Brooklyn Back Injury Lawyer
A back injury from a car accident or workplace fall can upend everything. Work stops. Medical bills pile up. And the pain you feel today may be a fraction of what develops over the next several weeks as inflammation sets in and nerve damage becomes clearer.
Spinal cord injuries range from herniated discs and nerve compression to fractures and paralysis. What they share is this: they’re frequently underestimated early on, which is exactly when insurance companies make their lowest offers.
When you see your doctor, describe every symptom in full, including pain that feels minor. Back injuries often worsen over days or weeks, and incomplete medical records become a problem later in litigation. Update your doctors as new symptoms develop. That documentation protects your health and your case.
An experienced Brooklyn personal injury attorney will investigate liability, coordinate your care with spinal specialists, and build the evidentiary record needed to pursue full compensation, including future medical costs, lost wages, and long-term limitations. If necessary, that case goes to trial.
Our Track Record:
- $900M+ recovered for injured clients
- $69.25M largest single motor vehicle accident verdict in New York
- 25+ years fighting for New York injury victims
- 300+ five-star Google reviews
- English and Russian spoken
- 9.9 Avvo rating | National Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- Featured in NY Post, Daily Mail, and CBS New York
I had a car accident that caused a severe back injury and I must say that Arkady and Jennifer have been polite, along with the entire team. They keep in touch with me even texting or giving me his personal cell number. This allows me to feel confident my case is being handled the right way with unparalleled support and communication. Jennifer is also very meticulous in taking care of legal issues that are bound to come up. The case is moving quickly and we already have substantial settlement offers from the insurance company. I strongly recommend this law firm.
Back structures most often injured due to bad falls and major vehicle accidents
- The spinal vertebrae. These bones support most of the weight of the upper body. The spine runs from the first cervical disc down to the L5-S1 disc in the lumbar and sacral region. The spine consists of the cervical spine (upper back or neck), thoracic spine (middle back), and lumbar spine (lower back).
- The intervertebral discs. Generally consisting of a spongy-type material (prior to one’s senior years) – these often act like shock absorbers between the thoracic vertebrae in the upper back area.
- Ligaments and tendons. Ligaments are sometimes described as bands of tissue that help hold the vertebrae in position. Tendons keep the muscles attached to the spinal column.
- Thirty-one pairs of nerves. These run throughout the spinal column, helping people control their movements – while also making it possible for the body and brain to send signals to one another.
Understanding the difference between traumatic back, lumbar spine, neck injury & simple back sprains
- Traumatic back injuries. These are generally the result of major motor vehicle accidents, serious falls at work, and sporting mishaps. In some cases, when significant damage has been sustained, immediate surgery may be required. In fact, multiple surgeries may be necessary when unbearable pain continues and is poorly addressed by both rehabilitative exercises and pain medications.
- Back sprains. These types of injuries often involve torn or overstretched ligaments and tears in the tendons or muscles of the back. Patients with these types of complaints may often report muscle spasms – often caused by the sudden contraction of one or more muscles.
Distinguishing between acute and chronic back pain – and prescribing treatments
Acute pain develops shortly after an accident and typically lasts a few days to several weeks. With proper care, there’s often no permanent loss of function. Muscle relaxants, topical pain relief, aspirin, or acetaminophen can help, along with gentle stretching and heat or ice. Some cases resolve on their own, though it can take several months.
Chronic back pain is the classification doctors use when pain persists for 12 or more weeks. Rehabilitative therapy helps many patients, but if pain continues to interfere with work or daily life, surgery becomes a consideration. All spinal surgery carries significant risk and is typically a last resort when other treatments have failed. In cases where standard medications aren’t working, doctors may turn to opioids or anticonvulsants, the latter sometimes effective for sciatica.
Diagnostic tests most often used to assess and treat upper back pain
After obtaining a thorough medical history from a patient and conducting a complete physical exam, treating physicians often run the following tests to help them better understand and heal this type of pain.
- X-rays or radiographs. Electromagnetic radiation can help to create clear images of all the bones located near a patient’s pain. Doctors often first spot fractures, spinal degeneration — and even tumors — on x-rays.
- MRIs. Strong magnets and radio waves are used to create cross-section images of both bones and soft tissues. Physicians regularly depend on MRIs to help them spot spinal cord or nerve compression, infections, damaged ligaments, and tumors. MRIs are often used to diagnose disc injury.
- An exam to detect bone mineral density. X-rays can be used to help doctors measure bone density and osteoporosis. The latter ailment can cause upper back or thoracic back pain – separate and apart from injuries sustained in a recent accident.
- A medial branch nerve block. This process involves using fluoroscopy and the injection of an analgesic near the patient’s medial nerves. If the pain is successfully numbed, doctors can often accurately diagnose the correct pain source.
- Blood tests and a few other exams may also be used. These alternatives may become necessary when a patient cannot tolerate undergoing an MRI test.
Alternative or additional treatments sometimes preferred by upper back or neck pain patients
While exercise approved by your doctor is often the first line of relief, several other approaches can help depending on the type and severity of your injury.
- Acupuncture targets specific points on the body to stimulate the release of natural painkilling chemicals including serotonin and endorphins. A TENS unit uses low-level electrical currents delivered through electrodes placed on the skin to interrupt or reduce pain signals. Physical therapy builds core strength and improves flexibility, which takes pressure off injured spinal structures over time.
- Spinal manipulation by a chiropractor can provide short-term relief, though the benefits rarely last without ongoing treatment. Traction, which gradually pulls the spine back into better alignment, is often overlooked but can produce lasting results when used consistently over several weeks.
- Spinal injections offer another option when other conservative treatments fall short. Radiofrequency ablation can reduce pain for several months, while trigger point and epidural steroid injections provide shorter-term relief. None of these are permanent solutions, but they can create enough of a window for rehabilitation to take hold.
Talk to a Brooklyn Back Injury Lawyer Today
Back and spinal injuries from car accidents, workplace falls, or other traumatic incidents can require surgery, extended rehabilitation, and long-term care. Insurers know this and move fast to settle claims before the full picture is clear.
At Frekhtman & Associates we’ve recovered over $900 million for seriously injured New Yorkers. Attorney Arkady Frekhtman and his team work with spinal specialists and economists to document the full value of your injury, including future medical costs and lost earning capacity, not just what’s visible today.
There’s no fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Call our Brooklyn office at (718) 331-7700 for a free consultation. Our Fight is Your Fight.
Visit Our Brooklyn Offices
Frekhtman & Associates
60 Bay 26th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11214
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While it’s possible to handle a personal injury case on your own, having an experienced attorney by your side significantly increases the likelihood of a favorable outcome. According to studies, victims represented by a personal injury lawyer receive higher settlement amounts compared to those who handle their cases independently. For a free case evaluation: