Knoxville, TN Back and Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

Unwavering support for the victims of serious accidents

Suffering an injury to the back or spinal cord can have a detrimental impact on an accident victim. They may not be able to work for a long time, if they can even work again. Mundane daily tasks will be difficult, if not impossible, and painful. Meanwhile, medical bills could start stacking up and continue for months or years.

Fortunately, you have the right to pursue legal action against the party who was responsible for your injury. One of the most important first steps you should take is to consult an experienced personal injury law firm. Banks & Jones, Attorneys at Law, is ready to assist you.

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Why Knoxville back and spinal cord injury victims trust us

After you’ve been in a major accident, you need a law firm that not only understands the law but knows how to develop a strong legal strategy for pursuing the compensation you may deserve. The quality of legal counsel you choose will affect your life for potentially years to come. We know what’s on the line for you and your family, which is why we bring the following to the table:

  • Extensive experience with permanent injury cases: Not all personal injury cases are created the same. Back and spinal cord injuries are often permanent, and they involve different considerations, like making a strong case for future damages. Our firm has the experience it takes to level the playing field with the insurance companies.
  • Severe spinal injury litigation: A spinal cord injury could mean permanent paralysis. You may have steep medical bills, significant missed time from work, and disability on your horizon. You need a Knoxville spinal cord injury lawyer who takes all of these and other issues into consideration each step of the way.
  • Major settlements: We have secured major civil verdicts and settlements on behalf of our personal injury clients. Remember, no past results can guarantee similar outcomes for you. But they do demonstrate the degree of client advocacy you can expect from us.

What to know about back and spinal cord injuries

Although closely related, there are some important differences between these two sets of injuries. Some victims experience both kinds, while others suffer from only one. Either way, if you or a loved one were in an accident, you should know about them both.

Back injuries

Back injuries can result from various types of accidents, including slips and falls and car accidents. They include:

  • Herniated discs: A herniated (slipped) disc happens when the soft center of a spinal disc pushes through the outer layer. This pushing compresses nearby nerves, resulting in pain, numbness, weakness, and nerve damage. Talk to a disc injury lawyer in Knoxville about expected treatments.
  • Fractured vertebrae: The vertebrae are the bones in a person’s spinal column. In an accident, these bones can break, crack, or collapse. The victim may need surgery and rehabilitation to recover.
  • Soft tissue injuries: Damage to the back is not always isolated to one area. An accident can strain, tear, and stretch several muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Victims often experience chronic pain and loss of mobility.

Spinal cord injuries

The same and other similar accidents can also cause a number of spinal cord injuries. Some categories of injuries are:

  • Complete spinal cord injuries: ‘Complete’ means there is a total loss of sensation and motor function below the point of injury. SCI rehabilitation can help improve function, independence, and quality of life, although neurological recovery varies.
  • Incomplete spinal cord injuries: These injuries leave the victim with some motor or sensory function below the point of injury.
  • Paralysis: Paralysis is the loss of voluntary motor function, or movement, caused by a spinal cord injury that interrupts communication between the brain and parts of the body below the point of injury. There are different types, such as paraplegia (for example, both legs only) and quadriplegia (for example, both legs and both arms).

Recovery timelines

In general, back injuries heal faster than spinal cord injuries. Recovery times can vary from around 2-6 weeks for mild injuries to about 3-6 months for more severe injuries. However, chronic pain may last beyond the healing period.

Spinal cord injuries are typically more complex, so recovery and rehabilitation may last from several months to 1-2 years. The expected timeline will depend on the nature of the injury, the quality of medical treatment, and the individual victim.

Common symptoms that Knoxville victims report

You may not notice any pain right after being in an accident. Or you might notice what at first appears to be only minor pain. Back and neck injuries often have delayed symptoms as the body calms down from the accident and pain gradually begins to set in.

If you notice any of the following, you need to see your doctor:

Back injuries

  • Back and neck pain that grows worse with time
  • Radiating pain into the arms, shoulders, legs, and buttocks
  • Sciatica
  • Numbness or a tingling sensation
  • Muscle weakness and spasms
  • Swelling, bruising, and tenderness
  • Reduced range of motion, mobility, and flexibility
  • Difficulty bending over
  • Balance and coordination problems
  • Bladder or bowel dysfunction

Spinal cord injuries

  • Partial or complete paralysis
  • Loss of movement below the injury site
  • Loss of or reduced sensation below the injury site
  • Muscle weakness and spasms
  • Numbness or a tingling sensation
  • Nerve pain
  • Reduced motor function
  • Walking, balance, and coordination problems
  • Difficulty performing basic daily functions
  • Bladder or bowel dysfunction
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Breathing problems

