This page was written, edited, reviewed & approved by Ruben Davidoff following our comprehensive editorial guidelines Ruben Davidoff ,the Founding Partner, has 30+ years of legal experience as a New York personal injury attorney.
At Davidoff Law Personal Injury Lawyers, our Queens car accident cervical spine injury attorney helps people with neck injuries from car crashes. These spinal cord injury cases are serious. You might feel fine right after the accident. The pain and stiffness often start hours or days later.
We help accident victims in Queens and New York with personal injury claims. Our spinal cord injury attorneys know how insurance companies work. We strive to obtain the just compensation you are entitled to for your injuries. These devastating injuries can change your whole life.
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Our Queens Car Accident Cervical Spine Injury Attorney Fights for Your Recovery
After a car accident causes a spinal cord injury, expert legal help is essential. Our Queens personal injury attorneys have a proven track record with spine injury cases. We know these car accident injuries affect your daily life. Simple tasks become hard when your neck hurts.
Our spinal cord injury lawyer works with medical professionals to build your case. We document all your injuries and medical expenses. Physical therapy costs add up quickly. Lost wages from missing work make the situation worse. We handle the legal process while you focus on getting better.
You don't pay us unless we win your personal injury case. This means we work diligently to secure the maximum compensation for you. Our law firm takes on big insurance companies every day. We know their tricks and fight back.
What Is a Cervical Spine Injury After a Car Accident?
The cervical spine is your neck area. It has seven small bones that hold up your head. These bones protect your spinal cord. Car crashes can cause severe damage to this area. The force makes your head snap back and forth.
Rear-end collisions cause whiplash injuries. Head-on collisions can break neck bones. Even minor car accidents can result in significant injuries. Your neck may move excessively and rapidly. This damages bones, discs, and soft tissue.
Many people don't feel pain right away. Your body produces chemicals that initially mask the pain. Hours later, the real damage shows up. The swelling starts, and the muscles get tight. What seemed like a minor accident became a major injury.
The spinal cord transmits signals from your brain to your body. Damage here can affect your arms and hands. Some people lose feeling or strength. Others have constant pain. These traumatic spinal cord injuries need fast medical attention.
Common Types of Cervical Spine Injuries
Here are the main types of neck injuries from car accidents:
- Herniated discs - The soft padding between bones bulges out
- Fractures - Actual breaks in the neck bones
- Ligament damage - Torn tissues that hold bones together
- Spinal cord injury - Damage to the main nerve bundle
Herniated discs press on nearby nerves. This causes pain, numbness, or weakness in your arms. Cervical fractures are the most serious type. They can cause paralysis or death. Ligament tears make your neck unstable. The bones no longer align properly.
Direct spinal cord damage affects motor function. You might lose the ability to move parts of your body. Some people need wheelchairs for life. Others have a partial loss of strength or feeling.
Symptoms You Should Never Ignore
Watch for these warning signs after any car accident:
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Headaches that won't go away
- Tingling in your arms or hands
- Muscle weakness
- Trouble moving your neck
You should seek medical attention right away if you have any symptoms. Don't wait to see if they get better. Early treatment helps prevent further damage. It also creates medical records for your personal injury claim. Insurance companies look for gaps in treatment to deny claims.
Some symptoms show up days after the accident. Memory problems and dizziness are common. Shoulder pain can mean nerve damage. These signs may not be immediately apparent to most people.
Steps to Take Right After a Car Accident Injury in Queens
Follow these important steps after any car accident in Queens:
- Call 911 immediately - Do this even if you feel fine. Police need to make an accident report. Paramedics can check for hidden injuries. Don't refuse medical care at the accident scene.
- Gather information and evidence - Get contact details from all drivers involved. Capture images of the vehicles and the site of the accident. Record what occurred while it's still fresh in your memory. Ask witnesses for their contact information, too.
- Contact our Queens car accident lawyers - Call us as soon as possible after receiving medical attention. We start working on your case right away. The sooner you call, the better we can protect your rights. Avoid communicating with insurance companies unless you have a lawyer with you.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim for a Cervical Spine Injury
You may sue for personal injury if another party is at fault. This legal action lets you recover damages for all your losses. Medical bills are just the start. You also deserve money for lost wages and physical pain.
Our experienced attorney knows how to prove your case. We show that the other driver was careless. We connect their actions to your injuries. Insurance companies often fight these claims hard. They don't want to pay fair compensation.
Our team handles the paperwork and ensures compliance with New York’s tight filing deadlines for injury claims. Miss the deadline, and you lose your right to sue. Our car crash attorney ensures that all necessary paperwork is filed on time.
What You Need to Prove in These Personal Injury Cases
Every personal injury case has four main parts:
- Duty - The other driver had to follow traffic laws
- Breach - They broke those laws or drove carelessly.
- Causation - Their actions caused your accident
- Damages - You got hurt and lost money because of it.
Duty of care means everyone must drive safely. Speeding, texting, or running red lights breaks this duty. We use the accident report and witness statements to prove what happened. Medical records show how the accident hurt you.
Damages include all your losses from the injury. Medical expenses, lost wages, and physical pain are all key factors to weigh when assessing an injury's impact. Future medical care and future lost wages are also important considerations. Some cases involve punitive damages when drivers act very badly.
Evidence That Can Strengthen Your Claim
Strong evidence wins personal injury cases. Here's what helps most:
- Medical records from all your doctors
- The police accident report
- Photos from the accident scene
- Witness contact information and statements
- Your medical bills and insurance claims
We collect all this evidence for you. Medical professionals help explain your injuries to the jury. The accident report often establishes liability. Photos prove how hard the cars hit each other. Statements from witnesses give a fresh take on the incident.
