Coccyx Fracture from a Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer

A coccyx fracture, also known as a broken tailbone, is an extremely painful injury that occurs in the lowest part of the spine. Broken tailbones usually result from the person falling backwards and landing hard in a seated position. This is precisely what happens if you slip on a surface or object, and fall backwards. You may also be thrown into the air during your fall, which would make the resulting injury that much worse. Aside from being painful, a coccyx fracture from a slip and fall makes it difficult to do basic things like sitting, sleeping, or bending over. Many people need surgery to repair the fracture, along with recovery time and pain medications.

If you’ve sustained a broken tailbone from a slip and fall accident, you may be able to sue for your monetary and emotional losses. Today, we will talk about how you can be compensated for a coccyx fracture resulting from a slip and fall. Here are some of the topics we will cover:

• How do I file a lawsuit for a tailbone fracture?
• How much do these cases settle for?
• How long does it take to settle a coccygeal bone fracture?

The information we provide should give you a sense of the legal options that are available to you as an injury victim. However, each slip and fall accident is different, with its unique set of circumstances. Thus, it’s important to seek legal advice as soon as you can from an experienced broken tailbone injury attorney. Contact Normandie Law Firm and schedule a free consultation.
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How do I know if I Have a Broken Tailbone?

Falling down typically results in painful injuries, and that’s why a lot of people are unaware that they’ve fractured their coccyx. It’s not unusual for days or even weeks to go by before some people go to a hospital. This is not a good idea, as waiting can exacerbate your injury and lengthen the amount of time you will need for recovery. If you’ve had a slip and fall accident, here are the symptoms that can indicate a tailbone fracture:

• Pain in your lower spine / posterior area
• Pain when sitting, lying down, or squatting
• Loss of bladder control
• Pain when going to the bathroom
• Numbness in your legs and feet
• Weakness in your legs

If you have any of these symptoms, please see a doctor right away. Frankly, it’s best to seek medical attention right after a fall, even if your injuries don’t seem that serious. For one thing, you may have injuries that will develop in the upcoming days or weeks. That’s often the case with tailbone fractures, as well as back and brain injuries. Immediate intervention can prevent these wounds from getting worse. Furthermore, a medical report detailing the harm you’ve suffered is essential for an injury claim or lawsuit.

Common Locations for Slip and Fall Accidents

A fall-related injury can happen anywhere, but some places are especially prone to hazards that can cause someone to slip. Places with the highest rate of slip and fall accidents include:

• Grocery stores
• Restaurants
• Shopping malls / Department stores
• Parking lots
• Sidewalks
• Big box stores
• Office buildings
• Convenience stores
• Gas stations
• Work sites

Have you had a slip and fall accident at one of these places that resulted in a coccygeal bone fracture? If so, please speak with the lawyers of Normandie right away. The owner of the business or property where you had your accident may be liable for your injuries, but you must act fast to recover the compensation you deserve.

Can I Sue for a Coccyx Fracture from a Slip and Fall?

You are able to sue for a broken tailbone from a slip and fall if your accident was the result of negligence. Of course, people fall all the time, and many of these incidents are a case of bad luck. However, property owners are responsible for fixing or removing hazards on their premises that can lead to a slip and fall. These hazards include, but are not limited to:

• Worn or slippery surfaces on wood and tile floors

• Not placing a “wet floor” sign when mopping the floor.
• Not placing a warning sign near spills and leaks
• Icy parking lots and sidewalks
• Worn out carpeting
• Berries of fruits falling from trees
• Grease on the floor
• Slippery steps on staircases
• Poor lighting / obstructed view
• Defective handrails

Any one of these conditions can cause a person to slip and fall backwards. If the person sustains a broken tailbone and/or any other injuries, the premise owner may be sued by the victim for economic and emotional damages.

What types of Damages Can I Recover?

Medical intervention and recovery time are necessary in order to heal from a tailbone fracture. Aside from the physical injuries, slip and fall victims can suffer emotional distress from the trauma of their accident. For example, you may be scared of falling again and avoid going to certain places, or going out at all. This can affect many areas of your life, such as your career and personal relationships.

If you’ve suffered a coccyx fracture from a slip and fall, here are the damages you may be able to recover:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages or loss of earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage
• Legal fees
• Punitive damages

Please give us a call to learn about these forms of compensation, and which ones apply to your situation. No matter what your losses are, you must take action right away to ensure that your injury claim is filed on time. Contact our office and speak to a slip and fall lawsuit attorney.

What is the Average Case Value of a Coccyx Fracture?

