Back Pain After A Car Accident - What to Know & Do

Back pain caused by a car accident can occur for many different reasons. Common causes include some of the following injuries:

• Herniated Disc – This involves an injury to the soft, rubber-like discs or disks located in between the bones in the spine, which are called vertebrae. If these disks are injured, the interior of the disk can bulge out and press on nerves, causing serious back pain. This injury is sometimes also called a “slipped disc,” although that’s a misnomer because the disc itself cannot slip out of place.
• L5-S1 Disc Injury – A specific type of herniated disc injury, an L5-S1 Disk or disc injury involves an injury to the disk located in between the L5 vertebrae bone and the S1 vertebrae bone in the lower spine near the pelvis. An L5-S1 Disk injury can cause a lot of back pain due to pressure being placed on key nerve endings.
• Lumbar spine sprain – This type of painful back injury occurs when the ligaments (bands of tissue that hold bones together) are sprained or strained.
• Lumbar spine tear – A more serious type of lumbar spine injury, the ligaments in the spine are torn away from the bone, causing pain and discomfort.
• Spinal cord injury – Injuries to the spine can have life-changing consequences, including paralysis, depending on the severity and the location of the spinal cord injury.
• Lumbar Spondylolisthesis – Medical term for a lower back injury in which one of the spinal bones (vertebrae) slides forward over a bone in the lower back or lumbar section of the spine.

There are many other types of injuries caused by car crashes that result in serious or chronic back pain. This is why anyone who experiences back pain should see a doctor as soon as possible. That way, medical professionals can run the necessary tests (including X-Rays, MRIs, CT-Scans) to diagnose back pain and provide the necessary medical care.

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Back pain from rear-end accidents

While any car accident injury victim can experience back pain, people injured in rear-end crashes often suffer from pain in different parts of the back. What makes rear-end injuries so serious – and sometimes so frustrating – is some people (and insurance companies) don’t think that such injuries are real.

Often, serious back pain sustained in a rear-end crash is dismissed as something minor or not that serious. That way, insurance companies can deny injury claims submitted by back injury victims seeking compensation.

If you hurt your back in a rear-end crash, you know that your pain is real. This is why it’s always important to see a doctor right away, then talk to a rear-end accident lawyer who can demand the money you deserve for your injury-related expenses.

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Back pain symptoms can cover a wide range. If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention right away:

• Shooting pain in certain parts of your back
• Dull back pain that won’t go away
• Tingling sensation in your back
• Pain in other parts of your body, including your neck or arms
• Numbness in your back
• Muscle weakness in your back
• Delayed back pain that occurs several hours or days after your accident
• Back pain that occurs when you walk or perform other routine physical tasks

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How long can back pain last after a car accident?

Sometimes, back pain caused by a car accident lasts only a few days or weeks. But many times, serious injuries can cause chronic back pain that lasts months or sometimes even years.

And to make matters even more confusing, pain caused by a crash might not occur until several hours or days after an accident. This is known as delayed back pain and needs to be treated just as seriously as any other type of pain.

Chronic back pain can change your life. Over time, you might not be able to do many of the things you could before your accident. This is why it’s critical that injury victims take their pain seriously, especially if it lasts more than a few weeks. You should not have to live in pain. Get the medical care and support you deserve. See a doctor and talk to a lawyer right away.

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Can a car accident cause permanent back pain?

Sadly, yes. In some cases, serious back injuries can result in chronic back pain that lasts a lifetime. This is especially true in cases involving spinal cord injuries and other traumatic injuries involving the spine.

If you suffer from chronic pain due to an auto accident, it’s important that get the support you need and deserve. Your pain might not go away. But with the proper medical treatments, physical therapy and prescription medications, your back pain might not be as bad.

Don’t give up hope. Help is available. This is why you should consult with an experienced car accident lawyer licensed to practice law in your state. Your attorney can help you explore different legal options designed to provide you with the financial support and assistance you deserve after your accident.

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Yes. Don’t ignore your back pain. See a doctor as soon as possible. Don’t simply assume your pain will just go away on its own. It can get worse over time. It can also sometimes be a warning sign of a serious back injury. This is why car accident injury victims must see a doctor right away if they have any sort of back pain after their crash.

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Common car accident back pain treatments

There are many different ways doctors can treat back pain, including:

• Back surgery
• Physical therapy, especially for chronic back pain
• Massage therapy
• Prescription medications, especially for long-term back pain

Medical treatments can vary widely from one injury to another. The sooner you see a doctor, the sooner you can find a treatment plan that works for you.

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What helps with back pain from a car accident?

Along with medical treatments, some other steps to manage back pain include:

• Adjusting your chair or driver’s seat in the car
• Purchasing a special chair with more back support
• Applying heat or ice to your back
• Using a cane or a walker to walk
• Taking part in a regular exercise regimen prescribed by your doctor

Don’t make any sudden changes without first consulting with your doctor. If you take such steps on your own, you could aggravate your back injury.

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There’s no set dollar amount when it comes to back injuries or back pain. Similar injuries might be worth significantly more than others and result in payouts of several hundred or thousands of dollars. The bottom line is injury victims should be financially compensated for all their injury-related expenses in most cases. Such expenses may include:

• Medical care, immediately after the accident and future anticipated medical expenses.
• Repairing or replacing a damaged vehicle
• Replacement income while injury victims are recovering from their accident and cannot work.
• Lost future income if someone’s back injury is severe enough and they cannot work in the future.
• Pain and suffering in certain circumstances depending on the state’s rules regarding such compensation.

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Sometimes, the best way to get the money you deserve for your car accident expenses is to file a lawsuit seeking damages, the legal term for financial compensation. Taking legal action can be a difficult decision and complex process.

Fortunately, you don’t have to file a lawsuit on your own. If you have serious back pain due to a car crash caused by another driver, an attorney licensed in your state can help you file a lawsuit and represent you in court.

The Law.com Premier Attorneys listed on this website have years of experience handling car accident lawsuits seeking compensation for back pain. When you have one of these lawyers handling your lawsuit, you can be assured that your legal case will get the attention it rightfully deserves, right from the start.

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Filing a claim for car accident back pain

Depending on the state you’re in, the severity of your injury, and the applicable coverage, you may need to file a claim with your own insurance company, the at-fault driver’s insurance company, or both. Unfortunately, filing a claim can many times turn into a complicated legal matter, especially if the at-fault driver’s insurance company disputes your claim or insists that you somehow caused the collision.

This is why it’s important to talk to a lawyer right away if have serious back pain due to your car accident. Your attorney can explain the legal options available to you and which ones make the most sense depending on your particular situation.

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