Humboldt Personal Injury Attorneys

A personal injury can disrupt every part of your life without warning. Whether you were hurt in a car accident, struck while riding your bicycle, or injured in a slip-and-fall, the physical, financial, and emotional toll can be enormous. For residents of Humboldt, Iowa, understanding how to handle medical treatment strategically, how serious neck and nerve injuries are addressed, and how liability is established in bicycle crash cases can make the difference between a strong claim and a compromised one. The attorneys at Walker, Billingsley & Bair serve injured Iowans throughout the state and are ready to help you pursue the full compensation you deserve.

Cervical Radicular Pain After a Personal Injury: What It Is and How It Is Treated

One of the more serious and often underestimated injuries that can result from a car accident, a fall, or other trauma is cervical radicular pain, also known as radiculopathy. This is a condition in which the nerves stop working properly due to a malfunction at the root of the nerve. Radiculopathy can produce pain, numbness, weakness, and loss of motor control. Even though the underlying problem occurs in the spinal area, the pain is frequently felt in other parts of the body, which can make it difficult for those unfamiliar with the condition to connect it back to the original injury.

Many cases of radicular pain originate in the cervical spine, resulting in severe neck pain and a range of other debilitating symptoms. For personal injury victims in Humboldt, the important thing to understand is that the medical treatment required to manage this condition can be substantial, and if another party caused the accident that led to your injury, you may be entitled to seek compensation for every component of that treatment.

What Causes Cervical Radicular Pain?

In many cases, a herniated disc is the source of cervical radicular pain. Herniated discs are frequently the result of trauma such as a car accident or a fall. When the disc material ruptures, it can compress the nerve root, generating intense pain that radiates outward from the neck. Radicular pain can also stem from arthritis or other forms of degenerative bone disease, though trauma remains among the most common causes seen in personal injury cases.

Traditional Treatments for Cervical Radicular Pain

Most patients begin treatment for cervical radicular pain with conservative therapies. These typically include corticosteroids and pain medication, administered either by injection or taken orally, with effectiveness varying from patient to patient. Physical therapy is also commonly incorporated into a treatment plan, which may include cervical traction performed either mechanically or manually, along with other methods aimed at relieving symptoms. Patients should discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each treatment option with their physicians to determine the best approach for their specific condition.

When conservative treatment fails and the pain becomes intolerable, surgery is often considered the next step. However, there is another option that may provide meaningful relief before reaching that point.

The Epidural Nerve Block Procedure

An epidural nerve block is a minimally invasive procedure that may serve as an effective alternative to surgery for patients suffering from cervical radicular pain. The procedure involves the injection of a local anesthetic such as lidocaine, along with a corticosteroid, into the epidural space of the spine. The physician uses a fluoroscope, which provides real-time X-ray imaging, and a contrast medium to ensure the needle is placed correctly before the medication is delivered. Pain relief is then monitored over a set period following the injection.

The epidural nerve block procedure is minimally invasive, and complications are generally slight. These include a low risk of infection, minor bleeding, and some discomfort around the injection site. Patients should discuss the full range of possible side effects with their physician before proceeding with any injection or treatment.

If another party caused the accident that led to your cervical radicular pain, the cost of epidural nerve block procedures may be recoverable as part of your personal injury claim. Living with this condition is genuinely difficult. Patients may be unable to work, sleep comfortably, or enjoy ordinary daily activities. Damages for lost wages, pain and suffering, and related medical expenses may all be available to injured victims.

Right Turn Bicycle Accidents: How Liability Is Established

Bicycle accidents involving right-turning vehicles are a serious and relatively common type of collision. When a car turning right strikes a cyclist, this is often referred to as a "right hook" accident. These crashes typically occur when a cyclist is riding on the right shoulder of the road or in a designated bike lane alongside a car. While it is usually the driver's fault in these situations, properly proving liability requires presenting the right evidence of the driver's negligence.

