San Diego Back, Neck and Spine Accident Attorneys: Trusted Advocates for Life-Changing Injuries
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A back, neck, or spine injury can disrupt every part of your life—from your ability to work and drive to simple tasks like sleeping or bending. When these injuries are caused by someone else’s negligence, you shouldn’t be left to bear the financial and emotional burden alone. Whether you were rear-ended on the I-5 near downtown San Diego, hurt in a slip-and-fall at a La Jolla business, or injured in a high-speed collision on SR-94, Gershen Law Firm is here to fight for the compensation you deserve.

Back and spinal injuries are particularly devastating because they often result in chronic pain, mobility limitations, and long-term medical care. Victims may face not just physical challenges but also emotional distress and financial strain from mounting medical bills and lost wages. In a busy metro area like San Diego—with its heavy commuter traffic, active tourism zones, and crowded freeways—these types of injuries are unfortunately all too common.
At Gershen Law, we take these cases personally. Our team of experienced San Diego back, neck, and spine accident attorneys builds every case with precision and urgency, gathering detailed medical records, accident reports, and expert testimony. We push back hard against insurance companies that try to downplay your injuries or delay fair compensation. Our goal is simple: secure maximum recovery so you can focus on your healing and reclaim your quality of life.
For additional resources on spinal injury diagnosis and care, visit the Mayo Clinic’s comprehensive spinal cord injury page.
Understanding Spinal and Cervical Injuries in San Diego
Spinal and cervical injuries are some of the most life-altering injuries a person can endure. In a bustling city like San Diego—with its mix of heavy traffic, crowded commercial zones, and active outdoor lifestyle—these injuries are alarmingly common. From rear-end collisions on I-15 to slip-and-fall accidents at popular spots like Seaport Village or Balboa Park, sudden trauma to the neck or spine can cause immense and lasting harm.
The human spine is a complex structure made up of vertebrae, discs, ligaments, and nerves that work together to support the body and enable movement. Any disruption to this delicate system—whether through fracture, disc herniation, or nerve impingement—can result in debilitating symptoms such as chronic pain, numbness, loss of mobility, and even paralysis. Cervical injuries, affecting the neck region, are particularly concerning because they can impact upper body function, breathing, and cognitive clarity.
At Gershen Law Firm, we understand that no two spinal injuries are exactly alike. Each case brings unique medical challenges and legal considerations. That’s why we take a personalized approach to every client’s situation, ensuring that your injury is thoroughly documented and that your legal claim reflects the true scope of your suffering and future care needs. We work with leading orthopedic specialists, neurosurgeons, and rehabilitation experts throughout San Diego to secure the strongest possible evidence for your case.
It’s important to seek immediate medical attention after any back, neck, or spinal injury—even if symptoms seem mild at first. Many spinal injuries, such as whiplash or herniated discs, may not present severe symptoms right away but can worsen over time. Prompt diagnosis and treatment not only protect your health but also strengthen your legal case by linking your injuries directly to the accident.
If you’ve suffered a spinal or cervical injury in San Diego—whether from a car crash, workplace accident, or unsafe premises—Gershen Law is here to help you understand your legal options and pursue the compensation you need to move forward.
Why You Need Legal Help After Spinal and Cervical Injuries in San Diego
Spinal and cervical injuries are among the most serious—and complicated—types of personal injury claims. The road to recovery is often long and expensive, involving not just immediate emergency care but also physical therapy, specialist consultations, and possibly even surgery or long-term disability management. In San Diego, where traffic collisions, workplace accidents, and premises liability cases are common, victims are left not only grappling with pain but also fighting insurance companies that often resist paying the full value of claims.
That’s where skilled legal representation becomes essential. At Gershen Law Firm, we understand the medical complexities and legal hurdles involved in back, neck, and spine injury cases. We take swift action to preserve evidence, build a compelling case, and ensure you receive the maximum compensation to cover every aspect of your recovery.
