Being in a car accident is frightening enough without potentially ending up with injuries, especially back injuries. Back pain that arises after a car accident can be debilitating, and it can have long-term effects that may require extensive medical treatment, physical therapy, and possibly surgery. It’s important to understand what’s at stake with back pain following a car accident.

First Steps for Back Pain After a Car Accident

Getting medical attention is the first step, even if someone doesn’t initially feel pain. There can be damage that doesn’t cause pain immediately. Someone who starts feeling back pain a few days after an accident may think it has nothing to do with the accident, but there’s a good possibility that the accident caused the pain, even if it’s delayed.

Once the pain starts, besides getting the needed medical treatment, contact an injury attorney to find out what your rights are and if there are legal avenues to receive compensation, whether from your own insurance company or, if another party was at fault, from their insurance provider.

What Kinds of Back Pain May Be Caused by a Car Accident?

The spine runs from the skull to the lower back, and damage can be inflicted anywhere along it, as well as on muscles and tissues throughout the back. These are the common causes of back pain caused by car accidents.

Herniated disc. The bones in the spine are cushioned by discs. A car accident can cause discs to become herniated, which means the disc is forced out of the surrounding protective layer and is exposed to the spine. It can be very painful.

Spinal cord damage. One of the most common outcomes of a car accident, damage to the spinal cord, can affect the bones, ligaments, or discs and lead not only to pain but to loss of feeling or paraplegia.

Broken back. A back is considered broken when the spinal cord is severed. Besides causing pain, this can lead to paralysis, potentially for the rest of the person’s life.

Let Us Advise You

Back pain from a car accident can require extensive legal assistance. If you or someone you know was involved in a car accident and now has back pain, call us at 816-866-7711 to learn what legal remedies could be available.