Back injury settlements can vary, ranging in value from modest to significant. However, traumatic spinal cord injuries typically settle for an average of $1 million. The difference is that a "back injury" involves damage to the bones around the spinal cord (vertebrae). While painful, this condition typically does not cause a spinal cord injury's permanent, lifelong effects, which can permanently compromise mobility.
The amount of compensation for either a back injury or spinal cord injury will depend on several factors, including:
The impact of the injury on your life and livelihood.
The amount of medical bills;
The length of treatment required to repair it;
The invasiveness of treatment, including whether the injury required surgery;
How the injury impacts your life expectancy;
Whether you were at fault for the accident.
Maine is a modified comparative negligence state, which means that you must be less than 50 percent at fault for the accident to recover damages. Provided you meet that standard, any percentage of fault attributed to you will reduce your total recovery.
For example, you may have been hit in the rear after you stopped short. If your injury is worth $100,000, but the jury finds you to be 20 percent at fault, you will recover $80,000.