Navigating Medical Complexities and Long-Term Care Needs
Spinal and cervical injuries are medically intricate, often requiring input from neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, and pain management specialists. Understanding the long-term impact of these injuries is crucial for calculating the full value of your claim. For example, a herniated disc or cervical fracture might initially seem manageable but later develop into chronic pain, nerve damage, or permanent disability. At Gershen Law, we collaborate closely with top-tier medical experts across San Diego to document your injuries comprehensively. This ensures that every dollar of your current and future medical expenses, rehabilitation, and assistive device costs are factored into your compensation demand.
Battling Insurance Company Tactics to Minimize Your Claim
Insurance companies are notorious for downplaying the severity of spinal injuries or arguing that your pain is due to pre-existing conditions rather than the accident itself. They may push for quick settlements that don’t begin to cover the full extent of your damages. In San Diego’s competitive legal environment, these tactics are all too common—especially in high-value claims involving spinal trauma. Our attorneys at Gershen Law have decades of combined experience dealing with aggressive insurers. We know how to dismantle their arguments with solid medical evidence, expert testimony, and a relentless commitment to securing the justice you deserve.
Common Types of Back, Neck, and Spine Injuries We Handle
Back, neck, and spine injuries are some of the most debilitating conditions a person can experience, often requiring long-term medical care and significant lifestyle changes. At Gershen Law Firm, we’ve helped countless San Diego residents recover compensation for these serious injuries, whether they were caused by car crashes, falls, or other accidents across the region. Below, we break down the most common types of spinal injuries our clients face, providing insight into their causes, symptoms, and legal implications.
Whiplash Injuries: More Serious Than They Seem
Whiplash is frequently dismissed as a minor injury, but for many victims in San Diego—especially those involved in rear-end collisions along routes like I-805 or SR-78—it can result in chronic pain and long-term disability. Whiplash occurs when the neck is forcefully snapped back and forth, straining muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Victims may experience persistent headaches, neck stiffness, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating. While initial symptoms might seem mild, whiplash can lead to ongoing medical issues that interfere with work, daily activities, and overall quality of life. Our legal team ensures that insurance companies take these injuries seriously by documenting your full medical journey and securing expert opinions to strengthen your claim.
Herniated Discs: Silent Yet Debilitating
A herniated disc is a common but often misunderstood injury that occurs when the inner portion of a spinal disc pushes through its tough exterior, compressing nearby nerves. This injury typically results from high-impact accidents such as freeway collisions on the I-15 or falls from significant heights. Victims may endure sharp, shooting pain, numbness, and muscle weakness that radiates through the legs or arms. Treatment can range from physical therapy and steroid injections to complex spinal surgery. At Gershen Law Firm, we work closely with San Diego’s leading spine specialists to provide compelling medical evidence that demonstrates both current and anticipated medical needs, ensuring you receive fair compensation for your suffering. To learn more about spinal disc injuries, visit the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Bulging Discs: Persistent Pain and Long-Term Impact
Bulging discs occur when a spinal disc protrudes outward, irritating surrounding nerves and tissues. Although not as severe as a herniated disc, a bulging disc can still cause significant discomfort, including localized pain, numbness, and muscle weakness. These injuries are particularly common in slip-and-fall incidents at businesses and workplaces throughout San Diego. Victims may require months of physical therapy, pain management, and, in some cases, surgical intervention. Our attorneys know how to counter insurance company tactics that downplay the severity of bulging discs, ensuring your claim reflects the true extent of your physical and financial hardship.
Fractured Vertebrae: Severe Trauma with Lasting Consequences
Fractured vertebrae are among the most serious spinal injuries and often result from catastrophic events like high-speed car accidents on I-8 or falls from significant heights on construction sites. These fractures can destabilize the spine, compress nerves, and cause chronic pain, paralysis, or permanent disability. Treatment usually involves bracing, immobilization, or spinal fusion surgery, followed by extensive rehabilitation. At Gershen Law, we emphasize the catastrophic nature of vertebral fractures in your legal claim, fighting for maximum compensation to cover everything from emergency surgery to lifelong care and lost earning potential.