How Right Turn Bicycle Accidents Commonly Occur

There are several typical scenarios in which this type of crash takes place:

• A bicyclist and a car approach an intersection at the same time, and the car turns right. The driver fails to see the cyclist until it is too late to avoid a collision.
• A bicyclist moves to overtake a slower-moving car and passes on the right, unintentionally placing themselves in danger when the vehicle then makes a right turn.
• A bike and a car are stopped side-by-side at a red light. When the signal changes, the car turns right, cutting off or directly striking the cyclist.

Proving the Driver's Negligence

To establish that the driver was primarily at fault, several forms of evidence will typically be needed. A police report is a foundational piece of documentation, as it will detail the accident scene, record the responding officer's account of events, and note any citations issued to the driver or the cyclist. Eyewitness testimony is often the most compelling type of evidence available, as witnesses can describe what both the car and the bicycle were doing in the moments leading up to the collision.

A driver can be proven negligent and therefore liable if evidence shows they were doing one or more of the following at the time of the crash:

• Speeding
• Failing to use a turn signal before turning
• Abruptly changing lanes without adequate warning

It is also worth noting that the driver's legal team may attempt to shift some of the fault onto the cyclist. Evidence that the bicyclist was swerving between lanes, riding too close to vehicles, or ignoring a traffic control device may be used as a defense in a bicycle accident claim. This is precisely why thorough evidence gathering is essential from the very beginning of a bicycle injury case.

In addition to police reports and eyewitness accounts, you should investigate whether the accident was captured on video. Many intersections have traffic cameras, and nearby businesses may have surveillance footage that recorded the crash. Photographs of the scene, the vehicles involved, and your injuries are equally valuable.

Safety Considerations for Cyclists

When riding near a vehicle, maintaining a safe distance behind it allows you to anticipate turns or lane changes before they happen. As you approach an intersection, check for nearby vehicles. Avoid passing a car on the right unless it is necessary. When you do pass on the right, ensure there is sufficient empty space to your right in case you need to swerve to avoid a right-turning vehicle. Taking these precautions does not eliminate risk, but it can reduce the chances of being caught in a right hook crash.

Ten Mistakes to Avoid When Dealing With Doctors After a Personal Injury

Many injured people fail to realize how significantly their interactions with medical providers can affect the outcome of a personal injury case. Mistakes made during medical treatment, whether you were hurt in a car accident, a bicycle collision, a work injury, or any other type of incident, can limit the documentation in your records and weaken your attorney's ability to advocate on your behalf. The following are the most common errors injured Humboldt residents make during medical treatment, and how to avoid them.

1. Failing to See a Doctor Immediately

It is your responsibility to prove that you were injured in the accident. If you have any pain or physical problems following an incident, seek medical care right away. Insurance companies and juries often conclude that if a person did not seek immediate medical attention, their condition may not actually be related to the accident. Even relatively minor pain can develop into a serious problem over time, so seeing a doctor as soon as possible is essential. The last thing you want is for an insurance company's attorney to point out to a jury that you waited days before bothering to see a doctor.

2. Discussing Your Claim With Your Medical Providers

Your medical providers are focused on treating your injuries, not on your lawsuit. They do not need to know the details of your legal claim or whether you have retained an attorney. Whatever you say to your medical providers is not confidential once you bring a personal injury claim. Everything you discuss with them can end up in your medical records, which the insurance company and potentially a judge or jury will have access to. You should tell your providers how you were injured, but keep your legal concerns out of those conversations.

3. Hiding Your Prior Health History

Be honest with your medical providers about any prior injuries to the same area of the body where you are currently experiencing problems. Your doctors use your past medical history to diagnose and treat you, and providing incomplete or inaccurate information not only affects the quality of your care but will likely damage your legal case as well. All of your prior medical records will eventually be made available to the insurance company. Be honest when describing the accident as well. Do not exaggerate the damage to a vehicle or overstate other facts, as the insurance company's attorneys will look for any opportunity to attack your credibility.

