From minor pulled muscles to a catastrophic severing of the spinal cord, back injuries can be both uniquely painful and debilitating, especially if they keep you out of work for months—or years—at a time. Unfortunately, they can also be uniquely difficult to seek financial restitution for, either because they are not as obvious as other types of injuries like bone fractures or because they are so devastating that no amount of money can possibly make up for all of the harm done.
In both scenarios, assistance from a seasoned catastrophic injury attorney can make a huge difference in the outcome of your legal claim. Once retained, a Miramar Beach neck and back injury lawyer from Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon will help you maximize the compensation you receive through third-party litigation, a workers’ compensation claim, or a combination of both.
Options for Recovery After Suffering a Back Injury
If you suffer a muscle strain, slipped disc, vertebral fracture, or spinal cord trauma through an accident caused directly by another person’s misconduct, that person should be the one who pays for your ensuing losses. As a Miramar Beach neck and back injury attorney can explain, you may be able to recover not just for economic losses like medical bills and lost working capacity, but also for various forms of “non-economic” pain, suffering, and psychological distress.
In addition, or as an alternative to a third-party lawsuit, you may be able to recover for certain losses through a workers’ compensation claim if you suffered neck or back trauma directly from a workplace accident or because of your working conditions. While workers’ comp typically only covers economic losses like medical bills and most of your lost work wages, this can still be a crucial source of financial support for short-term injuries.
Getting Past Legal and Procedural Roadblocks
Florida Statutes § 95.11 used to give most people up to four years to file suit after initially sustaining an injury through someone else’s negligence. However, as of 2023, the applicable filing period for virtually every claim is just two years long.
On top of that, Florida used to take a “pure comparative fault” approach to situations where an injured person was partially at fault for their own damages, which means there used to be no amount of fault a person could hold for an accident that would completely disqualify them from suing another liable party for at least some compensation. Now, though, Fla. Stat. § 768.81 allows courts to forbid recovery altogether by any person found to hold more than 50 percent of the total fault for their own injury. A skilled neck and back injury lawyer in Miramar Beach can help you avoid this outcome.
Speak With a Miramar Beach Neck and Back Injury Attorney Today
Even if your neck or back injury will heal with time and proper medical care, you still deserve to be compensated for any role that another person’s misconduct played in causing that injury. If the injury will have permanent and debilitating consequences, it is even more important for you to understand and enforce your right to financial recovery.
Help is available with every aspect of the legal process from a capable and compassionate Miramar Beach neck and back injury lawyer. Call today to learn how our team of professionals at Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon can assist you.
