Auto Accident Lawyers
Serving West Virginia and Ohio
Back Injuries
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), back injuries cost American industry $10 to $14 billion in Workers' Compensation costs and about 100 million work days annually.
Vehicle Accidents and Back Injuries
Typical injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents can range from minor cuts and bruises to serious and catastrophic injuries involving the head , back, spine and neck.
Most motor vehicles are safely designed and carefully manufactured. Some, however, are carelessly made or improperly designed. Poorly designed or defectively produced vehicles can be dangerous and can cause serious injury or death.
The laws governing responsibility for defective motor vehicles and what must be proven in court to establish liability vary from state to state. In most states, the parties who may be held liable include:
- The vehicle manufacturer
- The manufacturer of defective component parts such as tires, hoses, etc.
- The dealer, if the vehicle was purchased from a dealer
Several different reasons exist for holding a party liable for harm caused by a motor vehicle defect. The three most common legal theories for finding someone liable are breach of warranty, negligence, and strict liability. An experienced auto accident lawyer can advise you about the rules that apply in your state to your situation involving a defective motor vehicle.
The most important concept in vehicle defect liability cases is "crashworthiness". Crashworthiness is the ability of a vehicle to prevent injuries to the occupants in the event of a collision. During a collision, a vehicle's occupants are subject to a number of forces that can result in back or other injury , including rapid deceleration and rapid acceleration, depending on the direction of impact in the collision.
Crashworthiness deals primarily with the 'second collision' that results from these forces, in which the driver and passengers collide against the interior of the vehicle. An effective crashworthy vehicle design will distribute these injurious forces over as great a period of time and distance as possible, by directing them to parts of the body that are more capable of withstanding them.
Who Might Be Responsible for my Back Injury?
We can handle personal injury lawsuits against drunk drivers, employers and other liable parties in matters involving:
- Quadriplegia
- Paraplegia
- Bulging discs in back
- Back surgery
- Lumbar strain and sprain
- Herniated discs
We will represent accident victims including drivers, passengers, pedestrians and workers.
The seriousness of a back injuries, neck injury, head injury or spinal injury depends on how you were hurt and your age. For older people, the injury is usually more serious because older spines are less elastic, and the injury may not heal as quickly in older patients. Regardless of how you were injured, you should seek legal representation so you can recover the compensation you deserve. Back injuries are not only incredibly painful and debilitating, they can also last a lifetime and prevent you from having the quality of life that you had prior to your injury.
If you or a loved one has suffered a back injury in Ohio or West Virginia , please contact experienced auto accident lawyer Jim Leach today to schedule your initial consultation.
Our auto accident lawyer represent back injury victims throughout West Virginia and Southern Ohio including the communities of Belpre, Marietta, Parkersburg, Jackson, Vienna, Morgantown, Wheeling, Athens, Charleston, Huntington, Ravenswood and Ripley.
1.866.janjim1