Most victims who suffer from back pain injuries after a car crash and delay getting prompt medical attention are exposed to a significant risk of disability.
Whether you were involved in a minor or major car accident, chances of suffering from back pain are high.
If you have back pains after your car collision, you should seek medical attention to stop your problem from escalating.
By understanding the nature and extent of your back pain injuries, you are able to navigate the process of recovery and filing your compensation claim.
Common Back Injuries After A Car Accident
Motor vehicle collision is a leading issue known to cause back pains. Thus, knowing the red flags to watch for, related your back pain injuries would be beneficial, both to your health and securing fair compensation.
If you have suffered from back injuries, you’re likely to miss work for several months, depending on how severe you were injured.
Fortunately, you can decide to work with a Bakersfield car accident attorney; and stand a better chance to have a favorable financial recovery to cater for car accident expenses. Whether you will negotiate your settlement or go to court, you need to understand the type of back injury you may be suffering from, as this will also form a part of the evidence to be used to claim for compensation. Some of the common back injuries after a car crash include:
- Spinal cord injuries: This is the leading back pain injury. If your spine was injured after the accident, you may have extreme pain in your back. Worse, this may lead to other serious medical conditions such as fluid leaks or infections. Also, you may be disabled for the rest of your life.
- Lumbar spine injuries: Lumbar spine is what provides stability to your back. Once injured, stretching your back becomes so painful, and this may limit your movement.
- Thoracic spine injuries: This is the spine connecting the ribs and the chest. Such injuries are caused by minor or major trauma leading to the bone in spine collapsing. The injury may result in permanent nerve damage.
- Sciatica: Sciatica occurs after the sciatic nerve suffers injuries that only affect one side of your body. This nerve branches from the lower back through the hips down to your legs. Meaning, severe injuries may cause decreased mobility of disability.
- Herniated discs: If the force was too much, your disc might have been displaced, leading to severe pain of the lower back.
What If You Suffered From Back Injuries?
If you discovered immediate back pain following your car crash, it is more likely you suffered from any of the above back injuries. The best thing would be to seek prompt medical help and have an experienced doctor determine the extent of your back injuries.
In some instances, back injuries may take time before they appear. Meaning, you may not have any signs of back injures until sometime later. In such a case, your car accident lawyer can guide you on securing your medical evidence and getting a favorable outcome after treatment.
Depending on your injuries, you can receive temporary treatment, or your medical care may be extended for some time. Again, your back pain injuries will require extensive care. Remember that you will also miss work and hence may have lost wages. This calls to a favorable compensation.
Your Need For Compensation
Not only will you need money to cater for your medical expenses, but you will also be undergoing pain and suffering due to your injuries.
To get your settlement, the at-fault driver’s insurance company may have you sign a release. You should not sign any form without having ascertained that your back injuries have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). Signing your release means that even if you discover your back injuries later or develop other back-related complications, you waive your legal right to get more compensation for your claim.
If you are in a situation where your back injuries have caused you financial losses, such as medical expenses, lost wages, or any other economic loss, it would be prudent to seek an experienced car accident lawyer to advise you on the best legal actions.
Your lawyer will also assist you in learning how to determine liability. That way, you will prove that another party was negligent enough to cause your back injuries.
The evidence obtained remarkably helps to establish causation to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Damages to receive include:
- Ongoing medical cost and future medical expenses
- Missed wages
- Loss of consortium
- Future loss of earning capacity
To prove the above, you will need medical records, pay stubs from your employer, witness testimony, police-report, or any other information deemed fit to show the injuries and losses incurred.
Your lawyer will help you understand what your claim may be worth depending on the unique circumstances of your case.