The majority of settlements for coccyx fracture injury cases range between $20,000 and $80,000. However, this is a national average based on the totality of cases within the past few years. What you can receive from a lawsuit depends on the severity of your injuries and the losses resulting from those injuries. To prove our point, take a look at the following settlements:

• $78,000 for a woman who slipped on spilled body oil at a Big Box store. Her settlement covered medical expenses, time off from work, and pain and suffering for a broken tailbone.
• $220,000 for a man who fell backwards and fractured his coccyx when a tree limb fell on top of him. A limb had fallen off the tree before, but the owner failed to have the tree evaluated or removed.

• $1.6 million for a woman who tripped over broken cement in the doorway of a building. The accident resulted in a coccyx fracture and a herniated disc.

• $6.4 million for a union ironworker who fell on the job. He sustained numerous injuries, including a tailbone fracture, which made him unable to perform his job duties.

As you can see, accidents with multiple injuries are generally worth more, especially if they take away a person’s earning capacity. However, the emotional distress from a broken coccyx can be significant, causing anxiety, fear, and other mental health issues. A slip and fall coccyx fracture lawsuit comprises of all these damages, which one of our attorneys can explain to you in detail.

What is the Average Length of Time to Settle a Coccyx Fracture Lawsuit?

The timeline of your coccyx fracture lawsuit depends on many factors. The complexity of your accident and the severity of your injuries are the most important aspects, as they are used to determine your case value. As a general rule, accidents with minor injuries are usually settled within the first few months. More serious cases, on the other hand, can take anywhere from 6 months to several years.

Initially, you will file an injury claim with the premise owner’s insurance company. It can take around 3 to 6 weeks to hear back from an insurance company, since they’re dealing with so many claims at once. If they accept your claim, they’ll make you an offer, which will likely be lower than what you asked for. At that point, it’s a good idea to retain a lawyer and have them negotiate a settlement for you. If you’re unable to negotiate a settlement, you can file a lawsuit against the property or business owner.

Most people are scared to file a lawsuit because they assume they’ll have to go to trial. This is unlikely, as 95% of all slip and fall cases are settled before the trial date. In fact, most of our cases are settled within 6 months to a year through mediation. But if the other side continues to be resistant and will not play fair during mediation, going to trial is the only other option. In that case, it may be 2 or more years before a jury reaches their verdict.

How far you should take your case is not something you can predict in the beginning. There are various factors beyond your control, like the other side’s willingness to admit liability and make a fair offer. This is particularly true with slip and fall accidents, which are often blamed on the victim. Our attorneys can fight back against such claims and ensure that you are fairly compensated for your broken tailbone injury.

Can I Switch to Another Lawyer?

If you’re unhappy with the service from your current lawyer, you can switch to another attorney even if you have an active lawsuit. You should, however, think about your reasons for wanting to change lawyers. Here are some red flags that may signal the need to change counsel:

• Your lawyer doesn’t respond to your calls or emails in a timely manner.
• Your lawyer keeps asking you for documents you’ve already sent or filled out.
• You feel pressured to agree to a settlement.
• You’re notified by the court that your case may be dismissed due to lack of activity.
• Your attorney keeps asking for extensions for reasons you don’t understand.

There may be other concerns you have about your lawyer, and we would love to discuss them with you during a free second opinion. This is a consultation where you can have your case reviewed by one of our attorneys. With their experience in slip and fall cases, they can verify whether your lawyer is on the right track. If not, they will advise you of your legal options, including the right to change lawyers in the middle of a case. We can also take care of the entire transfer process if you decide to switch over to our law firm.

While you can find a new attorney at any point in your case, the process becomes more difficult the further you are in your lawsuit. So please don’t wait on giving us a call and scheduling a free second opinion.

Normandie is Here for You

A coccyx injury is not only painful, but difficult for most people to talk about. The symptoms, which include problems urinating, sitting, or sleeping, can be embarrassing to admit out loud. Furthermore, there may be embarrassing details of your accident that you’re reluctant to discuss. That’s why so many victims stay silent instead of seeking the compensation they’re legally entitled to.

We know it’s difficult, but please take the chance of giving us a call. If you’ve suffered a tailbone fracture from a slip and fall, you will unfortunately have to deal with various financial and emotional consequences. Skilled representation is needed to recover the full value of your damages, and that’s exactly what we can do for you at Normandie Law Firm. Our lawyers have many years of experience recovering settlements for slip and fall accident victims. Best of all, we offer a Zero fee guarantee, which means you will pay nothing upfront for our services. We will take your case on contingency, so the only way we get paid is if we win your case.

Let us fight for you and the monetary damages you deserve. Contact our office and schedule a free consultation or free second opinion.