Back injuries suffered in a car accident can not only interrupt life in the moment, but carry the risk of symptoms which will affect you for the rest of your life.
One of the most common types of injuries sustained as a result of a car accident is a back injury. Your back is generally divided into three sections known as the cervical (upper and neck area), thoracic (mid), and lumbar (lower). Even a relatively minor car accident can cause issues with any or all of these three areas, although the most common injuries occur to the lumbar and cervical areas.
Injuries to the cervical spine typically occur from the “whiplash” effect that are the result of the forces one experiences in a car accident. Typically, the injured individual’s head will be suddenly jerked forward, then snapped back toward the headrest. Proper height adjustment of your car’s headrest can help to minimize the result of any collision or even prevent these common types of back injuries suffered in a car accident.
Injuries to the lumbar spine such as disc herniations and lumbar strain/sprain can also occur. You can help to reduce the risk of these types of injuries with proper use of a safety belt.
More serious injuries may result in paralysis, or require surgical options such as epidural injections and fusion surgeries. Epidural injections are minor procedures that inject different materials into the spine to either provide pain relief, or possibly to relieve spinal stenosis issues. Spinal fusion is a major operation that fuses two spinal discs to create more stability. For spinal disc herniation, lumbar decompression surgery may be considered as an option to help alleviate nerve pai and/or sciatica.
It is not uncommon for a back injury to take days, weeks or even months to present symptoms. With all of the potential types of impacts and forces that can cause back injuries suffered in a car accident, the most important thing following any collision is to seek proper and thorough medical evaluation and treatment within 24 to 48 hours. If you don’t see a physician after the accident the insurance company will attempt to deny your otherwise valid personal injury claim.
Back injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents require an experienced and proven personal attorney. John Schmidt has more than 25 years of experience in these cases. The Law Offices of John Schmidt & Associates PLLC is based in Shepherdsville, and serves Mount Washington, Shelbyville, Taylorsville, Radcliff, Elizabethtown, Jeffersontown and all areas in and around Louisville, Kentucky.
If you or someone you love is facing back injuries suffered in a car accident or has been injured as a driver or passenger in a motor vehicle collision We invite you to contact us via e-mail, schedule an appointment or call us today at (502) 509-1490 to get the answers you need and full, fair compensation for having to endure the pain and expense of your injuries and recovery.
