Torrance Back and Neck Injury Lawyer

Torrance Back and Neck Injury Attorney

A car crash can leave your neck and back aching long after the tow trucks leave and the adrenaline wears off. Whiplash and spine injuries often do not show their full effect for days or even weeks, and the pain can make driving, working, and sleeping difficult long after the crash itself is over.

A Torrance back and neck injury lawyer at Duque & Price can help you sort out who pays for your care while you focus on getting better. Attorney Brent A. Duque has practiced personal injury law in California since 2005 and works with clients in both English and Spanish throughout the South Bay.

With that guidance, you can move from managing pain and paperwork toward a clear plan for your recovery and your claim. Reach out to talk through what happened and what your options look like.

Back and Neck Injuries Our Torrance Attorneys Handle

Pain after a crash often shows up days or weeks later, as swelling and inflammation build around the spine and surrounding muscles. Strained or inflamed muscles and ligaments usually heal within a month or two.

Pain that lasts longer than that often points to a deeper problem, like a damaged disc or joint, and that kind of injury can require ongoing medical care. We handle claims involving a wide range of neck and back injuries from car accidents, including:

• Facet joint pain
• Herniated or bulging discs
• Muscle strain and ligament sprain
• Compressed or pinched nerves
• Chronic headaches tied to the neck
• Nerve pain radiating into the arms or hands
• Lower back pain and stiffness
• Spinal fractures

Whatever the diagnosis, the medical bills for these injuries add up fast. If your crash caused other injuries too, our Torrance personal injury attorneys can handle the full scope of your claim alongside your neck and back injury.

Settlement Offers, Deadlines, and Fault in a Torrance Back or Neck Injury Claim

Insurance companies often do not treat soft tissue and spine injuries the same way they treat a broken bone. Adjusters often argue that whiplash heals quickly and offer a low settlement before you know the full cost of your treatment. Accepting that offer early can leave you paying for months of physical therapy or injections out of your own pocket.

California law also puts a clock on your case. Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit for a neck or back injury. Missing that date usually ends your right to sue, no matter how serious the injury turns out to be. This information reflects California law as of October 2026.

California also lets you recover money even if you share some of the blame for the crash. A court simply reduces your compensation by your percentage of fault, so being partly at fault does not automatically rule out a recovery.

How Insurance Companies Evaluate Soft Tissue and Spine Injury Claims

Soft tissue and disc injuries are harder to see on an X-ray than a broken bone, and insurers may use that to argue the pain is exaggerated or unrelated to the crash. Attorney Jordan H. Davidoff spent the early part of his career representing insurance companies in personal injury lawsuits before shifting in 2014 to represent injured people instead.

That background gives him familiarity with how adjusters build a defense against a soft tissue claim and what kind of proof they weigh when valuing one. Consistent medical treatment, imaging such as an MRI, and a clear record connecting your symptoms to the crash all matter to how an adjuster values your case.

Gaps in treatment or a delay in seeing a doctor give the insurance company an opening to argue your injury came from something else, like an old condition or a different incident entirely. Medical records, bills, and documentation can help counter those arguments and support the value of your claim.

Where Your Torrance Back and Neck Injury Case Gets Filed

Civil lawsuits arising from crashes in Torrance generally fall under the Southwest District of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, based at the Torrance Courthouse on Maple Avenue.

That courthouse also handles civil cases from Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Lomita, Gardena, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. So where you live in the South Bay does not usually change which court hears your case if the crash happened in or near Torrance.

Knowing the right venue matters, because filing in the wrong district can slow your case down while the paperwork gets transferred to the correct courthouse. Our attorneys handle this part of the process so you are not left guessing which court your claim belongs in.

How Our Torrance Back and Neck Injury Lawyers Build Your Case

Brent A. Duque has been licensed to practice law in California since 2005. He belongs to the Consumer Attorneys of California, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Orange County Bar Association.

Attorney Matthew R. Price graduated cum laude from Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law with a certificate in trial advocacy and carries an Avvo rating of 10.0. He has also been a featured guest on the Lawterature legal podcast. Attorney Jordan H. Davidoff served as a judicial extern for a justice on the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three, before building a plaintiff-side injury practice.

With offices in Costa Mesa, Los Angeles, Riverside, and Temecula, we represent clients from Torrance and the rest of the South Bay.

Our Torrance back and neck injury lawyers handle the insurance calls and the paperwork so you can focus on physical therapy and getting back to your routine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I have to pay anything upfront to hire a Torrance back and neck injury lawyer?

A: No. Duque & Price works on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees upfront and the firm is paid only if you recover compensation. A consultation to review your case is free.

Q: What court handles a back or neck injury claim from a crash in Torrance?

A: Civil claims from crashes in Torrance generally go through the Southwest District of the Los Angeles County Superior Court at the Torrance Courthouse on Maple Avenue. That same courthouse also covers Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Gardena, Lomita, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Q: Do I need to see a doctor right away if I do not feel hurt after the crash?

A: Yes. Many neck and back injuries, including whiplash and disc damage, do not cause pain until days or weeks after a crash. Seeing a doctor quickly creates a medical record that links your injury to the crash, which matters later if the insurance company questions what caused your pain.

Q: Can I still file a claim if my pain did not start until weeks after the crash?

A: Yes. A delayed onset of pain does not automatically prevent you from filing a claim. It does make documentation more important, since you will need medical records showing your symptoms connect to the crash rather than some other cause.

Q: Will my health insurance pay for treatment while my injury claim is pending?

A: Often yes, through your health plan or through med-pay coverage on your auto policy, and the plan or insurer can sometimes recover those payments from your settlement later. We can help you sort out which coverage may apply while your claim moves forward.

Q: Does admitting fault at the scene hurt my claim?

A: It can. Insurance adjusters sometimes use statements made right after a crash, even a casual apology, to argue you accepted blame. It is best to exchange information calmly and let the evidence, not a roadside comment, decide fault.

Q: Will my case go to trial, or does it usually settle?

A: Most back and neck injury claims settle with the insurance company before trial. Some cases still require a lawsuit to get a fair offer, and preparing for that possibility from the start can make a difference.

Q: What if the driver who hit me did not have insurance?

A: You may still have options through your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, if you carry it. These claims work differently than a standard injury claim, so it helps to have an attorney review your policy early.

Q: How much is a back or neck injury claim worth in California?

A: There is no set number. Value depends on your medical bills, lost income, how long you were out of work, and how the injury affects your daily life. An attorney can give you a clearer estimate once your treatment is far enough along to show the full impact.

Talk to a Torrance Back and Neck Injury Lawyer Today

A whiplash or spine injury does not have to mean a stack of medical bills with nowhere to turn. Our Torrance back and neck injury lawyers at Duque & Price work on contingency, so there is no upfront cost to find out what your claim is worth. Schedule a free consultation to go over what happened and what comes next.