Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog
Back injuries are common after car accidents in Florida, in part because the sudden motion of a crash can cause the body to be thrown violently back and forth, which can cause injuries to the back.
The Florida car accident attorneys at Flaxman Law Group have worked with car accident survivors who have experienced serious back injuries resulting in pain, stiffness, numbness, tingling, and even paralysis. In cases where the injuries were caused by someone’s negligence, our team has been able to seek compensation for these accident survivors.
Common Types of Back Injuries Caused by Car Accidents
The back consists of bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and spinal discs, and of which can be damaged in a car accident. Some of the most common types of back injuries from car accidents include:
- Whiplash. This soft tissue injury impacts the neck and upper back. It’s caused by the head being violently jerked back and forth and can cause pain, stiffness, reduced mobility and range of motion, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. One of the challenges with whiplash is that symptoms may develop over hours or days. Insurers sometimes use this situation to try to claim soft tissue injuries were not caused by a car crash.
- Herniated discs. In this condition, the soft inner material of a spinal disc bulges out through a tear in the outer layer. A herniated disc can result in pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the back or legs.
- Spinal cord injury. The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves that runs through the spine and connects the brain to the rest of the body. Spinal cord injuries happen when the back is hit violently or compressed during a car collision. This is a serious injury that can cause incontinence, paralysis, chronic pain, and other serious complications.
- Spinal fracture. When a car crash causes compression or direct trauma to the back, the bones that make up the spine (the vertebrae) can break in one or more places. This can cause pain, swelling, bruising, injury to the spinal cord or nerves, deformity, or instability of the spine.
Diagnosing and Treating Back Injuries After a Florida Car Accident
If you’re in a Florida car accident, it’s useful to get a full medical evaluation as soon as you can. As we’ve discussed, some serious injuries, such as whiplash, don’t always present symptoms. If you’re in pain or have any symptoms, see a physician right away.
If you have been in a car accident and experience any symptoms of a back injury, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Your doctor will perform a physical examination and ask you about your medical history and how the accident happened. Your doctor may also order some tests to confirm your diagnosis and assess the extent of your injury. These tests may include x-rays, MRIs, and CT scans.
Once your doctor has a diagnosis, your treatment plan can begin. The type and severity of your injury, your age and health condition, and other factors can determine what kind of treatment you receive. Patients who have sustained back injuries in car accidents may be given:
- Medication, including pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and steroids to reduce pain and inflammation.
- Physical therapy to improve your strength, flexibility, mobility, and posture.
- Surgical intervention to repair or remove damaged discs or vertebrae, decompress or stabilize the spine, or implant devices such as screws to support the spine.
The outlook for back injury patients can vary, but most patients do face considerable medical bills and lost time at work. For this reason, if you’ve suffered a back injury due to a car accident, contact a Florida car accident attorney by calling Flaxman Law Group at 866-352-9626. We can schedule a free, no obligation consultation to help you understand what options you may have to seek compensation for your injuries.