DIAL '3' FOR ME
334-333-3333If you’ve suffered a back injury in a car accident, you may be worried about your ability to resume your normal activities. One study found a causal link between car accidents and chronic lower back pain in 63% of people suffering from the condition.
If you suffered a back injury in a car accident caused by another person’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation to cover emergency medical treatment, ongoing medical care, and current and future loss of income. The type and severity of the injury you sustained determine whether you will have a partial or total permanent disability.
Work with the back and spine injury lawyers at The Vance Law Firm Injury Lawyers to navigate the complex legal landscape of this type of injury case.
Car accidents can commonly cause back and spinal cord injuries including fractures, disc injuries, and soft tissue injuries. Some heal completely, while others cause chronic pain or loss of function for the rest of your life.
Spinal fractures can cause pressure on nerves or the spinal cord, causing intense pain, numbness, or loss of function. Surgeons can fix most fractured vertebrae, but the surgery may result in loss of mobility in the affected spinal region.
Some spinal cord injuries, like those caused by bruising or swelling, may resolve on their own. However, injuries that result in a severed spinal cord are always permanent. Recovery usually includes physical therapy that focuses on regaining communication and limb strength.
Herniated discs happen when the outer layer of the disk tears and the inner layer bulges out. This bulging puts pressure on the surrounding nerves or the spinal cord. Surgeons can sometimes fix a herniated disc, but you can still have lasting effects like chronic pain. The surgery may result in loss of mobility in the affected area of the spine.
Auto accidents often cause soft tissue injuries like sprains and strains around the spine. Whiplash is a common cause. The soft tissue gets stretched beyond its capacity and sometimes tears.
Some injuries can cause permanent disability, like complete spinal cord injuries. Others may require the testimony of expert witnesses to make an insurance company or a judge or jury understand how your injury affects your everyday life.
Your health care provider and rehabilitation team will help you determine if you can return to your pre-accident activities. Signs that you will have a permanent disability include:
You must have a medical diagnosis for your pain or loss of function to get a settlement. Your injury has to affect your ability to perform your normal pre-accident activities to be considered a permanent disability. Seeking medical care after an accident is essential for your overall well-being and helps establish and build your case.
Permanent disability is a lasting physical or mental condition that significantly limits your ability to perform daily activities or work. Medically, it’s a condition unlikely to improve over time. Legally, it’s a term used when doctors confirm the injury’s long-term impact on your quality of life and earning capacity.
Back and neck pain following a car crash requires immediate medical attention. Weakness, loss of sensation, and intense pain are signs of a medical emergency. You should remain still and call emergency medical services if they are not already on the way. If you have someone with you who is uninjured, have them take pictures of as much of the collision scene as possible.
If you have mild pain at the time of injury, you should still document the scene and get a medical evaluation. Adrenaline can mask some symptoms of injuries. You will need a referral to a specialist for a severe injury to determine the extent of the damage and your chances for a complete recovery.
Hire a personal injury attorney to pursue compensation for your injuries. Spine and back injury lawyers have access to expert witnesses and investigators to determine who is at fault for your accident. They also have experience negotiating with insurance companies on behalf of car crash victims.
The personal injury attorneys at The Vance Law Firm Injury Lawyers know how to calculate a fair settlement, including non-economic damages. They can also take your case to court if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement. They can protect your rights if you were injured in a car accident while on the job or if there are multiple parties involved in the accident.
The award-winning lawyers at The Vance Law Firm Injury Lawyers take the stress of fighting an insurance company out of your recovery process. We help you get the compensation you deserve to pay your medical expenses and deal with the emotional distress caused by the crash.
Contact a Montgomery back and spine injury lawyer today for a free, confidential case evaluation.
Originally published June 13, 2022.
