If you’ve experienced back injuries caused by a car accident, contact one of the experienced Las Vegas auto accident attorneys at Christian Morris Trial Attorneys today.
Costly medical treatments can be required as a result of back injuries caused by a car accident, which can lead to long-lasting suffering and pain. Here we will discuss the different types of back injuries that can occur as a result of vehicle crashes.
1. Whiplash
Whiplash is one of the more common types of injuries associated with car accidents, particularly rear-end accidents. When you are hit from behind, your head and neck will be pushed forward abruptly, yet your body will remain still, causing your neck and head to stop suddenly.
Whiplash can cause damage to the muscles, tissues, and ligaments in your neck area. You may not notice the injury right away because the symptoms of whiplash can take a few days to manifest. The typical symptoms include stiffness and pain in your neck region, blurred vision, fatigue, and dizziness. It is possible that the injuries could be severe or mild, and may also require some type of physical therapy in order to heal.
2. Spinal Fractures
Spinal fractures can occur when seatbelts do not hold your body in place in the way that they are designed to. The body can remain still, specifically the lower half, yet your head and torso can be jostled around, leading to spinal fractures.
A compression fracture is one of the more common back injuries caused by a car accident. This type of fracture is simply a fissure or crack that occurs on one or more of your vertebrae. The pain that you experience can manifest as a symptom of a compression fracture. You may also notice that your breathing will increase when you walk or sit down. You may develop muscle weakness, numbness, and bladder issues, all of which are the result of a compression fracture.
Spinal fractures must be treated differently depending on their severity. If you can immobilize yourself, it will be easier to heal on its own. However, some spinal injuries may end up requiring surgery.
3. Herniated Discs
There are discs that are in between the vertebrae within your spine that can be subjected to substantial forces in a car accident. If the discs shift, this can cause numbness, pain, and the compression of your nerves. Herniated disc injuries like this are very common. You may have heard terms such as slipped disc, ruptured disc, or bulging disc, these are all examples of herniated discs.
Conservative treatments can be used to help resolve these injuries, which are completely noninvasive. Your physician may decide to recommend physical therapy and focus on pain relief. If surgery is recommended, it is typically done so because of the severity of the herniation and its impact on other structures within the body.
4. Spondylolisthesis
Stress fractures literally move vertebrae from their normal position, causing spondylolisthesis. When this occurs, compression of the nerves will happen, and it may also affect your spinal canal. You may experience difficulty in walking, perennial weakness, severe pain, and even numbness.
Spondylolisthesis can be treated, but it does depend on the location where the vertebrae were displaced and how severe the displacement was. You may have to go through some type of surgery, or your doctor may simply recommend physical therapy.
5. Spinal Stenosis
Although spinal stenosis will not always be the result of having a car accident, if you have a collision, you may develop asymptomatic spinal stenosis and start to experience certain symptoms.
As you age, your spinal canal will begin to narrow. Spinal stenosis from a car accident can cause you to experience premature vertebral height degeneration. Visiting a spinal specialist can help you understand if your car accident led to the symptoms that you are experiencing with spinal stenosis, especially if it has caused them to accelerate, and will then recommend specific treatment options.
6. Spinal Cord Injuries
Damage to your spinal cord can occur even if you are driving at a low speed when you are in a car accident because it can become bruised due to the impact. Your spinal cord can also be severed or lacerated, causing permanent paralysis.
Obtaining Compensation For Back Injuries Caused By A Car Accident
Your daily activities and even your work can be disrupted because of back injuries due to the severe pain that you are experiencing, often requiring extensive medical care. This will impact your finances, as well as your quality of life, which is why these injuries should be avoided.
You can get compensation as you recover if you file insurance claims, or if you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you decide to consult with a personal injury lawyer, they can help you determine how your situation looks and what the best course of action will be. After reviewing your case and gathering additional evidence regarding your claim, they can potentially help you get some form of compensation.
