Being involved in a car accident in Indiana is a traumatic life event, complicated further when you suffer a serious injury such as one to your back. If someone else’s negligence caused an accident that injured you, then you are entitled to financial compensation to cover medical expenses and other costs that arise as a result of the collision. Speak with an injury lawyer in Indiana who can explain more about the process and inform you of your rights.
Although back pain can originate in a wide variety of different places, from aging to persistent strain and heavy lifting, trauma is one of the most common causes of back pain and back injury in America.
Medical professionals generally will exhaust all other treatment options before resorting to surgery. Surgery is only medically necessary in a small fraction of back pain and injury cases; most others are mitigated by treatment methods such as:
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Occupational and physical therapy that addresses stretching and strengthening workouts and teaches safe postures that minimize strain on the injury
- Hydrotherapy
- Heating and icing
- Electrical nerve stimulation, in which electrodes are used to ameliorate discomfort
- Massaging tissue to stimulate blood flow and stress tissue
- Traction, a kind of equipment that stretches the spine and reduces pressure on nerves
The purpose of these different therapeutic methods is both to improve the strength and flexibility of the back after the injury and to prevent future re-injury and associated pain.
Back Surgery
When doctors do turn to back surgery, however, the costs are often very high.
It is sometimes the case that surgery is not recommended for several months or even years after the original accident that caused the pain. It is not uncommon for insurance companies to allege that the back surgery is not related to the incident. Insurance companies have begun to habitually abuse the practice of hiring doctors as consultants or expert witnesses whose main directives are to comb through accident victims’ medical histories and look for alternative causes of back pain, sometimes even identifying unrelated events or injuries as “root sources” of back pain.
In cases like this and many others, it’s vital that your rights as a victim are represented in a personal injury claim through an injury lawyer in Indiana. A lawyer who has tried cases like yours will be on guard against desperate attempts by insurance companies to discredit your pain and minimize the impact of your injuries.
Depending on the type of procedure you need, the cost of back surgery can range from $2,500 to $85,000. If the insurance agency alleges your pain is not serious, and you don’t defend the severity of your surgical needs, you could end up covering the difference between the settlement they give you and the real cost of your surgery.
If you were injured in a car accident that was caused by another’s recklessness or negligence on the road, you are entitled to be compensated for your injuries, and you should not allow yourself to be bullied into accepting a lower settlement and sustain some of the high costs of back surgery by yourself.
Seeking representation from an injury lawyer in Indiana will increase the likelihood that you receive a fair settlement if you are facing the possibility of back surgery after being hurt in an accident in Indiana.