Back Injuries from Car Accidents: All you need to know

Monday, January 2, 2023

Back Injuries from Car Accidents: All you need to know

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

People often feel sore in one or more body parts following a collision. Nevertheless, back discomfort after a car accident is expected. Even though some back injuries settle themselves with rest, others cause lasting pain or cause an inability to perform daily movements without discomfort. Back injury victims should discuss their injuries with a personal injury lawyer.

If left untreated, a back injury from a car accident can lead to chronic discomfort requiring orthopedic surgery or therapy. Back and neck injuries from car accidents may often occur simultaneously with shoulder injuries. They may also cause head, neck, and spinal injuries.

Back Injury Symptoms After a Car Crash

After a car accident, it’s ordinary to feel sore everywhere, making it challenging to resolve if your issue is back-related. After an accident, understanding what to expect can help you choose what to do next.

Back pain can radiate to many areas because your spine includes your neck and traverses down your back. Back discomfort after a car accident may originate from inflammation, fractures, or squeezed nerves.

After a car accident, you may experience:

• Muscle spasms: Your muscle may constantly twitch, feel like a stiff knot, and feel delicate outside your body. Muscle spasms can differ in discomfort levels from temperate to debilitating.
• Burning pain: A burning discomfort may proceed down your back and buttocks via the back of one or both legs. It can be a gentle pain that goes away fast or a burning discomfort that endures for days.
• Stiffness: You might not feel as loose after a car crash as your muscles tighten up to shield your body. This immobility may decrease after soft stretching or persist throughout the day.
• Sharp pain: Switching positions, such as getting up in the morning or standing up after sitting for a time, can cause sharp discomfort in your back.
• Pain when walking or standing: In some circumstances, any physical activity is painful, and you may sense a throbbing feeling or mild discomfort when trying to complete daily chores.
• Numbness or tingling: Because your spinal cord attaches to your extremities, tight muscles may squeeze nerves, leading to feelings of tingling or numbness in your feet, arms, hands, or legs.

Is Someone Else Liable for Your Back Injury?

If your car accident and resulting back injury happened because someone else was negligent, they should be liable for your losses. Negligence that might lead to a crash includes:

• Distracted driving
• Aggressive driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Speeding
• Running red lights
• Failing to yield
• Drowsy driving or falling asleep
• Violations of other traffic rules

Sometimes, more than one party can be liable for your injuries based on complex principles of legal liability. Always have a car accident lawyer determine if someone else should be responsible.

What to Do if You Suspect a Back Injury

Some people shrug off a back injury as simply part of life. After all, you probably know many people who live with back pain. However, if a car accident caused your injury, you should never ignore the issue. Take certain steps to preserve your potential right to compensation from a negligent driver.

Medical Treatment

Sometimes, you might know something is very wrong with your back immediately after a crash. Other times, you might feel sore or stiff, but you might not be sure if you have an injury. In either situation, always seek medical care as soon as possible after the crash happens.

Getting medical treatment right away is critical for two reasons: your physical health and your legal rights. First, the sooner you see a medical professional, the sooner you can get a complete diagnosis of your back injury. The doctor can recommend a treatment plan or that you see an orthopedic specialist for additional treatment. Often, immediate medical care can improve your overall prognosis and prevent complications.

Medical treatment for back injuries can involve:

1. Imaging tests
2. Physical therapy
3. Spinal manipulation
4. Pain management
5. Surgery
6. Rest from usual activities

Further, getting immediate medical attention can only help your injury claim. If you get a diagnosis right after your crash, there should be little doubt about how your back injury occurred. If you wait to get a diagnosis, it can create questions about the cause of your injuries. For example, an insurance company might allege that you injured your back doing something else due to the gap in time, and they might try to avoid liability for your injuries.

Seek Legal Help

Once your medical treatment is underway and you have a good idea of what your injury entails, you should never delay in seeking legal assistance. Have a car accident attorney evaluate what happened in your crash and advise you whether you have the right to seek compensation.

Consultations are always free with our back injury lawyers, and we will be honest about your legal options. We routinely seek compensation for clients with back injuries, and we understand the seriousness of this often underestimated injury.

A personal injury lawyer can:

• Assess your rights
• Calculate your losses
• Identify liable parties
• Gather evidence to prove your claim

We handle the entire claim process, including all communications and negotiations with insurance companies. You can focus on your medical treatment while we protect your rights.

What Kind of Evidence is Used in a Back Injury Case?

Back injury lawsuits after car accidents are commonly based on a negligence theory. In such circumstances, you need to establish that the defendant owed you a duty of care and that their breach of that duty caused your back injuries. You might present evidence such as hospital bills, police crash records, and pay stubs.

What Kinds of Remedies Are Available in a Back Injury Lawsuit?

Back injuries after car accidents are normally remedied in court through a monetary damages award. If you have suffered a back injury after a car accident, your personal injury lawyer may be able to help you recover the following costs:

• Medical expenses, including hospital bills and costs of pain prescriptions
• Pain and suffering
• Lost earnings if the back injury results in an inability to work
• Future loss of income if the back injury reduces your ability to earn wages in the future.

Some back injuries need ongoing treatment, such as physical therapy or chiropractic therapy. The injured party may be able to recover these expenses.

In some criminal cases, punitive damages may be available if the back injuries were caused with a criminal intention to hurt the victim.

Do I Need a Lawyer for Help With My Back Injury Claim?

Back injury lawsuits resulting from car accidents can be complicated, and contacting an experienced can accident attorney is extremely crucial to recover the damages you deserve. An experienced lawyer from Malman Law can also help get a settlement with the defendant if the claim does not reach court.