Spine Injuries From Car Accidents
Of the many types of injuries that motorists can sustain in car accidents, spine injuries are perhaps one of the most common.
Unfortunately, spine injuries tend to be not only painful, but also debilitating, leaving many injured parties to suffer from chronic pain and limited mobility.
In these cases, recovering damages from the person who caused the injuries is often the only way for accident victims to obtain the medical treatment that they require.
Filing these kinds of claims, however, is notoriously difficult, especially for those who are suffering from serious back and neck injuries.
So if you are suffering from a car accident spine injury, it is important to contact an experienced Mississippi car accident lawyer who can help ensure that your claim is filed properly and on time.
Types of Spine Injuries
Even seemingly minor car accidents can result in serious back injuries, in large part because the spine is not designed to absorb the types of jarring impacts that are so common during collisions. The effects of these kinds of injuries depend on a number of factors, including which of the following parts of the spine sustains the majority of impact:
- The cervical vertebrae, or the neck;
- The thoracic vertebrae, or upper back; or
- The lumbar vertebrae, or lower back.
Injuries to the cervical vertebrae are particularly common in rear-end collisions, where the driver’s head snaps forward and then back in a rapid manner, which can strain the soft tissue, nerves, ligaments, and discs in the neck. Whiplash usually manifests as pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulders, and upper back, as well as headaches, dizziness, nausea, and tingling and numbness in the limbs.
Generally, injuries to the thoracic area of the spine are considered to be the most serious form of spine injury, as this part of the spine connects to the ribs and chest regions. Most thoracic spine injuries occur in high velocity car accidents and unfortunately, often result in permanent nerve damage.
The lumbar spine, on the other hand, is made up of the largest vertebrae and the strongest muscles in the back and is primarily responsible for providing stability. For this reason, strains and sprains to the lumbar spine tend to be particularly painful and result in limited movement, bruising, swelling, and tenderness.
Back Injury Compensation
The type and severity of a person’s back injury can be diagnosed through a series of tests, including x-rays, MRIs, bone scans, CT scans, and myelograms. The diagnosis will then dictate the patient’s treatment plan, which could include prescription pain medication, physical therapy, and injections.
In serious cases, a person may even require surgical intervention to alleviate pressure on the spinal cord and nearby nerves. Unfortunately, diagnosing and treating spine injuries from car accidents is expensive, so it is important for those who sustain these types of injuries to seek compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and disability.
Contact Our Car Accident Legal Team Today
To discuss your own spinal injury from car accident with an experienced Mississippi car accident attorney, please call the Harris Law Firm, PLLC at (877) 714-4171 today. A car accident spine injury is a serious matter. Don’t hesitate. Please reach out to our car accident attorneys today.