Understanding Neck and Back Injuries in Nashville, Tennessee
The entire human body depends on good spine health for stability, mobility, and nervous system function. The spine – 33 vertebrae, intervertebral discs, muscles, ligaments, and nerves – is highly susceptible to getting hurt. Spine issues can mean chronic pain, restricted mobility, or even paralysis, so it’s always a serious matter.
Examples of neck and back injuries in Nashville that commonly spark legal proceedings include:
Whiplash
This umbrella term describes any injury to the soft tissues around the upper spine from the rapid back-and-forth motion of the neck. This injury often happens during rear-end car accidents, as sudden, violent movement stretches and tears muscles, ligaments, or tendons. Post-accident symptoms may include:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Headaches
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Tingling or numbness in the arms
While many patients in Nashville recover within weeks, others experience chronic whiplash-associated disorders for months or years. Higher-speed impacts and aggravation of pre-existing conditions increase this risk of long-term problems.
Typically, whiplash treatment would include physical therapy, pain management, chiropractic care, and at-home exercises to restore your strength and flexibility. These medical costs ramp up quickly.
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc or slipped disc occurs as the gel-like center of one spinal disc pushes through a tear in its protective layer. The team at Glenn Injury Law commonly sees victims in Nashville with this injury in the cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) regions. For legal purposes, the attorney would gather and organize evidence of herniated disc injury symptoms that include:
- Severe radiating pain in the arms or legs
- Tingling or numbness
- Muscle weakness
- Mobility problems
- Discomfort aggravated by specific movements or postures
Medical treatment for herniated discs depends on severity. If rest, physical therapy, and corticosteroid injections don’t work, surgical interventions like discectomies or spinal fusion might try to relieve pain and stabilize your spine.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Any damage to your spinal cord can be
catastrophic. High-impact traumatic events that cause spinal cord damage can lead to:
- Partial or complete paralysis
- Loss of motor function and sensation
- Chronic pain
- Various secondary complications
SCI treatment usually focuses on stabilizing the spine in an attempt to prevent further damage. Rehabilitation sometimes includes intensive physical therapy and adaptive devices, but many SCI patients will face lifelong challenges and expensive ongoing treatments.
Spinal Fractures
Has trauma caused cracked or broken vertebrae? These spinal fractures generally fall into two categories:
- Stable fractures, where the spine remains aligned and requires conservative care
- Unstable fractures, where the vertebrae shift, risking spinal cord damage and requiring surgery
Your recovery may take several months with bracing, physical therapy, or surgical intervention. Handling lasting pain or mobility issues doesn’t go well with filing extra paperwork or jumping administrative hoops. During that time, back and neck injury attorney Craig Glenn will develop the legal side of the claim and aim to ease that burden.
Pinched Nerves
Pinched nerves occur when internal structures like herniated discs or tight muscles compress a nerve root. Common symptoms include:
- Radiating pain along the nerve pathway
- Tingling or numbness in the extremities
- Muscle weakness
- Limited mobility
Treatment options in Nashville include physical therapy, ergonomic adjustments, or injections. Severe cases turn to decompression surgery to relieve pressure and restore function.
Long-Term Implications of Neck, Back, and Spinal Injuries in Nashville
It’s easy to see that these types of injuries have far-reaching consequences and present physical, emotional, and financial challenges. Legal arguments may consider the following:
Physical Consequences
Neck, back, and
spinal injuries often cause chronic pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Severe cases can easily result in permanent disabilities and paralysis, which require lifelong care and adaptive technologies.
Emotional and Psychological Effects
Living with a spinal injury, unfortunately, often leads to depression, anxiety, and isolation with diminished independence and radically changed daily living. Professional mental health support addresses these challenges and can improve an injured person and their family's quality of life.
Financial Strain
It’s no secret that neck, back, and spinal injuries equate to costly treatments, including surgeries, rehabilitation, and assistive devices. Lost wages or destroyed future earning potential only compound financial stress. Legally allowed compensation and competent legal assistance in proving your financial damages could offset these expenses and provide long-term support.
Common Causes of Neck and Back Injuries
Craig Glenn and the team at Glenn Injury Law have over a decade of experience successfully representing Nashville victims of neck and back injuries and securing fair compensation for them and their families. When a victim suffers a neck or back injury at the hands of another person or party, it can further complicate the matter, highlighting the importance of a skilled and experienced Nashville personal injury attorney.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
In every state, motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of neck and back injuries – from distracted driving, speeding, and
driving under the influence.
The forces involved in collisions can cause your spine to hyperextend or compress. Fractures, nerve damage, or permanent disabilities are common. The victims of negligent car accidents often require extensive medical care as well, assuming they survive the accident.
