comprehensive approach to your back injury case. We are just as attentive to securing evidence and negotiating settlements as we are to helping you get medical treatment and mental health services.

Of course, we will handle the technical work, including:

• Communication with insurers
• Preserving evidence such as vehicle data and witness statements
• Calculating current and future damages
• Negotiating aggressively for fair compensation
• Preparing your case for trial, if needed

At the same time, we will ensure you’re getting the necessary medical care. We will help find mental health services if you need them. We will walk you through the financial realities that arise after car accidents (and after a victim receives a substantial settlement). We will make sure you’re alright throughout the duration of your case and for the foreseeable future.

Clients often tell us that having an advocate allows them to focus on treatment rather than wallow in the stressful details of their claims and lawsuits. Peace of mind has real value, especially after a car accident.

The Importance of Protecting Your Finances During Recovery

One of the most common fears after a serious car accident is financial insecurity. Regular income may evaporate, and new financial stresses may arise without warning.

Our Newport Beach car accident lawyers will be in tune with your financial needs throughout our period representing you, which means:

• Working with medical providers to ensure you get the care you need, even if you can’t immediately pay for it
• Counseling you on financial strategies that may help during a challenging time (and strategies you may incorporate after receiving a settlement or judgment)
• Seeking compensation to cover all of your accident-related losses
• Being available to answer all of your questions, including those of a financial nature

Car accidents and financial concerns go hand in hand. Let us provide a helping hand that alleviates those concerns as soon as possible and as completely as possible.

Did You Crash While on the Job? The Workers’ Compensation Process May Be Next.

Some Newport Beach car accidents occur while one or more victims are working, whether they are driving between job sites, making deliveries, traveling to meetings, or engaged in any other professional activity.

In these cases, workers’ compensation insurance may apply to your damages. You can also have grounds to sue, depending on the circumstances of your accident.

The lawyers at Bentley & More LLP have helped many injured workers with their workers’ comp claims. In some cases, we have helped the same workers with lawsuits, which may happen in conjunction with a claim.

Whatever type of action you choose to pursue after a car accident in Newport Beach, know that our team is capable of taking the lead.

Frequently Asked Questions from Car Accident Survivors with Back Injuries

Our law firm’s experience brings many benefits. One such benefit is that we know what’s on the mind of car accident victims, and that includes questions like:

How much does it cost to hire a Newport Beach car accident lawyer?

Our attorneys work for contingency fees. It means you do not pay Bentley & More LLP any upfront fees, as our lawyers are only paid if we recover compensation for you.

How long does a back injury lawsuit usually take in California?

There is no standard or predictable timeline for car accident cases in California. Some lawsuits resolve within months, while others take longer. The best we can do is fight tirelessly to resolve your case and keep you informed throughout the process.

Can I still recover compensation if my back pain started weeks after the accident?

You can seek compensation for delayed symptoms of a back injury. You should be prepared, though, for liable parties to accuse you of fabricating or exaggerating such symptoms. Don’t worry, we won’t let any such accusations stand in the way of your case.

Call Today for Your Free Consultation About Working with a Newport Beach Car Accident Lawyer

If a car accident has left you with a back injury, you deserve a fair financial recovery. At Bentley & More LLP, we lead car accident cases with passion and emotion as a trusted Newport Beach personal injury lawyer. Our office on Birch Street in Newport Beach, and our unfailing dedication to our clients, ensure you get the personalized representation you deserve.

Do not wait to contact Bentley & More LLP today for your free consultation. California’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases should motivate you to call us right away, as that deadline dictates your eligibility to sue.

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