Ottawa Back and Spine Injury Lawyer

Any type of accident that causes one or more vertebrae to break can permanently damage a person’s spinal cord. Per Spinal Cord Injury Ontario, since the spinal cord acts as a superhighway for the brain to send signals to other parts of the body, damage to this area can affect many physiological areas, including sensations, strength, and motor abilities.

Injuries to the back and spine can occur for a variety of reasons, including physical assault, and accidents resulting from negligence. No matter the cause, back and spine injuries have the potential to be painful, permanent, and life-altering.

If another party’s negligence caused an accident in which you sustained injuries, an Ottawa back and spine injury lawyer may be able to help you seek accountability and restitution.

Common Symptoms of Back and Spine Injuries

The level of pain resulting from back and spine injuries can range from mild to severe. Many people who have sustained injuries as the result of a slip and fall accident may experience acute pain, which could last between several days and several weeks. Injuries sustained may lead to chronic back pains which could persist for years, and worsen progressively.

In certain cases, accidents may cause damage to a victim’s vertebrae. Vertebrae protect the thick bundle of nerves that comprise the spinal cord. If a person’s vertebrae have been damaged as the result of an accident, it could make them vulnerable to severe, debilitating injuries. If the spinal cord is injured, neurological impulses may be impeded, leading to loss of mobility and sensation.

Recent studies out of the Praxis Institute show that more than 86,000 Canadians currently live with spinal cord injuries. In cases where these injuries were sustained by trauma, like an accident, the financial burden can be substantial. Canadians living with spinal cord injuries incur an estimated average lifetime cost of $2 million per individual.

Establishing Fault for Accidents Causing Back and Spine Injuries

Many slip and fall accidents resulting in back and spine injuries can occur because of another party’s negligence. Owners and occupiers of both residential and commercial properties are responsible for ensuring the safety of their premises. If you injured your back or spine in an accident on another person’s property, an Ottawa personal injury lawyer may be able to help you seek damages from another party by determining the following:

• There existed a legal duty for exercising reasonable care on the premises
• The at-fault party failed to exercise reasonable care
• That negligent conduct caused physical harm
• That physical harm resulted in actual damages

An Ottawa back and spine injury lawyer may also be able to help you prove that the property owner could foresee the potential harm of the on-site hazard that led to your accident. If the owner was aware of the hazard and failed to remove or repair it, they may be considered liable for injuries you sustained in your accident.

Recovering Damages for Back and Spine Injuries

Individuals suffering from back and spine injuries after a slip and fall accident on another person’s property may be eligible to pursue damages for costs incurred by filing a personal injury claim against the responsible parties. In these cases, an Ottawa back and spine injury lawyers may be able to help determine the total costs of damages their client may be able to recover, including:

• Future cost of care: It is not uncommon for those who suffer from back and spine injuries to require long-term care. In addition to compensation for on-going care, victims might also receive compensation for housekeeping costs.
• Loss of income: These damages cover the income a victim would have earned had they not been injured.
• Loss of future earnings: In some cases, back and spine injuries may prevent victims from returning to work, causing them to seek damages for the loss of working capacity.
• Special damages: Examples of special damages include crutches, braces, massage therapy, physiotherapy, and prescriptions.

In order to pursue damages, an Ottawa back and spine injury lawyer may help you collect and analyze various forms of evidence, including:

• Medical treatment records
• Photos of the accident scene and video surveillance footage
• Police reports
• Proof of lost income and wages
• Statements from eyewitnesses

Call Preszler Injury Lawyers Today

If you are suffering from back and spine injuries as the result of another party’s negligence, Preszler Injury Lawyers may be able to help you seek accountability and restitution. Call us today at 1-800-JUSTICE, for a free, initial review of your case.