Back Injuries After an Auto Accident: A Guide

The back is one of the most critical parts of the body. The back supports the upper body, connects the lower and upper body, and houses the spinal column. Auto accident injuries to the back can upend your life, and you deserve full compensation. Below are some common injuries you might get in an auto accident and how you can prove them in your auto accident claim.

Common Injuries

An auto accident can cause all manner of back injuries, but the following are rather common.

Herniated Disc

Your spinal cord has rubbery discs between bones. A herniated disc occurs when physical trauma pushes one or more discs out of its usual position and through the spinal column's exterior. A herniated disc causes extreme damage if it damages nearby nerves. If that happens, the damaged nerved determines the effect, such as limb numbness.

Sprains

A sprain occurs when muscles, tendons, or ligaments stretch beyond their normal capacity. For example, an auto accident impact that twists your midsection can stretch your lumbar (lower back) spine tissues, resulting in a sprain. Apart from the associated pain, a lumbar spine sprain affects your mobility since most movements involve the lower back. For example, you might struggle with doing yard work, mopping, or caring for your child if you have a lumbar sprain.

Fractures

Any part of the body with a bone, such as the back, can suffer a fracture. For example, a high-impact rear-end crash can fracture your vertebrae. The fractures can be significant or hairline cracks, but they all have their effects. For example, sharp ends or pieces of the bone can pierce the spinal nerve.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Together with your brain, the spinal cord forms your body's central nervous system. Specifically, the spinal cord transmits signals between different parts of your body and the brain. Thus, spinal cord damage can leave you unable to control or even feel some parts of the body. Paralysis can affect your job, house chores, and almost all aspects of your life.

You might experience such injuries from different forms of trauma, including penetrating and blunt force trauma. For example, strong forces can lacerate, bruise, or tear your spinal cord.

Proof

The only way to get adequate compensation for your back injuries is to prove their existence and value. Below are some tools you can use for the proof.

Diagnostic

Back injuries require different forms of diagnosis. For example, doctors can use:

• Imaging tools, such as x-rays, to diagnose hard tissue injuries, such as fractures
• Physical examination to detect swelling, tenderness, and bruising that point to soft tissue injuries
• Medical history to review and separate new from pre-existing injuries

Your medical records will contain the diagnoses. You can use them to prove your injuries.

Treatment

The nature of your back injury determines the necessary treatment. For example, you may need:

• Medications to manage your pain
• Surgery to cauterize damaged nerve endings
• Spinal fusion surgery to connect and stabilize two or more vertebrae
• Physical therapy to improve your mobility

Again, your medical history will contain details of your treatment. The records will also contain the treatments' costs, plus future treatments you might need. Thus, you can use the treatment records to value your damages.

Expert Testimony

Soft tissue injuries tend to be more difficult to prove than hard tissue injures. For example, internal bruises to your spinal cord that can cause nerve damage are difficult to prove. An expert witness can help you prove such injuries. For example, a doctor who specializes in back injuries can help you explain the nature of your injuries.

Back injuries can easily evolve into chronic problems. Contact Walsh & Associates, PC, to evaluate your accident and help you get the compensation you deserve. The compensation may help you get your life back on track.