The long-term impacts of back and spinal cord injuries

Suffering a back or spinal cord injury isn’t like most other personal injuries. Recovery, to the extent it happens, may take months or longer. In the meantime, victims can expect several life-changing consequences that could become major burdens to their finances and overall quality of life:

  • Chronic pain: Even after the initial injury has healed, chronic pain is common. This makes it difficult or impossible to perform daily activities, including work. The victim has to adjust their life with pain management, accommodations, and substantial rest.
  • Employment challenges and limited earning capacity: Since working can be difficult, the victim may have trouble maintaining regular employment. This is particularly true for victims who do manual labor. Regardless of your occupation, however, your future earnings and benefits could be jeopardized.
  • Medical treatments and surgeries: Some victims require ongoing treatment long after initial hospitalization. This may include numerous surgeries, long-term rehabilitation (physical and occupational), prescription medications, home health services, mobility equipment, and more. The costs of these will be substantial, especially for spinal cord injuries.
  • Lifetime care and assistance: Those with spinal cord injuries in particular may need daily assistance with many activities that most people take for granted. These include dressing, bathing, cooking, driving, and more. This assistance can also incur significant bills.
  • Emotional and psychological consequences: Anxiety and depression often accompany the loss of independence. Victims lose confidence and self-esteem because they are not the same person they once were. Insomnia, loss of enjoyment of life, and social isolation are also common.
  • Effects on relationships: This is a sometimes overlooked consequence. Victims tend to have strained spousal and familial relationships because of the financial, medical, and personal hardships that come with back and spinal cord injuries. Family members do not always adjust to their new roles as caregivers.

Insurance tactics to know about

Insurance companies representing the at-fault parties will look for any excuse possible to underpay or deny victims’ claims. It’s important that you only speak to insurance companies after you’ve talked to a knowledgeable back injury attorney in Tennessee. Here are some of the most frequently used tactics:

  • Arguing the injuries were pre-existing: Insurance companies will review the victims’ medical records to determine if there were prior complaints of back and other injuries. However, if the accident aggravated a previous injury, then the at-fault party may still be liable.
  • Claiming age-related progression of symptoms: Insurers may also argue that victims’ problems with discs and back pain are the natural result of age-related changes. The effort is to deflect attention from any physical trauma stemming from the accident.
  • Minimizing the severity: Put simply, insurance companies may show little concern for the victim’s suffering because they might claim the pain and suffering is an exaggeration. A less severe injury does not justify the associated medical costs that insurers are reluctant to pay.
  • Arguing the victim failed to seek proper treatment: It cannot be stressed enough that if you have been in an accident, you need to see a doctor right away and follow their recommendations. Insurers will use any gaps in your treatment to attempt to shift blame to the victim.

Is there a Knoxville injury attorney near me?

If you’ve suffered a back or spinal cord injury in or near the Knoxville area, Banks & Jones is located conveniently near you. Our office address is 2125 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37921. We are close to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the commercial district of Western Avenue, and the Middlebrook area.

Driving by way of I-40 is one of the easiest ways to reach us. But there are other transportation options like Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) and even pedestrian access. Give us a call and schedule your free case evaluation today.

Frequently asked questions for back and spinal cord injury lawyers

Can delayed symptoms appear later?

Yes, as the body adjusts to the effects of the accident, swelling kicks in, and adrenaline wears off. You should see a doctor regardless of whether you notice any pain or you believe your symptoms are minor. Always follow your doctor’s advice and report any changes in your condition.

What is my spinal injury case worth?

This depends on the value of your damages, such as medical bills, lost income, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering. A major factor in the value of your case is the medical treatments you will need in the future and the effects of your accident on your ability to work. In some cases, punitive damages are also available.

What if I need surgery?

The costs of surgery can be included in your claim for damages. Expert witness testimony is usually necessary to explain the types of treatments, like surgery, that victims are likely to need down the road. These experts can discuss the surgeries that back and spinal cord injury victims typically have and provide estimates of how much these treatments will cost.

Can paralysis increase settlement value?

Yes, because the victim will probably need physical therapy and rehabilitation, among other ongoing treatments. Also, paralysis could affect your ability to either work at all or to work at your same job. Speak with our paralysis injury lawyer to learn more about how this condition can affect your claim.

Contact our Knoxville, TN back and spinal cord injury lawyers

At Banks & Jones, we understand the impact of a back and spinal cord injury. And we know that your main goal is to get your life as close to normal as possible. Let our compassionate personal injury attorneys help you along in that goal by fighting for the compensation you may deserve. Reach out to us now to get started.