One of the most common types of injuries sustained as a result of a car accident is a back injury. Back and spine injuries caused by car accidents can result in a lot of missed time off of work, painful disability and long-term issues including arthritis and other consistent back pain. This is why it is so important to consult with an experienced and proven personal injury attorney if you have suffered injury to your back or spine.
The human spine is divided into three sections which are known as the lumbar (lower), thoracic (mid), and cervical (upper and neck area). A severe car accident can cause issues with any of these three areas, although the most common injuries occur in accidents at slower speeds. Often, the injured party doesn’t initially realize the extent of injuries to the lumbar and cervical areas.
Injuries to the cervical spine typically occurs from the “whiplash” effect that takes place as a result of the physics of a car accident when an individual’s head will jolt forward, then get slammed back into the headrest. Proper height adjustment of a vehicle’s headrest can help to reduce the severity of these types of injuries.
Back and spine injuries caused by car accidents can result in injuries to the lumbar spine such as disc herniations and lumbar strain/sprain may also occur. Many accident victims feel a little shaken, but otherwise ok after an accident. It is quite common for the forces associated with an accident to cause small tears in the discs of your spine. The symptoms can take days or even weeks to show up. This is why anyone who has been involved in any motor vehicle collision, regardless of the speed or apparent severity, should see a doctor within 24 to 48 hours of the collision.
More serious injuries may result in paralysis, or require surgical options such as epidural injections and fusion surgeries. Epidural injections are minor procedures that inject different materials into the spine to either provide pain relief, or possibly to relieve spinal stenosis issues. Spinal fusion surgery is a major operation that fuses two spinal discs to create more stability. For spinal disc herniation, lumbar decompression surgery may be considered as an option to help alleviate sciatica and nerve damage.
With all of these potential challenges, the most important thing following an automobile accident is to seek immediate medical evaluation and treatment. The next step should be to contact the Law Firm of Rivers Morrell to learn about back and spine injuries caused by car accidents. We invite you to review the strong recommendations of our clients and the legal industry and contact us or call to speak with Rivers personally for a free consultation at (949)305-1400.
