Spine and back injuries are among the most concerning, expensive, and painful injuries victims sustain in Arkansas. Accepting a bad settlement isn’t an option for victims who may never return to work and may need years of follow-up medical appointments, and our lawyers can explain what a good settlement is in your case.
Generally, a good settlement encompasses medical damages, lost wages, and non-economic damages. The settlement should include current and future damages, as you may have years of losses ahead of you because of a back injury. Our lawyers won’t advise you to accept a low settlement when more compensation is on the table, and can continue negotiating until offers improve. Suppose a good settlement isn’t attainable because of a stubborn defendant. In that case, we may proceed to trial to recover all the damages you are entitled to.
Call (479) 316-0438 for a free case evaluation from our Arkansas personal injury lawyers.
What Medical Damages Does a Good Settlement for a Spine or Back Injury Cover?
Victims shouldn’t have to pay any medical damages due to someone else’s negligence, whether they settle or go to court in Arkansas.
Current Medical Expenses
Your settlement should cover all medical expenses to date. To keep a better track of medical bills, let our Fort Smith, AR personal injury lawyers handle these calculations. We can maintain organized records that clearly track all hospital bills and invoices you have received and show how they correspond with treatments.
Back and spine injuries often require emergency room visits, surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, and many other costly procedures and treatments. Tell us about any in-home medical assistance you have needed, as your settlement should also cover those costs. Additionally, please inform us of any mobility aids or transportation assistance you require due to a disabling spine or back injury, so we can seek compensation for these expenses as part of a settlement.
Future Medical Expenses
Spinal cord injuries can be permanently disabling, causing long-term medical expenses. You may have years of physical therapy ahead of you, and our attorneys can make sure such future damages are covered by the out-of-court settlement you accept.
We will calculate future medical damages as part of the total compensation we seek in a personal injury lawsuit. Suppose the defense refuses to cover these damages initially. In that case, we can present them with medical evidence and expert statements that would convince the jury that the defendant is liable for future medical damages if we were to take the case to trial, convincing them to provide more.
Should a Spine or Back Injury Settlement Cover Lost Wages in Arkansas?
A spine or back injury might severely affect your income. Even if you can work again after months or possibly years of physical therapy and other treatments, you may never earn the same income as you once did because of a disabling injury.
Because of that, your settlement should certainly cover lost wages. Not only can we demand compensation for lost wages incurred to date, but also for expected future lost wages. Medical records documenting the severity of your injury can convince the defendant that you will never work in the same capacity again, and pre-injury income records can help us calculate your ongoing lost wages.
Do Good Settlements for Spin and Back Injuries Pay Non-Economic Damages?
Many victims underestimate the physical pain, mental suffering, and emotional distress they may deal with for long after an accident. These damages are also worthy of compensation, just like medical expenses and lost wages, and your settlement should also pay non-economic damages.
Some defendants are initially unwilling to award sufficient non-economic damages. Don’t be discouraged by starting offers that undervalue pain and suffering, as our lawyers can plan to leverage evidence and continue negotiating.
While getting sufficient non-economic damages from a settlement can be harder than recovering economic damages, it’s more than possible for victims with strong cases.
What is a Bad Settlement for Spine and Back Injuries?
A bad settlement for a spine or back injury leaves the victim responsible for covering far too many of their damages themselves. Although settling a lawsuit out of court sometimes requires small concessions from the plaintiff, that doesn’t mean you should ever accept a bad settlement.
Bad settlements might leave out future damages entirely. Most likely, the first few offers from the defense won’t be good. This is a common tactic, as some plaintiffs understandably accept an initial offer, thinking it is the most they will ever receive.
If settlement offers start out unfavorable and never improve, we may suggest going to court. The jury awards damages at a trial, and you may end up getting much more than the defense ever offered during settlement discussions.
How Do You Get a Good Settlement for a Spine or Back Injury in Arkansas?
Let our lawyers negotiate a good spine or back injury settlement on your behalf in Arkansas. Preparing strong arguments, filing promptly claims, and being patient during negotiations help plaintiffs secure sizable out-of-court settlements.
If a victim waits too long to file their lawsuit, they may be in desperate need of compensation. When this happens, plaintiffs are more likely to accept bad settlements so they can get some relief from mounting medical bills and lost wages. Allow us to start working on your case immediately so we can file it as soon as possible, and certainly within the three-year personal injury statute of limitations in Arkansas.
Showing the defense that we have strong evidence of their liability may prompt them to settle without a trial. Arkansas doesn’t restrict a jury’s award for compensatory damages, and a sympathetic jury may give extremely large amounts, especially for the pain and suffering of permanent spinal cord injuries.
Call Us to Get a Good Spine or Back Injury Settlement in Arkansas
Call (479) 316-0438 for a free case discussion with our Fayetteville, AR personal injury lawyers.