Nerve Impingement and Spinal Cord Compression: Medical Emergencies
Nerve impingement, often called a pinched nerve, occurs when nerves are compressed by bulging discs, bone spurs, or swollen tissues, leading to sharp pain, tingling, and muscle weakness. Spinal cord compression is even more critical, as it can cause loss of bladder control, paralysis, or life-threatening complications. Both conditions require immediate medical intervention to prevent permanent damage. Our legal team works diligently to document these medical emergencies with the help of neurosurgeons and orthopedic experts across San Diego, ensuring your case is backed by compelling medical evidence that demands full compensation.
Compensation Available for Back, Neck, and Spine Injury Victims in San Diego
Back, neck, and spine injuries are not only physically devastating—they also come with a crushing financial burden. From sky-high medical bills to lost income and ongoing rehabilitation, victims are often left struggling to make ends meet while trying to recover. At Gershen Law Firm, we fight to secure full and fair compensation that covers every aspect of your losses, now and into the future. California law allows injured victims to seek a wide range of damages, and our team ensures no stone is left unturned in pursuing your claim.
Medical Expenses and Future Treatment Costs
Medical bills after a serious spinal injury can be overwhelming. Whether you were treated at Scripps Mercy, Sharp Grossmont, or UC San Diego Health, even short hospital stays and diagnostic imaging can add up to tens of thousands of dollars. But that’s often just the beginning. Victims with herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, or spinal cord compression may face long-term physical therapy, pain management, surgical interventions, and, in some cases, permanent disability care. At Gershen Law, we work with medical experts to project the full scope of your future treatment needs, ensuring that your claim accounts for both current and ongoing healthcare costs.
Spinal Surgery and Hospitalization
Severe spinal injuries often require invasive procedures such as spinal fusion, laminectomy, or discectomy to stabilize the spine and alleviate nerve pressure. These surgeries are complex and typically involve extended hospital stays, follow-up visits, and post-surgical rehabilitation. At Gershen Law Firm, we make sure that every cost—from the initial surgery to hospital room charges, anesthesia, and surgical aftercare—is fully documented and included in your compensation claim, ensuring you’re not left covering these massive expenses out of pocket.
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Services
For many victims, the recovery process extends long after the initial injury is treated. Physical therapy is critical for rebuilding strength, restoring range of motion, and minimizing chronic pain after a spinal injury. Whether it’s outpatient therapy at a local San Diego clinic or in-home sessions for those with mobility limitations, these costs add up quickly over months or years of treatment. Our legal team works closely with physical therapists and rehabilitation experts to detail your ongoing therapy needs and ensure full reimbursement.
Diagnostic Imaging and Specialist Consultations
Proper diagnosis and treatment planning for back, neck, and spine injuries require advanced imaging tests like MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays. These scans are essential for identifying herniated discs, nerve impingements, and fractures, and they often need to be repeated over time to track progress. Additionally, ongoing consultations with orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, and pain management specialists are necessary for effective treatment. We ensure that your claim includes all imaging and specialist costs, reflecting the true medical demands of your injury.
Lost Wages and Loss of Earning Capacity
When you’re sidelined by a back, neck, or spine injury, the impact on your income can be devastating. Many victims are unable to return to work for weeks, months, or permanently—particularly in physically demanding professions like construction, transportation, or healthcare. Our legal team calculates your lost income in precise detail, using pay stubs, tax records, and employer statements. We also assess loss of future earning capacity if your injury prevents you from returning to your previous role or limits your ability to work full-time, ensuring your claim fully reflects the economic hit you’ve taken.
Pain, Suffering, and Emotional Distress
The physical pain of a back or spine injury is often accompanied by deep emotional suffering. Victims may experience chronic pain, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and a diminished ability to enjoy life. California law allows compensation for these non-economic damages, but insurers are quick to minimize them. At Gershen Law Firm, we make sure your pain and suffering are taken seriously, building a strong case supported by medical documentation, psychological evaluations, and personal testimony to demonstrate the profound impact your injury has had on your daily life.
Property Damage and Additional Expenses
In many cases—especially car accidents—victims also suffer property damage, whether to their vehicle, bicycle, or personal belongings. Additionally, many spinal injury victims face new daily expenses, such as home modifications, mobility aids, and transportation costs to medical appointments. We include all of these compensable losses in your claim, ensuring you are reimbursed for every expense tied to your injury.
