My Back was Injured in a Car Accident, What Should I Do?
Back pain can hit you when you least expect it, especially after a car accident.
You don’t always notice your back pain after the impact of a car crash, but other times you feel it instantly.
No matter when you start feeling back pain, it shouldn't be ignored.
Whether you have a strain, sprain, disc injury, or an injury to your spinal cord, back injuries can take a long time, weeks, or even months, before they begin showing symptoms.
But never ignore your pain because if you do, your injury could get worse as time passes.
No matter when you start to experience your back pain after your car accident, there are certain things you need to do to get it taken care of.
An important thing to do after a car accident is to see a Nashville Car Accident Doctor.
In the article below, we will talk about what you should do if your back was injured in a car accident.
Common Sources of Back Pain After A Car Accident
A host of injuries can cause you back pain.
Some of these injuries may be minor and heal on their own with a bit of rest.
But other back injuries may require extensive therapy, and in extreme cases, surgery.
Whiplash
Your neck is very vulnerable to injury during the impact of a car accident.
Whiplash is, by far, the most common neck injury suffered in car accidents.
Whiplash occurs when your neck suddenly jolts backward and then forward violently, similar to the motion of a whip.
This force can stretch and tear the muscles and tendons in your neck.
Just about half of whiplash diagnoses show chronic symptoms, and about 10% of people who suffer from whiplash become permanently disabled.
Whiplash and similar neck injuries are common even in minor, low-speed rear-end collisions.
Mild cases of whiplash will sometimes go away on their own in due time when you rest and use ice and heat therapies.
But moderate to severe whiplash cases can cause chronic pain and disability, especially if they aren't treated right away.
Treatments for severe cases may involve physical therapy, chiropractic care, collars, and, in rare cases, surgery.
Seeing a chiropractor right away after your accident is the best way to avoid invasive surgeries.
Muscle Strains and Sprains
Your soft tissues, which are the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support your lower back, are weaved across your entire back from the tops of your shoulders all the way down to your tailbone.
When your soft tissues are put under too much stress, they can be easily injured.
The resulting pain and spasms from a pulled-back muscle or torn ligament can be severe.
When you pull a back muscle or a ligament, it can take up to 6 weeks of treatment to fully heal.
Severe can take months to fully heal.
During your recovery period, it will be impossible to do some of your normal, everyday activities due to the symptoms you'll experience.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The most severe back injuries you can experience are ones that involve damage to your spinal cord.
Your spinal cord is a bundle of nerves and tissues that connect your brain to the rest of your body.
The vertebrae in your spine are meant to protect your spinal cord from injury.
When a car accident results in damage to your spinal cord, there are often debilitating long-term consequences.
Complete or partial paralysis and severe, chronic pain are possible.
You also risk infection, blood clots, spinal fluid leaks, and other serious medical conditions.
Seek Medical Care and Follow Your Doctor’s Orders
The first thing you need to do after your car accident is to seek medical care, whether you are experiencing any symptoms or not.
If you don't need emergency medical attention, schedule an appointment with a medical care professional like a chiropractor as soon as you can.
If it takes a few days or weeks for your back pain to show up and you didn't see a doctor soon after your accident, it can be difficult to establish a link between your back pain and the car accident.
Getting the proper treatments as soon as you can is vital to preserving back and spine function.
Sometimes car accident victims will go against their doctor’s orders or skip their treatment.
Life gets in the way sometimes, or the treatment can prove to be too expensive to keep up with.
Missing appointments and going against your doctor's orders can jeopardize your health and hamper your ability to receive compensation for your injury.
No matter what your doctor tells you to do, it would be best if you did it.
This will ensure your physical and financial recovery.
If you ignore the doctor’s orders and the negligent party finds out, they will argue that you are exaggerating your injuries or making them worse.
Either way, they are going to try to reduce the amount of money that they owe you.
Your chiropractor may also help you expedite your recovery.
They might recommend using ice or heat to your back, light stretches, or short walks around the neighborhood to keep your muscles loose and active.
Always do as your doctor suggests unless it causes you pain.
Modify Activities Accordingly
Don't try to push through your back pain or any other accident symptoms.
Unless your doctor has given you permission, you should refrain from all rigorous physical activity.
Don't lift heavy items or engage in hard physical labor.
All of these things can make your condition worse or turn an acute back injury into a chronic condition.
Doing so could make your condition worse, even permanent.
Consult With a Car Accident Attorney
If someone else's negligence caused your accident and you plan on filing a personal injury claim, you should speak with a car accident attorney.
Your personal injury lawyer can help put together your claim and negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company.
Even if your back pain didn't show up right away after your accident, your attorney could help you file a claim and establish a causal connection with the wreck.
Depending on the unique circumstances of your accident and the severity of your back pain, your personal injury settlement may include any or all of the following:
Pain and suffering
Damage to your vehicle
Loss of personal property
Current, past, and future medical bills
Lost wages
Reduced earning capacity
What to Expect from an Insurance Company
Insurance companies make their money by paying out as little for insurance claims as they can.
That makes getting compensation for back injuries after a car accident a complicated endeavor.
It gets even more complicated if it takes days or weeks for your pain to show up.
All insurance companies are for-profit businesses, so they will do all they can to pay you as little as possible.
Your injury attorney will advise you to wait until your doctor has told you you've reached the maximum level of improvement possible for your injuries before you settle with the insurance company.
The insurance claim process can be a long, laborious process, but your injury attorney will guide you through the entire process and help you win the compensation you deserve.
Speak with Advanced Injury Care Clinic After Your Accident
The first thing you need to do after you notice back pain, or pain anywhere in your body after an accident, is to visit an experienced car accident chiropractor.
A chiropractor will have experience treating all kinds of back injuries, whether it's degenerative disc disease, spinal cord injuries, damaged vertebrae, an injury to your soft tissues, neck pain, and more common injuries.
From soft tissue therapies to manual manipulation of your back, there are many treatment options Advanced Injury Care Clinic can use to help reduce your back pain.
Advanced Injury Care Clinic can also refer you to auto accident attorneys that can help you receive compensation for injuries sustained in your car accident and give you added peace of mind as you recover from your injuries.
Click the button below to schedule your Free Consultation with Advanced Injury Care Clinic today.