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Have you been in a recent or even semi-recent car accident? Complications stemming from car accidents are common and range from neck injuries to headaches to back pain. Back injuries are among the most common lasting personal injuries sustained in car accident cases. In fact, car accidents account for a massive 39% of all spinal cord injuries, meaning if you have found yourself suffering from severe pain or limited range of motion after a crash, you are not alone. This is a common experience, and if you pursue a personal injury lawsuit with the help of a car accident lawyer, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, disability, and emotional distress.

Common Back Injuries From Car Accidents

Many different types of back injuries are common in car accident cases due to the intense strain and trauma endured in a collision. Most of these back injuries result from whiplash caused by the body suddenly accelerating and coming to a stop, even within the confines of a seatbelt. Rear-end collisions, in particular, often lead to these types of injuries.

Injuries can occur in soft tissues such as muscles or tendons or in the bones themselves, which may be fractured or broken. Severity can vary greatly depending on the position of the crash victim and the speed and orientation of the crash. Common types of car accident-related back injuries are listed below.

1. Lumbar or Thoracic Vertebrae Injuries

Spinal fractures in the lumbar spine and thoracic spine (the middle back and lower back) describe instances when any of the vertebrae break, crack, or become damaged in any manner. These injuries can result in severe pain, nerve damage, and long-term mobility issues. There are many different types of spinal injuries, including:

• Burst fractures, which occur when multiple parts of the vertebrae are crushed
• Flexion fractures, which occur when a vertebra breaks due to being overly flexed or strained
• Compression fractures, which occur when cracks appear due to too much pressure
• Dislocations
• Herniations
• Strains/sprains of supporting musculature

With most everyday movements, it is actually quite difficult to damage this part of the human body (the spine or vertebrae). Bones are made to act as a supporting structure for the body and are quite resilient. However, in the intense forces exerted on the body in a car accident, spinal cord damage and other bone-related back injuries are more common.

Treatment plans for this type of spine injury in the thoracic or lumbar region may involve surgery, installation of various prosthetics, casting to allow healing to occur properly, or even medically mandated breakage in the case of improperly healed bones. In severe injuries, treatment may also require physical therapy and chiropractic care to help restore range of motion and reduce pain.

2. Discogenic Pain

Damage can occur to the spinal discs, which is referred to as discogenic pain. The pain can often be distinguished by shooting sensations and sharp pain. Pain originating in the discs can often radiate due to pinched nerves that send sensations around the body, so pain, numbness, or tingling can be felt in areas like the extremities or buttocks. Pain can be modulated on a positional basis and may worsen or improve depending on sitting, standing, lying down, or specific movements.

Disc damage often develops over time, typically following an initial injury that forces the discs to bear weight and strain improperly. However, the intense force and sudden stopping caused by car accidents can result in immediate disc damage.

Treatment for disc-related injuries can vary. Severe cases may require surgery to replace or repair damaged discs, while milder cases can sometimes be managed with corticosteroid injections, anti-inflammatory medications, or chiropractic care. Diagnostic tools such as x-rays and CT scans are often used to assess the severity of the damage and guide treatment plans.

3. Back Sprains and Strains

Sprains and strains refer to damage sustained in the back in areas other than the bones. These injuries are considered soft tissue damage and can cause significant pain and impairment, even though they may not appear on imaging like x-rays or CT scans.

Soft tissue injuries occur when ligaments, tendons, or muscles stretch too much, either suddenly or gradually. However, these injuries are far more common when the causal movement is too sudden, as seen in rear-end collisions and other high-impact crashes.

Among all types of back injuries, soft tissue injuries are the most common because bones are relatively resilient. However, damage to cartilage and tendons may require surgical intervention, while most muscle-related injuries can be treated with physical therapy, chiropractic care, and pain management techniques.

4. Facet Joint Injuries

Your facet joints sit between your various spine bones, and nerve roots run through them into places around the body. Damaged facet joints can cause intense pain because of the nerve damage that can occur in this area. These joints allow you to make certain movements without triggering severe pain or spinal instability, such as bending and twisting. If your facet joints are damaged, you may experience muscle spasms, tenderness, or a reduced range of motion in your back.