4. Missing or Arriving Late to Medical Appointments

When you fail to attend a medical appointment, your record will reflect a "no show" or "DNS" notation. These entries look poor regardless of the reason behind them. Multiple missed appointments may signal to your medical providers, the insurance company, and ultimately a jury that you did not take your injuries seriously. If you need to reschedule or cancel, contact your provider at least 24 hours in advance. Doctors who are frustrated with a patient are unlikely to serve as strong advocates for that patient later on.

5. Failing to Tell Your Providers How Your Injuries Affect Your Work

Your medical records are central to your injury claim, and what is documented in them matters enormously. If there is no mention in your records of your injuries affecting your ability to work, it is unlikely that a jury or insurance company will simply take your word for it later. If your injury is negatively impacting your work performance or ability to work at all, tell your healthcare providers. Taking notes to your appointments can help ensure you do not forget to cover all of your concerns.

6. Failing to Properly Document Your Pain

Pain cannot be seen, felt, or measured by your medical providers directly. In order for an insurance company or a jury to believe you were in pain, they will want to read about it consistently throughout your medical records. They will look at how quickly you reported pain after the accident, where the pain was located, how severe it was, and how long it persisted. Writing down your symptoms before each appointment and providing your doctor with a copy helps ensure that your pain and limitations are accurately captured. Do not exaggerate, however. If you describe your pain as unbearable but appear comfortable during the appointment, you will likely receive a negative notation that can be used against you. When asked to rate your pain on a scale of one to ten, keep in mind that a ten represents the worst imaginable pain, and few people ever experience pain above an eight.

7. Not Taking Prescribed Medications as Directed

Follow your doctor's instructions when it comes to prescribed medications. If you believe a medication is causing unwanted side effects, call your provider or schedule an appointment to discuss switching to an alternative. Do not simply stop taking a medication without consulting your doctor first. Some medications require a gradual taper, and discontinuing them abruptly can cause problems. Failing to follow your doctor's orders also looks bad in the context of your claim.

8. Stopping Treatment Too Soon or Creating Large Gaps Between Appointments

Stopping medical treatment before you have fully recovered is one of the most common and costly mistakes injured people make. Insurance companies and juries tend to conclude that once a person stops seeking treatment, they have healed. Significant gaps between appointments, such as a month or more between visits, will be used to suggest that the original injury resolved and that any subsequent problems represent a new and unrelated condition. If your doctor has told you that you are released or to come back as needed, return if your symptoms persist. Your doctor may be able to refer you to a specialist for additional care.

9. Failing to Keep Records

Keep the business cards, bills, and records of every medical provider you see. Your attorney will need this information to obtain your complete medical records. Also retain copies of any work excuses, restrictions, referrals, and other documentation given to you by your providers. If you hand a work excuse to your employer, keep a copy for yourself. These records will be important tools in building your case.

10. Not Seeking Treatment for Anxiety or Depression

Pain, limited activity, and disability frequently cause anxiety and depression following a personal injury. These psychological conditions are just as real as a physical injury that shows up on an X-ray. Most people cannot overcome anxiety or depression without appropriate medical care, and you can be compensated for psychological conditions that were caused by or significantly worsened by your injury. Unless these conditions are properly diagnosed and treated, however, it is unlikely that you will be able to recover compensation for them. Tell your doctors if you are struggling emotionally as a result of your injuries and seek the appropriate care.

We Are Here To Help

Remember, you are not alone in recovering from your injuries. We have helped thousands of Iowans through their physical, emotional, and financial recoveries. If you have questions about what you are going through, feel free to call our office for your confidential injury conference. We will take the time to listen to you and give you our advice concerning your injury matter at no cost or risk to you.

Free Book at No Cost 

If you are not ready to speak with an attorney yet but would like to learn more about Iowa injury cases including tips about how you can avoid making common costly mistakes request a copy of our Iowa Personal Injury book which includes 14 myths about Iowa injury cases and 5 things to know before hiring an attorney.

If you have specific questions about your injury matter feel free to call our office to speak with our Injury team at 641-792-3595 or use our Chat feature by clicking here 24 hours a day/7 days per week. Your information will remain confidential and there is no cost or obligation.

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