Suffering a back injury after an accident that was not your fault can feel overwhelming. You are hurting physically while facing months, even years, of medical expenses for treatment of your back injury, and you may even be unable to work and make a living. Almost 40 percent of all back injuries arise during an auto accident of some type. When left untreated, a back injury can lead to an inhibited range of motion, chronic pain, and even paralysis in extreme situations.
While milder back injuries like whiplash will resolve with rest and medication, this is not always the case. For some, delayed symptoms of a back injury after a car accident can appear days or even weeks later. This is in response to inflamed tissues, as well as the fact that the adrenaline that floods a person’s body during a car accident often masks symptoms of serious injury.
There are many factors involved in a car accident that result in back injury. Speaking to a knowledgeable St. Louis back injury attorney from Finney Injury Law is always a good idea to ensure you receive a fair settlement for your damages. Choosing the right St. Louis back injury attorney after your St. Louis motor vehicle accident is second in importance only to obtaining the best medical treatment for your injuries.
Overview of Finney Injury Law
When you choose Finney Injury Law, you will benefit from the knowledge, skills, and experience of attorneys Chris Finney and Alex Ledbetter. Aggressively negotiating with insurance companies to ensure you receive a settlement that fully covers all your damages is our job. When an insurance company refuses to pay an equitable settlement, we never hesitate to step into a courtroom and persuasively present your case.
Finney Injury Law offers zealous, highly skilled St. Louis motor vehicle accident representation. We prepare every case as though it will go to trial, which means we are never caught unaware or unprepared. We will accurately assess your back injury damages and then use every tool in our arsenal to ensure a positive outcome.
How Can a Car Accident Cause a Back Injury?
When your car is struck by another car, the damage to your body will depend on the other car’s speed, your speed, and the precise angle of the collision. Other factors that can contribute to your injuries include a prior injury, your age, your physical condition, your gender, and even your height and weight. If you are hit from behind, your neck will snap forward suddenly, then snap backward with force. This often leads to whiplash.
An automobile crash may affect the lower back, the neck, and/or the upper back. Each of these areas consists of muscles, tendons, bones, ligaments, nerves, and tissues. The most common back injuries are those to the lower back in the lumbar spine area. The five vertebrae in this area have soft discs with a rugged outer ring between each vertebra. Thoracic (upper back) injuries are less common but more serious since the upper back connects to the chest and rib region. Damage to one or more of the 12 vertebrae in the upper back can cause nerve damage, affect breathing, or lead to chronic pain. Some of the potential back injuries resulting from a car accident include:
- Thoracic or lumbar vertebrae breaks, cracks, or fractures are often the result of a back injury. The most common terms for these back injuries include a flexion fracture, a burst fracture, a compression fracture, or a fracture-dislocation.
- Back sprains and strains resulting from damage to the soft tissue, when it is over-stretched, can cause pain that often lingers for a long time. A strain relates to back tendons, which connect muscles to bones. Sprains refer to the ligaments that connect bones to bones or joints to bones. Sprains and strains both cause pain, from minor to severe.
- Herniated discs occur when the inner part of the spinal disc pushes through the harder outer ring. A doctor may also describe this injury as a ruptured disc, a bulging disc, or a slipped disc. The protruding portion of the disc rubs against nerves, resulting in pain, burning, or weakness that can extend throughout the body.
- Spondylolisthesis occurs when a vertebra is displaced by a stress fracture, compressing the spinal canal or nerves. The level of displacement will have a direct effect on the level of pain. It can be difficult to walk when the vertebra is displaced.
- Facet joints are the joints between the spinal bones that allow you to bend and twist in different directions. Facet joint injuries can cause extreme tenderness on the outside of the back or radiating pain, from minor to severe.
- When a spinal disc is damaged in an auto accident, the pain is often sharp and shooting, radiating to the groin, one or both legs, the feet, or the buttocks. Disc damage can make sitting, standing, or lying down uncomfortable or painful.
- Whiplash is the most common back injury associated with motor vehicle accidents, and while many people assume it is not a serious injury, this is not true. For some people, a severe case of whiplash can result in severe pain for months, years, or a lifetime.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Back Injury to Watch for After an Accident?
Following a back injury from an auto accident, the pain can radiate to many other areas. You may experience:
- Muscle spasms, which can be extremely painful as the muscle repeatedly twitches or feels like a hard knot in your back.
- A searing, burning pain that moves down the back into the buttocks and through one or both legs. The pain may be a constant mild ache or a severe pain that lasts much longer.
- Stiffness is often a result of a car accident as your muscles tense up to protect your body.
- Sharp pain when you wake and sit up, or when you stand up after sitting for a while, can result after a car accident.
- Mild to severe pain and discomfort when you walk or stand can make it difficult to perform daily tasks.
- Tingling or numbness often accompanies a back injury as tense muscles pinch nerves in the body.
- Headaches, dizziness, or disorientation can occur following whiplash.
What Should You Do if You Have a Back Injury After an Accident?
It is extremely important to seek medical attention following your car accident, even if you do not believe you have serious injuries. You may think you are just sore from the accident, then something as simple as holding your young child or carrying laundry up the stairs can exacerbate the problem, resulting in further damage and a longer recovery time.
Your doctor may order an MRI or x-ray to check for disc degeneration or damage. You may need to wear a back brace, engage in physical therapy, take anti-inflammatory medications, or rest for several days. Severe back injuries may require corticosteroid injections, long-term pain management techniques, or even spinal surgery.
Hiring a St. Louis Back Injury Attorney Near You
When you are injured, in pain, and perhaps unable to work, the last thing you want to do is spend time arguing with an insurance company as you try to convince them to pay what your damages are actually worth. When you have an experienced St. Louis back injury attorney from Finney Injury Law on your side, you can focus on healing from your injuries, while we work on your behalf to secure a full and fair settlement. We have negotiated and litigated many back injury cases and secured many substantial settlements. Do not try to handle this on your own – let Finney Injury Law advocate on your behalf.
How Finney Injury Law Can Help You with a Back Injury After an Accident
When you choose Finney Injury Law you can expect every benefit associated with a large law firm, along with highly individualized attention normally only seen in small law firms. You will see and feel the care we have for each of our clients as we work tirelessly for a settlement amount that will allow you to pay all your medical bills (now and in the future), pay you for current and future lost wages, and compensate you for your pain and suffering. We can even help you find the medical treatment you need to deal with your back injury after an accident. Contact Finney Injury Law today to speak to a knowledgeable back injury attorney.