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Car accidents can inflict serious bodily injury on drivers and passengers alike. These injuries may include debilitating back pain that can severely limit an individual’s mobility skills and quality of life.
Car accidents involve many complex laws and liability allocations. Drivers should know what to do and who to contact if they are involved in an accident.
If you or a loved one has sustained back pain from a car accident, call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 for a free case evaluation with our car accident attorneys.
What Are the Different Types of Back Pain?
The intensity of back pain varies drastically from person to person. Different people may experience different symptoms, even if they have the same diagnosed condition.
Because of this obvious range of back injuries, experts typically categorize a patient’s back pain into one of three major categories:
1. Axial Pain
Axial pain generally refers to pain that occurs in one spot or region of a patient’s body. Axial pain is usually considered “mechanical,” which means that the pain typically gets worse with extensive movement or certain positions. This type of pain is commonly seen in the lower back region and is the most common type of back pain among Americans.
2. Referred Pain
Referred pain tends to move around a patient’s body and vary in intensity throughout the day. This type of pain may start in the back and move to a patient’s thigh or neck region. Other cases of referred pain may involve back pain that is not caused by a back injury at all. Consequently, cases of referred pain may be tricky to diagnose and treat.
3. Radicular Pain
Radicular pain is revered as the most serious case of back pain and is commonly described as searing or shock-like pain. This type of pain follows the path of the spinal nerve and exits along the spinal canal, resulting in severe discomfort. Radicular pain is commonly caused by chronic conditions like a herniated disk, spinal stenosis, or spondylolisthesis.
Although these three types of back pain are the most generally considered, some experts recognize outlier cases that may not fall into one of these categories at all. As a result, individuals experiencing back discomfort or pain should contact a medical professional for adequate treatment.
What Are the Different Reasons for Back Pain?
Depending on the specific type of impact, you may experience many different types of back pain as a result of a car accident. Victims may experience pain anywhere along the spine or adjoining muscles. Additionally, this pain may vary dramatically in intensity and frequency.
Back pain can occur for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Muscle strains
- Muscle injury
- Spinal stenosis
- Vertebral fractures
- Aging
- Spondylitis
- Scoliosis
- Tumors
- Degenerative disk disease
- Herniated discs
- Compressed nerves
- Pinched nerves
- Osteoporosis
- Sudden pressure
Automobile collisions are often considered high-impact events and thus may be the reason behind your sudden back pain. If you have been involved in a car accident and sustained injuries resulting in back pain, you may be entitled to some legal compensation depending on the specifics of the incident.
How Serious Is Back Pain After a Car Accident?
As previously explained, there are many different types of back pain that range in severity, frequency, and intensity. Although every case of back pain is different, every instance of back pain should be taken seriously.
Back pain of any kind can be a warning sign of permanent damage because the spine is the casing that protects the most important parts of the central nervous system. Left untreated, some causes of back pain can lead to permanent nerve damage. In chronic cases, back pain can make everyday activities extremely difficult. Victims of chronic pain may be unable to lead normal lives due to serious mobility limitations.
If you have back pain after a car accident, you should see a medical professional as soon as possible. While there may be some home treatment options, a doctor may be able to diagnose your condition and help mitigate the effects of your injuries. Additionally, it may be beneficial to contact an attorney as well to assess your legal options.
What Steps Should I Take Immediately After an Accident?
1. Seek Medical Attention
If you are involved in a car accident that causes back pain, you should seek medical attention immediately after the accident. Even if your injuries appear minor, you should still visit a healthcare professional to evaluate your well-being after the accident. Experts report that delayed onset of pain in any injury caused by a traumatic collision is common, especially with those injuries involving back pain. Visiting a medical professional may also help you create an official medical report of your injuries that can be referred back to if you later wish to pursue your legal options.
2. Document the Incident
If you are involved in a car accident, document the incident. Immediately after the accident, you should contact the police. If contacted, the police or local authorities will draft an official report of the incident. This report will likely include witness information, obvious injuries, and potential causes of the incident. You should also try to create your own record of relevant information regarding the incident. If you plan to pursue a legal claim, you may need to present ample documentation supporting your assertions. Thus, you should establish this well-documented record early in the process.
3. Speak with a Lawyer
Car accident liability laws vary drastically from state to state. The unique circumstances of your claim may also change the remedies available to you. Therefore, it might be beneficial to speak with an experienced accident attorney to truly evaluate your options for legal compensation.
Can I File a Claim if I Am Experiencing Back Pain?
Depending on the specifics of your claim, you may be able to file a legal complaint if you are experiencing back pain from a recent car accident. Your ability to file may depend on a variety of factors but can be shortly summarized into a few top points.
Many states give victims of car accidents the right to pursue compensation for incurred damages. These “at-fault” states allow victims to recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. If your accident occurred in one of these at-fault states, an accident attorney may be able to help you seek legal recourse. If your accident occurred in a no-fault state, your insurance provider may still be able to help you recover from an accident. Although you may not have the legal standing to sue another driver, you may still be compensated for your losses accordingly.
Many other factors may contribute to your right to recover for injuries incurred during an accident. These factors can range from the other driver’s actions, your mitigation efforts, and the overall damage caused by the incident. Specifically, you may be entitled to recover if the responsible driver was operating their vehicle negligently or recklessly at the time of the accident.
Claimants should be careful to ensure that they file within their state’s statute of limitations. If you fail to file within this set time period, you may lose your right to recover compensation. Ultimately, the applicable laws surrounding car accident claims can appear convoluted without the help of an experienced attorney. Thus, it may be helpful to retain an attorney and obtain a professional option about your claim.
Read More: How Do I Know If I Have a Personal Injury Case?
Contact the back pain attorneys at zinda law group
Claims involving back pain caused by car accidents can be complex. If you have back pain after a car accident, you should contact a lawyer who handles car accident injury lawsuits as soon as possible. A personal injury attorney may be able to help you evaluate your claim and seek legal recourse for damages related to the accident.
At Zinda Law Group, we have the knowledge and resources necessary to help you pursue the highest compensation possible. Our experienced car accident injury attorneys help victims get back on their feet after car accidents. The sooner you contact our office, the more likely it is that we will be able to assist you with your claim.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 for a free consultation with one of our car accident lawyers. You don’t owe us anything unless we win your case. That’s our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.
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