Brain, Neck & Back Injuries · Greater New Orleans
Metairie & New Orleans Brain, Neck & Back Injury Lawyer
Some injuries heal in a few weeks. Brain, neck, and back injuries often don't — and insurers fight them harder than almost any other kind.
A herniated disc, a traumatic brain injury, or nerve damage can change how you work, how you sleep, and how you live, sometimes permanently. And because these injuries don't always show on a simple X-ray, insurance companies dispute them harder than almost any other kind of injury. At Bono Law Firm, we've represented seriously injured Louisianans since 1980, and we know how to prove the injuries insurers try to minimize. If you've suffered a head, neck, or back injury in an accident, you talk directly with an attorney named Bono — John C. Bono or Michael P. Bono — not a case manager, and you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.
Some firms are built for volume. Bono Law Firm is built for personal attention.
Why these injuries are fought so hard
A broken arm shows up on an X-ray, and nobody argues about it. A traumatic brain injury or a soft-tissue spinal injury is different — the damage is real and life-altering, but it shows up on specialized imaging like MRIs and CT scans, in neurological testing, and in how the injury affects your daily life, not always in an obvious picture. Insurance companies exploit that gap. They argue the injury is exaggerated, that it was pre-existing, or that a gap in treatment means it isn't serious.
Louisiana law recently made that argument easier for them: the simple fact that you had no prior history of a problem no longer creates a presumption that the accident caused it. That means the link between the crash and your injury now has to be proven affirmatively, with the right medical evidence — which makes how a case is built more important than ever. It's detailed work, and it's exactly the work that gets shortchanged when a case is handed to a case manager at a high-volume firm. We do it ourselves, and it's a big part of what makes us different.
Traumatic brain injuries
A blow to the head — or even a violent jolt without direct impact — can cause a traumatic brain injury. TBIs range from concussions to severe, permanent impairment, and their effects aren't always obvious right away. Warning signs that deserve immediate medical attention include:
- Headaches that worsen or won't go away
- Confusion, memory problems, or difficulty concentrating
- Dizziness, nausea, or balance problems
- Mood changes, irritability, or depression
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Trouble sleeping, or sleeping too much
Even a "mild" concussion can have lasting effects, and the cost of a serious brain injury — medical care, lost earning capacity, and the toll on the family — is enormous. These cases require careful proof of both the injury and its long-term impact.
Neck and back injuries
The spine absorbs tremendous force in a crash or a fall, and the injuries that result can be debilitating:
- Herniated and bulging discs, which press on nerves and cause pain, numbness, and weakness
- Whiplash and soft-tissue injuries, which insurers love to dismiss but which can cause long-term pain
- Spinal cord injuries, the most catastrophic, which can cause partial or complete paralysis
- Nerve damage causing radiating pain, tingling, and loss of function
- Fractured vertebrae
These injuries often require injections, surgery, long-term physical therapy, and sometimes a lifetime of management. A settlement that only covers today's bills leaves the injured person to pay for tomorrow's — which is why the full future cost has to be calculated and proven.
What to do if you've suffered a head, neck, or back injury
- Get medical care immediately and follow through. These injuries worsen when untreated, and gaps in treatment are the first thing insurers attack.
- Tell every doctor about every symptom, even ones that seem minor — they build the medical record your case depends on.
- Keep every appointment and follow your treatment plan.
- Don't downplay how you feel. "I'm fine" in a recorded statement gets used against you later.
- Don't give a recorded statement to the insurance company before talking to a lawyer.
- Call us for a free consultation.
What your claim can recover
A serious brain, neck, or back injury claim may recover current and future medical expenses, lost wages and lost earning capacity, the cost of ongoing care and rehabilitation, pain and suffering, and compensation for permanent disability. The value depends on the severity and permanence of the injury, its effect on your life and work, and the available insurance — which is also why underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage matters so much in serious-injury cases. These are not cases to settle quickly or cheaply — the full cost often isn't clear until the medical picture is. You can see the kind of outcomes we fight for in our case results.
No fee unless we recover
Seriously injured? Let's talk — for free.
Since 1980, Bono Law Firm has represented more than 6,000 seriously injured people across Jefferson, Orleans, St. Tammany, St. Charles, and the surrounding parishes. Consultations are free, home and hospital visits are available, our phones are answered 24 hours a day, and there's no fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Free Consultation — Call (504) 835-9909Direct attorney access · No fee unless we recover · Se Habla Español
Common questions
Brain, neck & back injury FAQ
The insurer says my injury was pre-existing — can I still recover?
Often, yes. An accident that worsens or aggravates a prior condition is still compensable. Louisiana recently tightened the rules so the connection has to be proven with solid medical evidence rather than assumed — which is exactly the kind of proof we build with your treating doctors and the right specialists.
My imaging looks "normal," but I'm in real pain — do I have a case?
Possibly. Many serious neck, back, and brain injuries don't show on a basic X-ray and require specialized imaging, neurological testing, and a careful record of how the injury affects your daily life. The fact that an insurer calls it "minor" doesn't make it so — and proving otherwise is what we do.
Should I settle now or wait?
Be cautious about settling early. With these injuries, the full future cost — surgery, ongoing therapy, lost earning capacity — often isn't clear until the medical picture develops. Settling before then can leave you paying tomorrow's bills out of pocket. We'll give you an honest read for free.
How long do I have to file?
For accidents on or after July 1, 2024, Louisiana generally allows two years, though older accidents and certain situations can differ. Because these cases turn on detailed medical proof, the sooner we start building the record, the better — and the first call is free.
Suffered a head, neck, or back injury in an accident in Greater New Orleans? Talk to a firm that knows how to prove the injuries insurers try to minimize.
Direct attorney access · No fee unless we recover · Se Habla Español
