Back injuries resulting from North Carolina automobile collisions often require extensive, costly medical treatment. These injuries can also leave you with long-lasting pain and suffering. Several types of back injuries commonly result from a vehicle collision.
When you’re injured in a North Carolina automobile accident, you will need to work with an experienced personal injury attorney to build a claim for recovery. The damages awarded will compensate you for your injuries and restore your life to normal. Here are the most common car accident injuries in North Carolina and how to avoid them.
Whiplash
It is easily the most often seen injury to the back and neck following an automobile collision. Whiplash is when the ligaments, muscles, and tissues in the neck are stretched and torn, and the head is jarred violently back and forth during a crash. Whiplash symptoms often do not manifest completely until hours or even days after an accident. Typical symptoms include chronic pain, tightness, fatigue, and dizziness.
Soft Tissue Damage
Injuries to soft tissue in the back occur when a victim’s head, neck, arms, and shoulders are violently jerked about in a collision. This hyperextension causes tissue and ligaments to tear. Common symptoms of soft tissue damage are low-grade pain, blurry vision, stiffness, jaw and neck pain, vertigo, nausea, headaches, and tingling. The best way to treat soft tissue damage is often the R.I.C.E. method: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. If the damage is more severe, seeing a massage therapist or a chiropractor may be your best option.
Herniated Discs
Another common back injury caused by an automobile collision is a herniated disc. A collision can produce an incredible amount of force. When the body absorbs this force, the discs in the back can slip and shift, pinching and compressing nerves. A herniated disc can cause prolonged numbness and uncomfortable pain. The best way to treat a herniated disc is with noninvasive methods. Surgery may be required in extreme cases.
Spinal Cord Injury
Injuries to the spinal cord are the most serious back injuries since even a minor cut, laceration, or abrasion can lead to disability. The spinal cord being severed can cause a car accident victim to be permanently paralyzed. Spinal cord injuries are hazardous and, more often than not, require prolonged periods of recovery. Currently, there are few treatments for injuries to the spinal cord beyond surgery. Spinal cord injury victims face a long road to recovery and need as much encouragement and support as their friends and families can offer.
Spinal Compression Fracture
A spinal compression fracture occurs when the bone along the spine collapses. These fractures, such as vertebral compression fractures, are caused when the back or head sustains an extreme-force blow. Spinal compression fractures may either cause little to no pain or be outright excruciating. Victims with compression fractures often find it painful to stand up from a sitting position or to walk.
Treatment for Back Injuries
After any automobile collision, it is essential to seek prompt medical help to diagnose your back injuries properly. Some soft tissue injuries in the back do not show up for around 48 hours after a car accident. Getting a full medical exam as soon as possible after a car accident is essential to identify any injuries and start treatment.
Treating back injuries properly is essential to controlling pain and achieving the best possible recovery. Back injury treatments may include:
- Surgical intervention
- Physical therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Prescription pain medications
- Steroids
- Casts to allow broken bones to heal and set
Regardless of the specific types of treatments that you need, the full costs of back injuries caused by car accidents should be covered by those responsible for causing the injuries. Not only should all of your medical treatments be covered, but you may also be entitled to additional costs for adaptive medical devices, home nursing care, and even transportation to and from the doctor’s office.
Compensation for Back Injuries
You may also be entitled to compensation for:
- Lost income if your back injuries require you to miss work, if you can never work again, or if you have to switch to a lower-paying job due to the injuries.
- Pain and suffering resulting from the back injury.
- Emotional distress resulting from the accident and/or from the injury.
Representation for Back Injuries
If you’ve suffered a back injury from a North Carolina automobile collision caused by another driver’s negligence, you are entitled to compensation for the damages you’ve incurred. Maginnis Howard’s lead personal injury attorney, T. Shawn Howard, is experienced in handling complex cases, including those involving victims who have suffered back injuries due to the negligence of another North Carolina driver.
All personal injury matters are handled on a contingency basis, meaning that you do not pay any attorneys’ fees unless and until we make a recovery on your behalf. Our attorneys represent clients across the Carolinas from our Raleigh, Charlotte, and Fayetteville offices.
