Neck, Back & Whiplash Injuries Attorneys

A back injury or neck injury is sometimes not apparent to others, yet it is oftentimes excruciating and completely debilitating to the victim. Depending on your type injury and the extent of damage, you could possibly need surgical intervention such as fusion surgery, nerve blocks and other pain management treatment, physical therapy, or simply to be immobilized for a period of time. We work with medical professionals to calculate damages for your current medical bills and future medical care, lost wages, medical devices, pain and suffering, medications, special care, and any permanent disability. Insurers are automatically skeptical of neck and back claims, so we thoroughly document our case and stand ready to go to trial to protect your rights.

Proving the Impact of a Neck Injury or Back Injury

Personal injury attorney Gordon McKernan and his legal team have handled tens of thousands of motor vehicle accidents in the over 20 years that they’ve been serving the injured. We are committed to getting you fully compensated for any neck or back trauma that you have incurred:

• Herniated, ruptured or bulging disc
• Fractured vertebrae
• Lower back strains and sprains
• Spinal cord injury (paralysis)
• Neck sprains and strains
• Complex regional pain syndrome (nerve damage)

Spinal Cord Injuries

It’s no surprise that automobile accidents are one of the leading causes of spine-related injuries. When auto accidents result in a spinal injury, the types of trauma range from pressure (compression), bruising (contusion) or lacerations. Depending on the severity of the injury, spinal cord injury victims can experience intense radiating pains, some numbness and tingling and even paralysis.

Herniated Disks

Spinal disks are like “pillows” between the individual vertebra in your spine that absorb shock when you move around. Auto accidents frequently cause disks to rupture, meaning the spinal fluid will start to drain out of it. This leaves the disk vulnerable to shifting which causes it to press against nerves in the spine, resulting in varying levels of pain.

Symptoms of a herniated disk:

• Numbness or pain in the area of the injured disk
• Lower back pain
• Sciatica
• “Pins and Needles” sensation
• Leg pain
• Weakness in isolated areas

Paralysis

Paralysis is considered the most severe spinal cord injury and involves complete loss of control of a muscle or muscles. Depending on the injury, paralysis can either affect a specific region of the body or be generalized, meaning it affects the entire body.

Paralysis may also be temporary or permanent. Temporary paralysis is typically caused by swelling or pressure on nerves which inhibits certain functions, while permanent paralysis is not curable. Early treatment of paralysis after an auto accident is extremely important, oftentimes meaning the difference between temporary and permanent paralysis.

Some symptoms of paralysis are numbness, loss of motion and sensations in the extremities.

Symptoms of a herniated disk:

• Pain or numbness in the area of the injured disk
• Sciatica
• Lower back pain
• “Pins and Needles” sensation
• Leg pain
• Weakness in isolated areas

Fractures & Orthopedic Injuries

Did you suffer a fracture or an orthopedic injury in a car accident? The term “orthopedic” is used regularly in injury cases, but many people do not understand what it means. The dictionary defines orthopedics as “the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention or correction of injuries or disorders of the skeletal system and associated muscles, joints, and ligaments.” Orthopedic injuries can affect the spine, toes, arms, legs, shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, hips, feet, ankles, neck, back, fingers, hands, all ligaments, tendons, and muscles connected with any of these bones. Orthopedic injuries are typically very painful and can drastically affect all aspects of your life.

Broken Bones

Fractures and broken bones are common after an automobile crash and can inhibit your ability to return to work. If enough force or pressure is exerted onto a bone, it will ultimately split or break. Trauma from auto accidents often causes breaks and fractures. Broken bones can be serious and take weeks or sometimes months to heal. Hairline fractures can easily go undetected without proper treatment and can result in complications later on, such as pain or arthritis.

Common areas for broken bone and fracture injuries include:

• Broken collarbones
• Cervical fractures
• Spinal fractures
• Pelvic and Hip fractures
• Head and neck fractures
• Broken ribs
• Broken arms
• Broken legs
• Broken wrists
• Compound Fractures
• Hairline Fractures

Some symptoms of broken bones include:

• A visibly out-of-place or misshapen limb or joint
• Intense pain
• Swelling, bruising or bleeding
• Broken skin with bone protruding
• Numbness and tingling
• Limited mobility or inability to move a limb

If you were involved in an auto accident and suffered broken or fractured bones, you need experience and expertise on your side. Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys are ready to schedule your free consultation and discuss your case.

Sprains & Strains

While fractures are some of the most common injuries, sprains and strains are also common and, oftentimes, more difficult to cure than a broken bone. Many people believe that a sprain and strain are the same things, but they are not. A sprain occurs to the ligaments in our body, while a strain occurs in the tendons or muscles. The treatment and recovery period for these two injuries are different and it is often difficult to tell the difference between a severe strain and a torn ligament without a proper physical exam and imaging. Left untreated, a ligament may remain chronically stretched, torn or strained, leading to severe or prolonged ligament pain. Ligament pain may sometimes be confined to the injury site, but it can also refer to pain that exists in distant body parts. We work with you to ensure that you get the proper medical treatment for your fracture or torn ligament.

Amputation After an Accident

Sometimes accident victims can suffer injuries severe enough to require an amputation of a limb, unfortunately. Amputations often result in severe physical and psychological trauma that can take years to get over and heal from. Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys have recovered millions for those having undergone amputations following multiple types of accidents. We understand the enormous amounts of pain and suffering that amputees have to endure, but these victims do not have to suffer through it alone.

