A car accident can happen in an instant. Although these crashes happen quickly, recovery is not always quick and easy. Car accidents can result in a variety of injuries, including back injuries.
Even minor collisions can cause back injuries because the back tends to absorb most of the impact in an accident.
If you have a back injury, seek medical attention promptly. These injuries are difficult to treat and sometimes lead to secondary medical problems such as low blood pressure, osteoporosis, pressure sores, sleep apnea, bowel problems, urinary tract infections, sexual dysfunction, and more.
Common Back Injuries
Car accidents can result in the following types of back injuries:
- Herniated disc. If the disc is displaced by the impact of the collision, the disc may herniate, causing numbness and nerve pain.
- Spinal cord injury. A damaged or severed spinal cord can cause some degree of paralysis. Depending on where you are injured, you may be paralyzed from the neck down or from the waist down. Paralysis can be temporary or permanent.
- The vertebrae of the spine may fracture. These injuries range from minor to severe. Sometimes they are curable; in other cases, they cause paralysis or death.
- When a vertebra slips into the vertebra below, this is called spondylolisthesis and can cause low back pain. In severe cases, surgery may be required.
- Injury to the thoracic spine. The thoracic spine is located in your mid back and connects to your chest and rib cage. Sprains and fractures are common in this area and can cause severe back pain. Lumbar injury. The lumbar spine is located in your lower back. Strains or broken bones can cause severe back pain, limited mobility, weakness and paralysis.
Factors Affecting Severity of Back Injuries
Any type of car accident can lead to back injuries. However, some things can make them more likely, such as:
- speed involved. The higher the speed, the greater the force generated. This makes serious injuries more likely to occur.
- crash direction. The direction is different. Rear-end accidents are more likely to cause back injuries than other types of accidents.
- Whether to wear a seat belt. Seat belts help reduce the occurrence of back injuries by keeping you in place. When you’re not wearing them, your back is more likely to move around from impact.
Back injuries are common after accidents. If you have been affected, please seek legal help immediately so that you can obtain the compensation you deserve.
Draper Law Firm understands the severity of back injuries. These injuries can be long lasting and expensive to treat. Schedule a consultation by filling out the online form or calling their office at (407) 846.0075.
