Neck, Spinal Cord & Back Injuries in New York City: What You Need to Know

From high-speed car crashes in Midtown to slip and falls in subway stations, serious back and spinal cord injuries can happen anywhere in New York City. These injuries aren’t just painful; they can limit mobility, disrupt careers, and place long-term strain on your finances. If you’ve suffered a neck, back, or spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation under New York law.

Common Back and Spinal Injuries After Accidents

Whether the result of a fall, a collision, or a construction site mishap, three injuries show up time and time again in NYC cases:

Herniated, Ruptured, or Slipped Discs

These injuries often follow trauma to the spine, displacing the cushioning discs that sit between vertebrae. That displacement can pinch nerves and cause radiating pain or numbness.

Whiplash and Connective Tissue Damage 

Sudden impact, especially in rear-end car accidents, can cause hyperextension of soft tissues in the neck. What starts as a “sore neck” can evolve into chronic headaches, stiffness, and limited range of motion.

Compression Fractures 

These are breaks in the vertebrae, typically caused by forceful trauma, such as a fall from a height. They’re especially dangerous because they can lead to long-term posture changes or spinal deformity if untreated.

Symptoms vary from person to person, but red flags include tingling limbs, muscle spasms, difficulty lifting or walking, numbness in the extremities, or sharp, shooting pain down the arms or legs. Some people don’t realize how serious their condition is until weeks later, when pain becomes unbearable or permanent damage sets in. That’s why getting immediate medical attention and legal support is so important.

What to Do After a Spinal Injury in New York City

If you’ve suffered a neck, back, or spinal cord injury in an NYC accident, what you do next can significantly impact your case.

Start by getting medical treatment immediately, even if symptoms seem minor. Not only is this crucial for your health, but your medical records will also serve as foundational evidence if you decide to pursue a claim.

Next, preserve any evidence related to the incident. This includes photos from the scene, witness names and contact information, incident reports, and surveillance footage, if available. If your injury occurred on the job or public property, make sure to notify the appropriate party or file a report as soon as possible.

Finally, reach out to a New York spinal cord injury attorney. These cases often involve complex liability issues and aggressive insurance adjusters. Having an experienced lawyer by your side ensures that your rights are protected from the very beginning.

Who’s Liable for Spinal Injuries in NYC?

Liability depends on the circumstances of how and where the injury occurred. For example:

• If you were rear-ended in traffic on the FDR, the other driver may be at fault.
• If you slipped on wet marble in a Manhattan office building, the property owner could be responsible for unsafe conditions.
• If the injury happened while working at a construction site, a third-party contractor or even a product manufacturer may share liability.

Proving negligence in New York requires showing that another party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused your injury as a result. A seasoned attorney can investigate the incident, consult medical experts, and build a case that holds negligent parties accountable.

Types of Compensation You May Recover for a Spinal Injury in NYC

Neck, back, and spinal cord injuries can lead to life-altering consequences. That’s why compensation in these cases often goes far beyond medical bills.

If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, you may be entitled to:

• Medical expenses (ER visits, surgeries, imaging, rehab, prescriptions)
• Future medical care (ongoing physical therapy, assistive devices, home modifications)
• Lost wages (past and future)
• Loss of earning capacity (if you can no longer perform the same work)
• Pain and suffering (both physical and emotional)
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Punitive damages, in extreme cases involving gross negligence or recklessness

The value of your claim depends on injury severity, long-term impact, and available insurance coverage. A catastrophic injury like paralysis or spinal cord damage will generally result in higher damages than a soft-tissue strain, but no case should be undervalued. Your attorney will work with medical and financial experts to ensure you’re not shortchanged.

Statute of Limitations for Spinal Injury Lawsuits in New York

In most personal injury cases involving spinal or back injuries, the statute of limitations in New York is three years from the date of the incident. However, there are important exceptions.

• If your injury involved a government entity, you may have as little as 90 days to file a notice of claim.
• If symptoms weren’t immediately apparent, your timeline may still be affected, especially if you delay seeing a doctor.

Missing a deadline can bar you from ever recovering compensation. Don’t wait to speak with a lawyer. Early legal intervention can also help preserve evidence, locate witnesses, and avoid common pitfalls in insurance claims.

Insurance Company Tactics to Watch Out for in Spinal Injury Cases

After a serious neck, back, or spinal cord injury, you may expect the insurance company to do the right thing. Unfortunately, many New Yorkers find the opposite is true. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts, and spinal injury claims are often some of the most expensive.

Here’s what to look out for:

• Quick lowball offers: They might offer a settlement before you even know the full extent of your injuries. Once you accept, you waive your right to future compensation, even if new symptoms appear.
• Blaming pre-existing conditions: Many back injuries involve areas of the body already under strain. Adjusters may try to say your pain isn’t from the accident but from a previous issue, even if the crash made it worse.
• Disputing the severity: Some insurers will argue that you’re exaggerating your injuries or that your treatment isn’t medically necessary.
• Delays and denials: They might prolong the process, hoping you’ll become frustrated or desperate and accept less.

A spinal cord injury attorney can protect you from these tactics. At Morgan & Morgan, we’ve dealt with every insurance trick in the book, and we know how to fight back.

The Role of Medical Experts in Neck and Back Injury Cases

Proving the full scope of a spinal or back injury often comes down to expert testimony. A skilled attorney will work with medical professionals to strengthen your claim through:

• Diagnostic imaging reviews (MRIs, CT scans, X-rays)
• Detailed analysis of spinal damage or nerve impingement
• Long-term care planning
• Life care cost projections
• Testimony on how the injury affects your ability to work and function daily

These experts add credibility to your case and help illustrate the true impact of your injury, something an insurance adjuster’s checklist can never fully capture.

Why Hire a Local NYC Spinal Injury Attorney

Spinal cord injury lawsuits in New York City aren’t like typical personal injury cases. You’re up against powerful insurance companies, complex medical issues, and a fast-moving legal system. You need someone who understands how the system works and knows how to utilize it to your benefit.

A New York–based attorney brings several advantages:

• Familiarity with local courts and procedural nuances
• Knowledge of NYC accident trends, such as construction injuries or subway-related falls
• Proximity to local experts, from neurologists to vocational rehab specialists
• Ability to investigate accidents quickly, including site visits and surveillance footage requests

Morgan & Morgan attorneys are licensed in New York and have deep experience in handling these cases. While we’re a national firm, our local presence means you get big-firm power with hometown focus.

Take the First Step Toward Justice Today

If a neck, back, or spinal cord injury has disrupted your life, you don’t have to face the legal and financial aftermath alone. At Morgan & Morgan, we fight For The People, relentlessly and without upfront costs. Let us handle the insurance companies, legal paperwork, and settlement negotiations while you focus on healing. Fill out our free case evaluation form today and learn how we can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.