Back and spinal injuries are among the most common and most devastating consequences of traffic accidents, workplace incidents, and slip-and-fall injuries. The spine is both the structural foundation of your body and the conduit for the nervous system that controls everything from movement to sensation to organ function — and injuries to it can range from painful but treatable disc herniations to catastrophic spinal cord damage that results in partial or complete paralysis. Whatever the severity of your injury, you deserve to be fully compensated by whoever caused it.
Insurance companies fight back and spinal injury claims hard, for good reason — they are expensive. Spinal surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, pain management, chiropractic care, epidural injections, and potentially spinal cord stimulators or fusion procedures can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical costs, with ongoing expenses that continue for years or decades. Insurers have financial teams, medical consultants, and defense lawyers working to minimize every dollar. You need an attorney with the experience and resources to counter that machine.
The Garza Law Firm has handled back and spinal injury claims arising from car accidents, trucking crashes, oil field incidents, and construction accidents across San Antonio and South Texas for over 50 years. We know how to build these claims, how to document future care costs, and how to present spinal injury cases effectively in settlement negotiations and at trial.
Key Facts About Back & Spinal Injuries in Texas
The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) reports that approximately 17,900 new spinal cord injury cases occur annually in the United States, with vehicle crashes accounting for roughly 38% of them — the leading single cause.
The estimated lifetime cost of a spinal cord injury varies from $1.2 million for a lower-level incomplete injury to over $5 million for a high-level complete cervical injury — costs that must be fully captured in a legal claim.
Lumbar disc herniations (L4-L5 and L5-S1 are most common) caused by trauma can produce radiating pain, leg numbness, and foot drop — symptoms that may require microdiscectomy or fusion surgery costing $40,000 to $150,000.
Texas follows the 'eggshell plaintiff' rule, meaning a defendant who injures someone with a pre-existing back condition is fully liable for the consequences — you do not have to be in perfect health for your claim to be valid.
OSHA reports that back injuries account for nearly 20% of all workplace injuries and illnesses — making them the second most common occupational injury category in the United States.
Common Questions About Back & Spinal Injuries
I had back problems before the accident. Can I still recover damages?
Yes. Under the Texas 'eggshell plaintiff' rule, a defendant must take you as you are — including any pre-existing vulnerability. If the accident aggravated, exacerbated, or accelerated your pre-existing back condition, the defendant is liable for that aggravation even if they are not responsible for the underlying condition.
My doctor is recommending back surgery. How does that affect my claim?
Recommended surgery dramatically increases the value of your case — both for the surgical cost itself and for the recovery period, lost wages, future limitations, and ongoing pain and suffering. We ensure your claim captures the full cost of surgery and all associated treatment, and we work with your surgeon to document medical necessity.
What is the difference between a herniated disc and a bulging disc?
A herniated disc occurs when the disc's inner gel pushes through a tear in the outer ring, often compressing a nerve root. A bulging disc extends beyond its normal boundaries without rupturing. Both can cause significant pain and are compensable injuries — the distinction matters to the surgeon, but both are taken seriously in our damages analysis.
I was told my injury isn't 'severe enough' to warrant significant compensation. Is that true?
Severity is only one measure. Chronic lower back pain from a non-surgical injury can still profoundly affect your ability to work, sleep, exercise, and enjoy daily life — all of which are compensable under Texas law. We have recovered significant compensation for clients with non-surgical back injuries that insurers tried to dismiss as minor.
You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone
When you hire The Garza Law Firm, we guide you through every step of the legal process so you can focus on what matters most — your recovery.
Free Case Evaluation
We discuss how the injury occurred, your diagnosis, your current treatment, and how your condition affects your daily life. This gives us the foundation for understanding what your case is worth.
Orthopedic & Neurological Documentation
We work with your spine specialist, neurosurgeon, or physiatrist to ensure your injury is thoroughly documented — including imaging studies, nerve conduction testing, and functional capacity evaluations.
Pre-Existing Condition Management
If you have prior back history, we build the causation argument that distinguishes your baseline condition from the new or aggravated injury caused by the defendant's negligence.
Future Care Cost Projection
For significant spinal injuries, we work with a life care planner to project the full cost of ongoing care: future surgeries, pain management, physical therapy, durable medical equipment, and any long-term attendant care needs.
Comprehensive Damages Demand
We present a demand that accounts for all medical expenses, lost wages, future earning capacity loss, and non-economic damages — with supporting expert documentation that prevents the insurer from minimizing your claim.
Negotiation & Trial
We negotiate hard for a result that reflects the full burden your injury places on your life. If the defense refuses to engage fairly, we take your case to trial and present your story to a San Antonio jury.
Ready to Discuss Your Case?
Contact The Garza Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation. There is no fee unless we win.
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