Workplace Accidents
Certain industries, such as construction, manufacturing, and transportation, heighten the risk of neck, back, and spinal injuries on the job. Examples of common workplace hazards include:
- Falls from scaffolding or ladders
- Heavy lifting injuries
- Machinery-related accidents
Improper training, lack of safety equipment, and failure to adhere to workplace safety regulations also spike this risk of injury to workers and civilians.
Slip and Fall Incidents
Unseen wet floors, uneven surfaces, loose carpeting, and inadequate lighting can lead to dangerous falls. A sudden fall against a hard or uneven surface tops the list of causes for herniated discs, back or neck fractures, and nerve damage.
Did the property owner or manager have a duty of care? Did they adequately address hazards and maintain reasonably safe premises? Your lawyer can help you determine this.
Acts of Violence
Intentional violence, like physical assaults, stabbings, or gunshot wounds, can easily cause catastrophic injuries to the neck and back.
Perpetrators may face criminal prosecution. Civil claims for the injuries are also common.
Defective Products
Lastly, Nashville back and neck injury attorney Craig Glenn regularly handles cases involving defective products. Products like faulty car seats, medical devices, or industrial machinery can cause neck, back, and spinal injuries.
Like property owners, manufacturers have legal duties. Did they take reasonable steps to ensure their products met safety standards? Your Nashville personal injury attorney can assess your case and determine its worth.
Rehabilitation and Recovery From Neck, Back, and Spinal Injuries
It’s a long, challenging recovery from these types of injuries. Nashville medical providers take a multidisciplinary approach to address the physical and emotional aspects of recovery, so rehabilitation may include:
- Physical therapy. Restores strength, flexibility, and mobility through targeted exercise
- Occupational therapy. Teaches individuals how to adapt to physical limitations using tools and techniques to regain independence in daily activities like cooking or work
- Psychological support. Counsels emotional challenges that come with chronic pain or disability — including anxiety, depression, and frustration
- Assistive devices. Offers braces, wheelchairs, and traction equipment to support mobility and aid in the healing process.
Compensation for Neck and Back Injuries
Victims of neck, back, and spinal injuries caused by the negligent or wrongful acts of others can request several forms of compensation under Tennessee law. For example, back and neck injury attorney Craig Glenn represents Nashville clients in recovering damages for serious injuries—and in the most tragic cases, pursuing
wrongful death claims when such injuries result in the loss of a loved one.:
- Medical expenses. These damages cover the cost of immediate treatment like emergency care, surgeries, and hospital stays. Ongoing expenses may include physical therapy, rehabilitation, or medication related to the injury.
- Lost wages and future earning capacity. Injury victims can claim reimbursement for income lost during recovery or ongoing due to their permanent inability to work.
- Non-economic damages. Tennessee law recognizes pain, suffering, chronic discomfort, and emotional distress in damage recovery, too.
In limited cases involving recklessness or intentional misconduct, the law may punish the responsible party to deter similar actions in the future through the use of punitive damages.
How Glenn Injury Law Helps Nashville Clients With Neck, Back, and Spinal Injuries
Nashville back and neck injury attorney Craig Glenn has seen firsthand the profound impact that neck, back, and spinal injuries can have on family life and the individual. Every day is another opportunity to help these clients navigate the legal system with confidence. A proven approach helps to set things in order.
Collecting, Preserving, and Organizing Evidence
Building a strong personal injury case starts with your Nashville personal injury attorney collecting and organizing critical evidence. For example, we will investigate every detail of your case, from the accident scene photos and medical records to eyewitness accounts and expert witness reports and testimony.
Your Nashville back and neck injury lawyer also collaborates with accident reconstruction consultants, medical professionals, and vocational experts to present how your injury occurred and its expected long-term impact. A meticulous approach from the very beginning makes settlement or litigation a breeze.
Effective and Aggressive Negotiation
Insurance companies in Nashville have immense resources available to them in their consistent effort to minimize payments to injured people. You might reasonably expect a low initial offer that fails to address the full extent of your damages.
At Glenn Injury Law, we aim to protect your rights. We will handle all communication with insurers, negotiating aggressively with opposing attorneys, adjusters, and mediators.
Courtroom Advocacy
If you or a loved one has suffered a neck or back injury due to someone else’s negligence, consider hiring representation. Active litigation is where Craig Glenn’s skill and trial experience can deliver persuasive courtroom presentations and legal arguments.
Choose Glenn Injury Law as Your Local Nashville Back and Neck Injury Attorney
Glenn Injury Law is here to help. The team brings the following to your case:
- Local experience. Back and neck injury attorney Craig Glenn is a Nashville back injury lawyer who understands our local legal system.
- Compassionate and thorough representation. Our comprehensive, personalized legal services focus on clear communication, support, and our client's recovery process. Your well-being is always a priority.
- Proven track record. Craig Glenn’s years of experience cover all types of personal injury cases in Nashville and around Tennessee.
Call us today at (615) 562-4500 or
contact us online for a free consultation with Craig Glenn, a Nashville neck and back injury attorney at your service.
