Common Types of Back Pain Caused by Car Accidents

Back pain represents one of the most common examples of injuries suffered by those who have been involved in car accidents. The prevalence of back injuries and back accidents after car accidents is likely due to the fact that back injuries can occur even in a minor, low-speed car crash. However, back pain can be a debilitating injury to suffer, which means that it can be difficult to recover the compensation you need and deserve for a back injury if you were involved in a minor car accident. Insurance companies are often quick to dismiss claims of serious back injuries after car crashes that they consider to be minor fender-benders, so it often helps to have experienced legal representation in your corner.

Common Back Injuries from Car Accidents

As your back is where your spinal cord and the nerve bundles leading out of the spinal cord are located, a back injury often involves nerve damage. In addition, other tissues such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments can be physically damaged in a car accident. Some of the most common types of back injuries suffered in car accidents include:

• Herniated discs – Spinal discs are spongy tissue located in between vertebrae, serving as shock absorbers for your spine. When a spinal disc becomes herniated, the softer spongy tissue can press out from the harder casing of the disc. If the spinal disc tissue presses on nerves, it can cause chronic pain, numbness, and weakness. Herniated discs are normally treated with physical therapy, or in more serious cases, by surgery.
• Thoracic spinal injury – The thoracic spine is the part of the spine running from the bottom of the neck to the bottom of the rib cage. Thoracic spinal injuries most frequently occur in serious car crashes, and leads to symptoms such as acute and/or radiating pain, stiffness, or numbness or tingling sensations
• Lumbar spinal injury – The lumbar spine sits below the thoracic region, running down to the tailbone area. This injury can result in bruising and swelling to start, followed by long-term pain, weakness, and limited mobility in the lower torso.
• Spinal cord injury – Spinal cord injuries represent one of the most serious types of back injury, as a SCI usually results in some form of paralysis. A more minor injury may only lead to numbness or weakness that will resolve over time. However, more severe injuries will result in permanent disability
• Whiplash – Whiplash affects the neck and upper back, caused by the head and neck violently whippin back and forth in a car collision such as a rear-end accident. A whiplash injury may last anywhere from a few days to as long as several years, causing symptoms such as pain, stiffness, fatigue, dizziness, and blurred vision.

What Steps Should You Take If You Suffered a Back Injury in a Car Accident?

If you sustained a back injury in a car crash, steps you should take include:

• Remember to document the accident scene using your smartphone to take photos and video
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible to determine the extent of your injury
• Follow treatment instructions and recommendations you are given
• Speak to a car accident attorney to discuss your legal rights and options for recovering compensation for your injury

Contact a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Car Accident Case in Florida

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a car accident in Florida? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Lawlor, White & Murphey represent clients injured because of car accidents in Coconut Creek, Plantation, Pompano Beach, and Pembroke Pines, and throughout Florida. Call (954) 525-2345 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 2211 Davie Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, as well as offices in Pembroke Pines, Weston, Coconut Creek, Plantation, and Pompano Beach.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly