Ottawa Back Injury Lawyer

Back injuries can be minor, but are more often severe and debilitating. This category of injuries includes fractured vertebrae, herniated discs, sprains, and strains.

Sometimes, back injuries are categorized based on the region of the back that is affected — lower back/lumbar, mid-back/thoracic, and upper-back/cervical injuries. The following will reviews how back injuries commonly occur in Ottawa, the most common types of back injuries, and some precautions that you can take to avoid incurring an injury to this area.

The Anatomy of Your Back

Your back contains muscles, tendons, and ligaments that enable you to move. The column of bones at the center of the back, or the spine, is made up of 33 vertebrae, or small bone sections. Joints located within a person’s vertebrae allow flexibility in a person’s body. There is also padding between vertebrae, called discs, which prevent the bones from rubbing together.

As previously mentioned, medical professionals divide the areas of a spine into regions based on their location in the body.

When accidents occur, they can cause injuries to any of the bones or tissues located in a person’s back. Some of the most common injuries include disc compression, fractures to the vertebrae, sprains, strains, torn ligaments, torn muscles, and torn tendons. In the most serious cases, paralysis and even death can result from spinal injuries.

Common Types of Spine and Back Injuries

Some of the most common injuries faced by people involving the back and spine include the following:

Cervical radiculopathy. The condition of cervical radiculopathy refers to nerve damage or any other type of damage to a person’s nerve function. This condition can come about when cervical vertebrae become compressed.
Spinal cord injury. When a spinal cord is injured in any way, it can lead to either partial or full loss of motor control and sensation. In situations in which the spinal cord is severely injured, it can lead to paralysis and death.
This condition occurs when a person’s vertebrae slips out of alignment. Most often, these injuries occur at the bottom of a person’s spine.

The Common Causes of Ottawa Back Injuries

Back injuries are known to arise from a variety of accidents. Some of the most common causes of back injuries include the following:

Boating accidents
Diving accidents
Falling objects
Falls from elevated heights
Lifting heavy objects
Motor vehicle accidents
Slip and fall accidents
Sports and physical activities

When back injuries occur while a person is at work, he or she can pursue compensation from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board but this is not always the case. If an injury is not related to work, it is still possible to obtain compensation from the party who was negligent in causing the accident.

Strategies to Reduce the Risk of Back Injuries

Some of the various techniques that you can utilize to reduce the risk of facing a back injury include the following:

Always use hand trucks and pallet jacks to move heavy objects.
If you are required to manually lift an item, utilize smart lifting techniques. This means placing the object in the location between your mid-thigh and mid-chest before attempting to lift the object.
Avoid manually lifting any object that is greater than 50 pounds. If you need to lift a heavier object, ask for help.
Avoid awkward positions while sitting. These can place an excessive amount of stress on the muscles in your back.

How Back Injuries Are Assessed

There are four elements that medical professionals rely on when making an assessment concerning a back injury:

Medical history
Physical exam
Adequate diagnostic testing
Full discussion of available treatment options

When evaluating a person’s medical history, a medical professional will ask a number of different types of questions as well as inquire about any particular elements of the accident that could have directly led to the accident.

After this part of the evaluation is concluded, a medical professional will examine your condition to assess how your back is moving as well as how it is aligned. Following this part of the physical evaluation, diagnostic tests are conducted, which frequently include CT scans, MRIs, and x-rays. Diagnostic testing is also particularly helpful in determining whether anything is protruding from a person’s body or whether any life threatening factors are present.

If necessary, medical professionals will perform emergency back surgery as soon as possible.

The Costs of Back Injuries

Like with any other physical injury, a back injury will result in a mountain of medical bills for the injured party. If the injury is serious enough that the victim must take time off of work, he or she will also lose out on income.

It is an unfortunate truth, but given the nature of back injuries, many victims’ conditions worsen over time if not adequately treated, which can lead to even more medical costs. Many people discover that even if proper care is received, back injuries will necessitate years of rehabilitative treatment and that some symptoms associated with the injury never fully go away.

How a Personal Injury Lawyer can Help You Obtain Compensation for a Back Injury

It is possible to pursue compensation for your back injury all on your own. Many people discover, however, that obtaining the assistance of a personal injury lawyer to pursue back injury compensation is extremely helpful for a number of reasons, which include:

Lawyers can navigate issues with insurance companies, who are often hesitant to provide compensation for injuries
Lawyers can assess the exact amount of damages that resulted from your injury, which ensures that you pursue compensation for the full value of your claim
Lawyers can negotiate fair settlements with the parties who were responsible for causing your back injury
Lawyers can make sure that you receive adequate medical care, and
Lawyers can file and navigate matters in a court of law if necessary

Speak with an Ottawa Back Injury Lawyer

The best way to make certain that you receive the maximum amount of compensation available for a back injury is to obtain the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer. Contact Preszler Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free initial case evaluation.