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On our site you will find a lot of general information and guidance on what we think you should look for in hiring an Illinois attorney. This page gives a basic overview on diagnosing a back injury and understanding what type of lawsuit, if any, you might consider pursuing.

In order to determine the severity of a back injury, there are numerous tests that a physician can perform. First, a medical history and physical examination should be performed. One of the most important factors is the complaints that the patient is having. For example, a complaint of shooting pain down the leg can be a symptom of a herniated disc. While that problem will not show up on a simple x-ray, it can be found through a MRI or CT scan. Before either of these expensive tests is ordered, your doctor is likely to do an objective examination to make sure that what you are experiencing matches the exam findings.

If you have a back injury with pain that lasts more than a few days, we highly recommend that you seek a referral to a medical doctor that focuses on treating back injuries, such as a neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon. We feel that these doctors are best equipped to correctly diagnose and treat a back injury. Plus, they are seen as more credible at the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission and with personal injury judges than chiropractors or internists.

We know that many people with a bad back have a desire to see a chiropractor and many have done so in the past. You can continue that treatment, but for any injury that appears to be more than a sprain, we feel that is important both legally and medically to be under the care of a medical doctor that focuses on back injuries.

Above all else, the biggest mistake we see both legally and medically is someone trying to “tough it out” when they are hurt. We never encourage someone to seek medical care that they don’t need. That said, if you are in fact hurt, your failure to receive treatment can cause a long lasting physical injury and also can result in an insurance company denying a claim. A common defense, even in cases of obvious liability, is “the plaintiff waited so long to seek treatment that he must have sustained a new injury.” It’s often a b.s. defense, but it also works for insurance companies who are looking for any reason to deny a claim.

If you have questions about back injuries in Illinois please contact us. From Waukegan down to Belleville to Rockford or Joliet and all places in between, we are the leading resource to find the right lawyer for your one of a kind case.