Facet joint injuries can sometimes be mistaken for other spinal injuries, making it crucial to gather evidence through proper medical evaluations, including x-rays and CT scans, to diagnose the injury correctly.

5. Degenerative Spine Disorders

Back injuries can cause or exacerbate long-term issues such as degenerative spine disorders. There are many types of degenerative spine disorders, and it is not uncommon for car accident victims to discover an issue after being in an accident. A car accident lawyer may help establish whether a preexisting condition was aggravated by the crash, ensuring that you receive compensation for medical expenses and ongoing healthcare needs.

Car accidents can lead to the discovery of arthritis, sciatica, herniated discs, and other degenerative conditions. This means that car accidents can impact not only short-term health but also long-term quality of life.

Degenerative spine disorders can be diagnosed following a comprehensive medical examination, often including x-rays, CT scans, or other imaging tests. These conditions are typically assessed secondary to more immediate traumatic damage to the back following a car accident. If you are experiencing severe pain from a car accident that occurred long ago, you should contact an Orthopedic specialist or seek legal advice on your legal rights regarding a claim.

Treatment for degenerative spine conditions varies depending on severity and type but may include medical treatment such as physical therapy, pain management, surgery, or chiropractic care to restore mobility and alleviate discomfort.

What Should I Do if I Want Compensation for an Injury?

The odds are that if you have suffered back injuries from an auto accident, you have been in a major crash that may have involved negligence or illegal activity from another driver. Or perhaps you were driving a company vehicle that was not properly maintained. Whatever the circumstances in your personal injury case, you will want to be compensated for your injury. We will outline below steps to take in gaining compensation for your personal back injury case.

Step One: File a Personal Injury Insurance Claim

If you have not already, you should file an insurance claim related to your personal injury. It is important that you seek out medical attention even after minor accidents because if you have suffered a back injury, your history of seeking medical attention will influence the success of any claim for damages. 

Gather information from all drivers involved and take pictures of the scene of the accident. All evidence that you can provide later will assist your case. Be thorough and note the weather conditions and state of the road for your own information. Make sure not to make any statements to other drivers that could be used against you. 

Make sure to contact your insurance company to report that you have been injured in an accident. If you believe that the other driver is clearly at fault, you can also contact their insurance company, but make sure to keep in mind that you are speaking to a representative of the other driver’s interests, not your own. 

Step Two: Follow Through With Medical Attention While Seeking Legal Counsel

Seeking medical attention is extremely important in personal injury cases. The success of your personal injury legal claim will depend heavily on keeping a thorough medical record and establishing that you have sought out care for your back injury. Make sure to follow any prescribed care instructions and retain documentation of all visits and interventions undertaken. 

The more medical attention records that you can provide, the better your chances of success in a personal injury claim related to motor vehicle accidents. Do not hesitate to get a second opinion on your back injury. In some circumstances, pain and complications from an accident can be delayed but may be detectable by a medical professional. Seek out care immediately following an accident in all cases so that in the eventuality you suffer delayed complications, you still have a record of seeking out medical care and can connect the complications to the car accident. 

Personal injury lawyers from the Palermo Law Group can help you navigate the process of obtaining damages in a personal injury claim. There is no substitute for the help of an attorney, especially in cases involving back injuries from car crashes. 

Contacting a Personal Injury Lawyer

Debilitating and chronic pain from back injuries can have a severe negative impact on the quality of life of victims. That’s why, for years of experience, the attorneys at Palermo Law Group, a trusted law firm, have been helping victims of car accident injuries in Oak Brook and throughout the Chicagoland area as they pursue monetary compensation for their damages. Back injury cases can be complicated because it is common for back injury complications to be delayed. To protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve, make sure to seek legal help from a knowledgeable personal injury attorney as soon as possible following a car accident. Contact Palermo Law Group today for a free consultation.