Recently, the news was filled with stories about comedian Kevin Hart suffering serious injuries in a car collision. This has meant that more people are talking about back injuries caused by car accidents.
In Miami and across South Florida, back trauma and back injuries and common result of car accidents. The most common back injuries following a car accident include:
- Lumbar injuries: Lumbar injuries affect not just the spine but also the large muscle groups which offer stability to this part of the body. When ligaments are injured in a crash, a sprain results. A strain involves excess pressure on the tendons, muscles, or ligaments. These injuries can result in severe pain and mobility problems.
- Thoracic injuries: These injuries occur to the upper portion of the spine, where the back connects to the chest and ribs. Usually, these types of injuries are a result of high-speed and high-impact collisions and they can be among the most serious spinal injuries Permanent nerve damage and mobility issues can result from this type of injury.
- Spinal cord injuries: Any pressure, permanent damage, or bruising to the nerves or the spinal cord itself is a spinal cord injury. This is among the most serious back injuries which can be sustained in a car crash. It can result in partial or total paralysis, numbness, and other conditions. Those who suffer from paralysis are also at risk of serious secondary medical conditions, such as pneumonia and blood clots, due to their injury.
- Herniated discs: Discs provide protection and cushioning between vertebrae. In a collision, these discs can pop out of place, which can cause pinching to the nerves or added pressure on the spinal cord. This can result in numbness to parts of the body, significant pain, and stiffness. Herniated discs are also a long-term problem, since a patient with this condition will always be more at risk of re-injury.
In car accidents, back injuries occur for number of reasons. A common situation occurs if someone isn’t wearing a seat belt and is thrown from the car. Landing heavily on pavement after being thrown from a car can create enough force to cause serious internal injuries, including back injuries. Another common situation occurs when the passenger or driver is thrown about inside the vehicle of a car or the car comes to a sudden stop, which can generate enough force to cause bones and vertebrae to bruise or get injured.
Spinal cord injuries are among the most devastating injuries to suffer in a car accident. They can affect mobility and can be life threatening. In addition, they are extremely expensive. It is not unusual for patients to spend in excess of $100,000 in the first year after an injury on surgery and medical attention. A long rehabilitation period may be needed and a person may have a lifetime of increased medical bills as a result of a serious spinal cord injury. It’s not unusual to spend millions of dollars on treatment following a spinal cord injury over many years.
For this reason, it’s important to consult with a Miami spinal cord injury attorney if you have been injured. To speak to an attorney, Contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a free accident consultation.