A lot of people may end up with a back injury after a car accident. Even minor crashes can lead to severe back pain. If you sustained a back injury due to the negligent actions of another driver, you can seek compensation that covers the resulting damages. But you must prove that the injury directly resulted from the accident itself. A Fort Wayne auto accident attorney can help you build a strong case against the negligent driver and file a claim with their liability insurance. Keep reading to know the common back injuries sustained in car accidents and how problematic it can be to link them to car accidents:
Crash-Related Back Injuries
Back injuries are common following a car accident. Victims may experience lower, middle, or upper back pain. The seriousness of such injuries can be mild to serious. And some people may feel pain in more than one portion of their back. After a car accident, victims can sustain any of the following:
- Back sprains and strains. These injuries occur when soft tissues like back ligaments and tendons are overstretched.
- Lumbar and thoracic vertebrae fractures. These happen when a bone that protects the spinal cord breaks.
- Herniated discs. This type of back injury can develop when the spinal disc’s jelly-like inner part seeps out and compresses your spinal nerves or canal.
- Spinal stenosis. This develops did your spinal cord is compressed because of inflammation or damage.
- Bulging discs. This occurs when your spinal disc is compressed without causing fluid leaks.
- Pinched nerves. This injury occurs if a vertebra compresses on the spine nerves.
Linking a Back Injury to a Crash
The at-fault driver’s insurer may argue that your injury did not result from the accident. you can counter this argument by giving evidence to connect your back injury to the crash. By seeking immediate medical attention, your doctor can document your diagnosis and treatment. Your medical records can show that you sustained a back injury, when you received treatment, and the theory of your treating doctor about the occurrence of your injury.
Waiting too long to visit a doctor will allow the insurer to question the link between your back injury and the collision. The insurer will assert that something else caused your injury. However, if you get checked and diagnosed soon after the crash, the insurer will have difficulty countering your claim. Your attorney will investigate the accident and collect evidence to substantiate your claim.