Your treatment history shows how the injury affects your life. Physical therapy records prove you're trying to get better. Follow-up appointments show ongoing problems. All this evidence helps us recover compensation on your behalf.
What Compensation Can You Seek for a Cervical Spine Injury?
Cervical spine injuries cost a lot of money. Here are the main types of damages:
Economic Damages:
- Medical bills for emergency care, surgery, and treatment
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages from missing work
- Future lost wages if you can't work the same way
- Medical equipment and home modifications
Non-Economic Damages:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress from the trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life activities
- Relationship problems with family
Medical care for severe injuries costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. Surgery, hospital stays, and long-term treatment add up fast. Many people need ongoing medical care for years. Some injuries cause permanent disabilities that affect earning ability forever.
Pain and suffering damages recognize that money can't fix everything. Living with constant neck pain changes your whole life. You might not be able to play sports or pick up your children. These losses deserve compensation, too.
How Personal Injury Lawyers Help Car Accident Victims in Queens
We fight insurance companies that try to pay less than you deserve. They have teams of lawyers working against you. You need experienced legal representation on your side. Our Queens personal injury attorneys know all their tricks.
Insurance adjusters often claim your injuries aren't that bad. They might say you had problems before the accident. We work with medical experts to prove that your injuries came from the car crash. Proper documentation makes all the difference in these cases.
Our legal community in Queens is well-versed in the local courts and judges. We have relationships with the best medical professionals in the area. This local knowledge helps us build stronger cases. We know which experts the insurance companies respect most.
Why Cervical Spine Injuries Often Lead to Long-Term Medical Care
The neck area has many small parts that work together. Nerves, discs, bones, and muscles all have important jobs. When car accident injuries damage these parts, the effects can last forever. Your body might never heal completely.
Many injury victims need multiple surgeries over their lifetime. Discs wear out faster after an injury. Arthritis develops in damaged joints. What starts as one problem often leads to more problems later. This is why future medical expenses matter in your case.
Spinal injury cases often involve chronic pain. This means pain that persists despite treatment. People often require pain medication, specialized exercises, and regular doctor visits. The cost of lifetime medical care can reach millions of dollars for serious injuries.
Can Medical Malpractice Make a Cervical Injury Worse?
Sometimes, doctors make mistakes in treating car accident injuries. Surgical errors can cause more damage than the original accident. Misdiagnosis means you don't get the right treatment. These medical mistakes can make your condition much worse.
If medical malpractice worsens your injuries, you might have two separate legal cases. One against the driver who caused the accident, and another against the doctors who treated you wrong. Our injury lawyer can help you explore all your legal options for both situations.
Don't let insurance companies take advantage of you after a motor vehicle accident. Get a free consultation with Davidoff Law. We’ll assess your case and fight for you—pay only if we win.
Our Queens car accident lawyers understand what you're going through. We've helped many people with similar injuries. We’ll fight for your fair settlement so you can focus on healing.
FAQs
How Long Do I Have to File a Queens Personal Injury Lawsuit in New York?
New York gives you three years from the accident date to file suit. Don't wait until the last minute. Evidence disappears, and witnesses forget what happened. Start your case as soon as possible.
What if I Had Neck Problems Before My Car Accident?
You may still seek compensation if the accident aggravated your condition. We need to prove that the accident caused new symptoms or exacerbated existing problems. Medical records before and after the accident help show this.
Can I File a Car Accident Claim if the Other Driver Is Uninsured?
Yes, you can recover money through your own uninsured motorist coverage. Many people are unaware that they have this protection in place. We can check your policy and explain what coverage you have available.
Will I Have to Go to Court for My Spinal Cord Injury Case?
Most personal injury lawsuits settle out of court. However, we prepare every case as if it might go to trial. Insurance companies pay more when they know your lawyer will fight in court if needed.
What is a Typical Settlement for Cervical Spine Injuries?
Every case is different based on your specific injuries and losses. Settlements range from thousands to millions of dollars. The amount depends on the severity of your injury and its consequences on your life and work.
How Long Do Personal Injury Cases Take to Resolve?
Simple cases might settle in a few months. Complex cases with serious injuries can take two years or more. We work as efficiently as possible while ensuring you receive full compensation.
Should I Accept the First Offer From the Insurance Company?
No. First offers are almost always too low. Insurance companies hope you'll take less money than you deserve. Our spinal cord injury attorneys negotiate for much better settlements.
What if My Injury Prevents Me From Working?
You can pursue compensation for current lost wages and future earnings losses. We work with job experts to calculate how much money you'll lose over your lifetime. This includes lost benefits and retirement contributions as well.
Contact a Queens Car Accident Cervical Spine Injury Attorney for a Free Consultation
If you suffered a cervical spine injury in a Queens car accident, call us today. Davidoff Law Personal Injury Lawyers have experience with these complex cases. We know how to deal with insurance companies and get results for injured workers and all accident victims.
Contact us now for your free case consultation. We'll answer your questions and help you understand your legal options. Don't let insurance companies control your future when you could recover the compensation you need and deserve.
Ruben Davidoff, founder of Davidoff Law, established his practice in 2012 after moving to Queens in 1988 and beginning his legal career in 1997. Admitted in NY State and the US District Court for the Eastern District of NY, he has extensive experience in personal injury, handling various cases like airline crashes, auto accidents, and slip/trip and fall cases. Mr. Davidoff provides personalized attention, recovering millions for clients through settlements or verdicts, leveraging decades of experience.
