Back injuries are an all-too-common result of car crashes. These injuries can be quite serious and require extensive treatment. In most cases, a full recovery is not possible. Many car crash victims are left with costly medical bills, lost income from missing work, ongoing physical pain and emotional distress.
If you have suffered a back injury in a car crash, you may be able to seek compensation from the at-fault party to cover your treatment and other related expenses. However, linking a back injury to a car crash can be difficult as some symptoms may not manifest right away. The at-fault party’s insurance company may argue that your injury is not as serious as you say it is. They want to use this as a reason to deny or underpay your claim.
Our licensed vehicle accident attorneys in Appleton know what it takes to validate a car crash claim for back-related injuries. Learn how we may be able to help you during a free initial consultation. It costs nothing up front to use our services. Our firm only receives payment if you are compensated.
Call (920) 260-4528 for Trusted Legal Help.
Types of Back Injuries Caused by Car Crashes
The back is comprised of bones, muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Any injury to the back can result in severe and debilitating pain, restricted mobility, and ongoing medical problems.
Back injuries can happen in many different car crashes, particularly high-impact collisions. The types of back injuries often caused by car crashes include, but are not limited to:
- Back strains – A strain is an injury to the muscles or tendons. With a back sprain, the muscles and tendons that support the back can be twisted, pulled or torn in a car crash.
- Back sprains – A sprain is the stretching or tearing of the ligament. Ligaments are fibrous bands of tissue that connect bones to joints or connect bones to other bones.
- Herniated discs – Sometimes car accident victims experience herniated discs. Discs are the cushions that separate the vertebrae and help protect the spine. When a disc becomes displaced it can result in significant pain, weakness and numbness in the affected area.
- Compression fractures – The impact of a car crash can cause the vertebrae in the spine to fracture. Compression fractures form when enough pressure or stress on the spine causes small cracks or breaks in the bone. This can often result in permanent and irreversible damage.
- Lumbar or thoracic vertebrae fractures – The lumbar vertebrae are the bones in the lower back while the thoracic vertebrae are bones in the middle part of the back. The bones in these regions are prone to rotation fractures in a crash, particularly rear-end and head-on collisions.
Back Injury Symptoms That Should Not Be Ignored
If you are experiencing any back pain or discomfort after a car crash, it is important to take these symptoms seriously. While some car crash victims may have severe back pain or restricted mobility right after a car crash, other victims may not develop symptoms until several hours, days or weeks later.
Back injuries generally cause one or more of these symptoms:
- Pain, often radiating down the legs
- Weakness
- Stiffness
- Loss of normal movement
- Muscle spasms
- Numbness or tingling
- Difficulty standing or walking
Even mild back pain should not be ignored or dismissed, thinking that it will resolve on its own. The pain may get worse if left untreated, potentially causing chronic pain and limitations in mobility.
Being Proactive and Seeking Medical Care Early
Following a car crash, it is in your best interest to seek prompt medical care in order to have your back injury properly diagnosed. A full medical exam will allow the doctor to identify the extent of your injury and start treatment. It could also help ensure that an untreated back injury does not lead to disability.
Your treating doctor will start by first asking you about the car crash and how it happened. Be sure to be honest and clear about where you are feeling pain in your back and when symptoms started.
The doctor will perform a thorough physical exam to check for pain, tenderness and swelling, as well as muscle strength and range of motion. A CT scan, MRI and/or X-rays are all diagnostic tools that will allow your treating doctor to see if you have internal swelling or bleeding, fractures or a ruptured disc.
Depending on the type of back injury, your treating doctor may also refer you to a specialist who is well-versed in the treatment of spine, joint and musculoskeletal conditions for further examination.
Your medical record can help directly connect your back injury to the car crash, making it hard for the insurance company to dispute your injury and argue against not paying you compensation.
Many Back Injuries Require Multiple Treatments
Treating back injuries properly is necessary to mitigate pain and make the best possible recovery. Receiving treatment for a back injury is also important if you are looking to file a car crash claim.
Back injuries often require many treatment services and longer recovery times. These treatments may involve surgeries, physical therapy, chiropractic care and prescription medications.
Not following your doctor’s orders or delaying or stopping treatment altogether could affect your overall well-being and your potential claim for compensation. The at-fault party’s insurance company will be looking for anything during your treatment and recovery to use against you.
Learn More About Compensation for a Back Injury
Do not wait to seek medical care for a back injury after a car crash. Sigman Janssen offers a risk-free, zero-obligation consultation to learn more about your rights and available legal options. You may be eligible to pursue significant compensation. To date, we have recovered millions on our clients’ behalf.
There is no obligation after this initial meeting to hire our firm, but if you do, we charge zero upfront fees. We only get paid if you get paid. Our intake staff is ready to take your call anytime, day or night.
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