New Jersey Neck and Back Injury From Truck Accident Lawyer

Almost everyone has had the displeasure of driving alongside a semi-truck on the highway. These large, lumbering vehicles are sometimes unpredictable in their actions. If you are involved in a truck accident, you may sustain serious injuries. Some of the most common truck accident injuries involve the neck and back. If you are experiencing severe neck and back pain after being involved in a New Jersey truck accident, contact the Todd. J. Leonard Law Firm for assistance. Our dedicated New Jersey truck accident lawyers have more than 35 years of experience helping accident victims recover compensation for their injuries against negligent truck drivers and trucking companies. We take an individualized approach to every case we handle, always providing you with the personal attention you deserve.

Neck and Back Injuries Following a Truck Accident

Neck and back injuries can be excruciatingly painful. It may be hard to move, let alone go to work or take care of your kids. While there is a wide range of neck and back injuries that can occur after a truck accident, most involve one of the following:

Whiplash

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries in all types of motor vehicle accidents. Whiplash describes a neck injury caused by the rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, similar to the cracking of a whip. When the neck moves in this fashion, the bones, discs, ligaments and nerves of the back and neck can be damaged. More than three million people each year suffer whiplash. Of those, about 10 percent will become permanently disabled as a result of their whiplash injuries.

The symptoms of whiplash can include:

• Difficulty remembering or concentrating
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• General irritability
• Headaches
• Lower back pain
• Neck stiffness or pain
• Pain between the shoulder blades
• Pain or numbness in the hands
• Trouble sleeping

Herniated Disc

Each vertebra in the spine has soft discs between them to keep them from rubbing against each other. This facilitates movement. If enough force is applied to the neck, these discs can rupture or break. This type of injury includes bulging discs, herniated discs, ruptured discs and slipped discs.

Disc injuries are excruciating and often do not get better on their own. Because discs break down naturally with age, the opposite is typically true. Those experiencing disc injuries following a truck accident may be unable to work for extended periods of time.

Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries are the most serious type of back injury in that they can result in permanent paralysis. The spinal cord is responsible for transmitting nerve signals throughout the body and, when it gets damaged, the brain’s ability to communicate with the rest of the body is affected. Spinal cord damage often leads to paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia.

Damages in a New Jersey Truck Accident Lawsuit

If you suffer severe neck and back injuries in a New Jersey truck accident, you can bring a legal claim against the negligent truck driver responsible for the collision. In some cases, you can also bring a lawsuit against the truck driver’s employer.

If you are successful in bringing your case, you can recover compensation for the economic and non-economic damages you sustained in the accident.

Economic Damages

Economic damages compensate you for the out-of-pocket expenses caused by the accident. In neck and back injury cases, these damages can be significant due to the seriousness of the injuries. Economic damages will vary case-by-case, but typically cover the following:

• Past medical bills
• Future medical expenses
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation expenses
• Lost wages
• Decrease in future earning capacity
• Caregiver costs
• Costs related to necessary modifications to your home

Non-Economic Damages

Neck and back injuries can take a significant toll on your life. After a serious accident, you may no longer be able to live your life the way you planned to live it. Non-economic damages compensate you for the emotional and psychological impact the accident had on your life.

In general, non-economic damages allow you to obtain compensation for the following:

• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disfigurement
• Disability
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Contact the Experienced Truck Accident Lawyers at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm Now!

If you or a loved one has suffered serious neck or back injuries, or sadly, a wrongful death, as the result of a New Jersey truck accident, reach out to the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm for immediate assistance. Attorney Todd Leonard is a Certified Trial Lawyer with more than 35 years of experience helping accident victims recover the compensation they need to overcome the hurdles they face, now and in the future. The truck accident attorneys at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm take an individualized approach to every case they handle, ensuring each client gets the attention they deserve. Over the years, the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm has recovered a total of more than $100 million on behalf of our clients. To learn more and to schedule a free consultation, give us a call today at 973-920-7900. You can also connect with us through our online form. We have two conveniently located offices in Denville and Morristown, New Jersey.