Establishing Liability After Back, Neck, and Spine Injuries in San Diego
Proving liability is one of the most crucial steps in any personal injury case, especially when it involves serious back, neck, or spine injuries. These injuries often lead to significant compensation claims, which means insurers and at-fault parties will look for any opportunity to dispute fault. In San Diego, where accidents happen frequently on busy highways, construction sites, and commercial properties, establishing a clear link between the negligent party’s actions and your injury is essential for a successful claim.
At Gershen Law Firm, we understand the complexity of these cases. Our team works diligently to gather every piece of evidence needed to hold negligent drivers, property owners, or employers accountable for the harm they’ve caused.
Collecting Critical Evidence After the Accident
The first step in proving liability is gathering compelling evidence that demonstrates exactly how the accident occurred and who was at fault. In back, neck, and spine injury cases, this includes securing police reports, accident scene photographs, witness statements, and, where available, video footage from nearby traffic or security cameras. In San Diego, high-traffic areas like the I-5 and commercial zones like Gaslamp Quarter often have surveillance systems that can provide invaluable proof. Our firm acts quickly to preserve this evidence, ensuring it’s available to strengthen your case when insurers attempt to shift blame.
Working With Medical Experts to Prove Injury Causation
One common defense tactic in back and spine injury claims is to argue that your condition was pre-existing or unrelated to the accident. This makes medical evidence critical. We partner with leading orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, and radiologists across San Diego to provide expert opinions that link your injury directly to the incident in question. Detailed medical records, diagnostic imaging, and specialist evaluations all play a role in proving causation and countering claims that your injuries were not caused by the accident.
Countering Comparative Negligence Claims
California follows a comparative negligence rule, which means your compensation can be reduced if you are found partially at fault for the accident. Insurers often exploit this by alleging that the victim’s own negligence contributed to the injury—for example, by claiming a driver was distracted at the time of a collision or that a pedestrian ignored safety signage. At Gershen Law, we are skilled at dismantling these arguments by presenting clear, fact-based evidence that highlights the true cause of the accident. Our goal is to ensure that liability is properly assigned and that you receive the full compensation you deserve.
Take the First Step Toward Recovery—Contact Gershen Law Today
Back, neck, and spine injuries can change your life in an instant, leaving you with chronic pain, mounting medical bills, and uncertainty about the future. You deserve a legal team that understands the full impact of these injuries and is prepared to fight aggressively for every dollar you’re owed. At Gershen Law Firm, we are committed to providing personalized, results-driven representation for victims across San Diego. Whether your injury was caused by a car crash, slip-and-fall, or workplace accident, we have the experience, resources, and determination to help you reclaim your life.
Here’s what you can expect when you partner with us:
- A free, no-obligation consultation to review your case in detail
- No fees unless we win—our success is tied to yours
- Full-service legal representation from start to finish
- Aggressive negotiation and, when needed, fierce courtroom advocacy
Don’t let insurance companies or negligent parties dictate your recovery. Take control of your future by contacting Gershen Law today.
Call us at (619) 492-5526 24/7 for a Free Case Consultation
Schedule your free consultation online at www.gershenlaw.com/contact-us.
Reviews for Michelle Gershen
Michelle Gershen is a wonderful lawyer. She helped me step by step with my neck injury from a motor vehicle accident. I would highly recommend hiring her if you are in need of a lawyer. If I could give more than five stars I would.
Jenna M.
Personal, professional, responsive! All Attorneys should be like Michelle! She got my case taken care of and helped me when I needed it most. I would highly recommend her to anyone!
Annette M.
She will fight long and hard for your best interest! Michelle is the 3rd attorney I have worked with, and what a relief it was to have landed in her care. She kept me informed every step of the way, was extremely confident, professional, and organized. She is truly exceptional at what she does and it felt like my friend was working for me.
Joseph P.
I was lucky enough to meet Michelle at my last job. I have always found her to be helpful, supportive, and very responsive. Everyone I have referred to Michelle has been extremely pleased with her professionalism and caring demeanor. As a sole practitioner, she has the ability to react quickly when needed, and she is always cost-conscious.
Amy G.

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