The spine is divided into four main sections: cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral. The lumbar section sits near the base of the spine, just above the small sacral section.

The lumbar spinal cord actually bears more weight than any other portion of our spine. As a result, the L1 through L5 vertebrae are larger than the vertebrae in other areas of the spine.

When the spinal cord is damaged, the consequences tend to manifest below the level of the injury. This simply means that the higher on the spinal cord the damage, the more severe the injury. Injuries to the cervical and thoracic spinal cords tend to be the most fatal.

Since the lumbar spinal cord is near the base of your spine, the lower half of your body is most likely to be affected. Most lumbar spine injuries affect the hips, buttocks, genitals, and legs. You should not experience any loss of sensation of functionality in your upper body after a lumbar spinal cord injury.

What Are the Symptoms of a Lumbar Spinal Cord Injury?

The spine is responsible for relaying messages between the brain and the rest of the body. When the spinal cord becomes damaged, the body cannot function properly. The extent of the damage to your spine will play a major role in determining the severity of your injury.

Symptoms of a lumbar injury include:

Tingling and numbness in the buttocks, hips, legs, and feet
Dull or sharp pains when moving your legs
Loss of sensation in the lower extremities
Limited mobility in the lower extremities
Loss of control over bladder or bowel function
Need for assistive walking devices, and
Paraplegia, and
Paralysis.

Do not hesitate to seek medical treatment if you’ve suffered trauma to the back and begin to experience any of these symptoms.

Other Types of Lumbar Injuries

Lumbar injuries do not necessarily have to involve the spinal cord. Soft tissue injuries can also affect the lumbar region of your back. There are two primary types of lumbar soft tissue injuries: strains and sprains.

Lumbar Strain

A lumbar strain, which is also known as a pulled muscle, occurs when the muscles in your lower back begin to tear. This happens when the muscles are overused.

Lumbar Sprain

A lumbar sprain involves the stretching or tearing of ligaments in your lower back. The ligaments, which keep the bones in your back connected, can become damaged over time or as the result of trauma.

Lumbar strains and sprains are a common workplace injury, especially for employees who perform strenuous activities. This can include lifting heavy items, bending over machinery, twisting and turning frequently, operating heavy machinery, or standing for long periods of time.

Causes of Lumbar Injuries in Miami

Lumbar injuries happen every day. Sometimes they are the result of simply getting older. Other times, lumbar injuries can be the result of a traumatic accident. The attorneys at Lavent Law, P.A. are prepared to help you recover compensation for your lumbar injury if someone else is to blame.

Here are some of the types of cases in which you may be able to recover compensation for a lumbar injury.

Traffic Accidents

Traffic accidents can be incredibly violent. Unfortunately, spinal cord injuries are not uncommon consequences of car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and truck accidents. The spine is an incredibly complex and delicate part of the body. As a result, it is vulnerable to fractures and trauma during the impact of a crash.

Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrians are much more likely than passengers of vehicles to suffer life-changing injuries in an accident. This includes injuries to the lumbar spine. Pedestrians are at risk if they are struck by a vehicle and/or thrown upon impact.

Workplace Injuries

Lumbar strains and sprains are a commonly reported workplace injury. If you work in certain fields, including construction, manufacturing, or agriculture, you may be at risk of suffering a lumbar injury. Fortunately, you should be able to recover money for on-the-job injuries and ailments. Workplace injury claims can be complicated, though, and should be handled by an experienced attorney.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are a leading cause of lumbar injuries. The spine can become compressed and damaged when you make impact with the ground. If you were injured on another person’s property, they may be liable for your lumbar injury.

Recreational Activities

Lumbar injuries are not uncommon if you play sports or enjoy certain outdoor recreational activities. This is particularly true if those activities are high-impact or involve contact with others. If negligence contributes to your lumbar injury, you may have the grounds for filing a personal injury lawsuit.

What Compensation Can I Get For a Lumbar Injury?

Have you suffered a lumbar injury in Miami? Are you overwhelmed with the financial costs that are related to your injury? Medical care and treatment can be expensive. If you’ve been forced to take time off from work, your loss of income may only make matters worse. Fortunately, you have the right to demand compensation if someone else is responsible for your lumbar injury.

At Lavent Law, P.A., our attorneys will aggressively pursue economic and non-economic damages on your behalf.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are paid to help you cover the financial costs of your accident and injury.

Economic damages can include those for:

Medical expenses
Rehabilitation
Medication
Property damage
Lost wages
Disability, and
Nursing care.

Our attorneys will thoroughly investigate your accident and identify the full extent of your injury. We won’t just look at your costs today, but also determine how your injury may affect financially you in the future.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are paid to help you cope with the physical and emotional costs of your accident. These types of injuries tend to be very subjective and hard to value. This is why damages can vary significantly from one case to another.

Non-economic damages include those for:

Pain and suffering
Disfigurement
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of consortium
Embarrassment, and more.

Our attorneys closely with experts to make sure that your case is valued properly. We will not allow insurance companies to undervalue your claim. When you hire us to handle your case you can be sure that we will fight to make sure that you are fairly compensated for your lumbar injury.

Speak with a Miami Personal Injury Attorney

Are you struggling with a painful lumbar injury? A personal injury lawyer at Lavent Law, P.A. can help. Contact us today to learn about the benefits of filing a personal injury lawsuit for damages. The money you recover from your lawsuit can help to minimize the financial stress of your accident. With our help, you can maximize the amount of money you get. Call us today to schedule your free consultation and learn more.