Many different types of accidents can result in amputations such as the following:

• Accidents involving a person whose limbs are pinned under the vehicle or between two vehicles
• Drunk or distracted driving accidents
• Head on collisions that can crush legs at the knees
• Industrial accidents
• Roll-over automobile accidents
• On-the-job accidents

Amputees often experience the following after their accident:

• Mounting Medical Expenses
• Lost Earning Capacity
• Lost Wages
• Pain and Suffering
• Disfigurement
• Disabilities
• Emotional Distress
• Loss of Quality of Life
• Embarrassment
• Other Damages

If you have suffered the loss of a limb as a result of an accident, the injury attorneys at Gordon McKernan have the expertise and compassion to advocate on your behalf and are ready to speak with you about your case. Your healing, both physically and mentally, is our highest priority. Schedule your free consultation now to discuss how we can help you recover the amount you deserve.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Auto accidents are in fact one of the main causes of spinal injuries that we typically see. When spinal injuries occur as the result of a car accident, usually the kinds of trauma that are seen are the result of bruising (contusion), pressure (compression), or lacerations. Victims of spinal cord injuries may experience severe radiating pain throughout the body, tingling and numbness, and in certain cases, paralysis, depending on the severity of the injury.

Herniated Disks

The spinal disks in our bodies resemble pillows that are located between each of the vertebra located in our spine that absorbs the shock from our daily movements. Vehicular accidents often result in a disk rupture which means the spinal fluid drains out of the disk. After this occurs, the disk is far more vulnerable to shifting which can press against the nerves and cause a significant amount of pain.

Symptoms of a herniated disk:

• Numbness or pain in the location of the injured disk
• Sciatica
• Lower back pain
• Leg pain
• “Pins and Needles” sensation
• Weakness in isolated areas

Paralysis

Paralysis is noted to be one of the absolute most traumatic spinal cord injury injuries and involves a complete and total loss of control in a specific muscle or in a group of muscles. Paralysis may affect a particular region of the body or can be generalized, meaning it affects all of the body.

Paralysis can be permanent or temporary, depending on the severity of the accident. Temporary paralysis is typically caused by pressure or swelling on nerves which makes the body incapable of performing specific functions. Unfortunately, permanent paralysis has no cure. You must treat paralysis immediately after an auto accident, for it could be the difference between temporary paralysis and a life of being paralyzed.

Symptoms of paralysis are numbness, loss of motion or sensation in the extremities.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Automobile accidents account for nearly 20% of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in the U.S. These brain injuries range anywhere from mild to severe with concussions being one of the more common types. Concussions are considered a closed head injury and can cause temporary loss of consciousness or even long-term loss of consciousness, such as a coma. When the skull is penetrated, it is considered an open head injury and usually requires surgeries to remove debris from the brain.

After an auto accident, you may experience a multitude of symptoms resulting from a TBI.

Symptoms of a mild brain injury:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Loss of smell
• Sleep disturbance-too much or not enough
• Nausea
• Blurred vision, ringing in ears, bad taste in mouth
• Sensitivity to sounds or light
• Being dazed, disoriented, getting lost
• Memory lapses
• Balance problems
• Poor concentration and attention span
• Mood changes or mood swings
• Depression, anxiety, irritability

Severe brain injuries can often result in the following:

• Coma
• Vegetative state
• Persistent vegetative state
• Minimally responsive state
• Locked-in syndrome
• Akinetic Mutism
• Sensory: temperature, touch, movement
• Cognitive disorders: concentration, memory, confusion, language, impulse
• Speech: slurred, speaking slowly or rapidly, reading and writing problems
• Hearing: loss, ringing, sound sensitivity
• Vision: loss, weakness, blurred, light sensitivity, involuntary movement
• Physical: pain, sleep disturbance, temperature, paralysis, seizures
• Smell and taste: loss or reduction of senses, decreased appetite
• Social/emotional: depression, anger, aggression, loss of motivation, dependency

If you have been involved in an automobile accident and are experiencing symptoms of a TBI, you need expertise and experience on your side. Contact Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys for a free consultation to go over your case.

Burn Injury Attorneys

Without a doubt, burn injuries are some of the most painful, long-term injuries a person can suffer. Our firm is sensitive to the plight of our clients suffering through these types of devastating injuries. We will get you the best medical care available and make sure that the defendants and the jury understands the emotional and physical anguish that you have suffered. We work closely with the family and with burn trauma physicians, physical therapists and burn specialists to document your disabilities, suffering, losses and future care needs, such as:

• Weeks or months of hospital intensive care
• Skin grafts, reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery
• Nursing home or assisted living care
• Pain management
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Facial scarring, hair loss and other disfigurement
• Psychiatric care and counseling for depression or post-traumatic stress
• Impairment of vision, speech or mobility
• Loss of earnings and loss of career paths
• Lost enjoyment of life

Devastation of Burn Injuries and Disfigurement

Trial attorney Gordon McKernan and Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys have a long record of personal injury verdicts and settlements, including large awards for victims who suffered third-degree burns. We hire top experts in the areas relating to your accident, such as accident reconstruction, chemistry, electrical engineering, metallurgy or life-care planning. Whether your injury resulted from a motor vehicle collision, explosion, fire, chemical spill or some other type of preventable accident, Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys have the experience to get the maximum level of compensation for you or your loved ones. Because Louisiana is in one of the largest petrochemical areas in this county and we see so many of these types of injuries, our firm makes it a priority to get these types of injuries treated with the best medical care available. These cases are often complex and require the collaboration of our experienced attorneys and experts to ensure that the defendants and the jury fully understand the emotional and physical pain that you have already suffered, and will continue to endure for the rest of your life.