Car Accident Injuries

Back Injury

Other than traumatic brain injury, a back injury is the most serious type of injury that can be inflicted upon an auto accident victim. The most common back injury sustained in car crashes is whiplash; more than one million people are injured by whiplash on an annual basis. Approximately 100,000 of these result in permanent impairment. Whiplash mostly stems from rear-end collisions, but it can also occur if an automobile collides with an immobile object or is side-swiped by another vehicle.

Whiplash Injuries

When a passenger's head violently jerks forward and snaps back, this is known as whiplash. Whiplash can create serious complications with joints, discs, muscles, nerves, and ligaments in the neck region. Whiplash symptoms are most severe when the victim's head is twisted to the side upon impact. Although they occur frequently, whiplash injuries are not cut and dry when it comes to a diagnosis. Some general whiplash symptoms include muscle spasms in the neck and shoulder area, neck pain that worsens with activity, and shooting pain in the lower part of the neck. A physician can determine if other symptoms not listed here are also related to whiplash.

Lower Back Sprains and Strains

A car accident victim may suffer a lower back sprain or strain. It may not sound serious, but the pain in the larger muscles found in the lumbar region can be excruciating to the point that it incapacitates the person. Like whiplash, a lumbar back injury can be difficult to diagnose if there is an injured disc at the same location that has not been discovered. Pain can affect either or both sides of the lower back and may intensify with movement. It could also lead to overnight spasms.

Spinal Cord Injuries

By far, the most serious form of back injury caused by an auto accident is a spinal cord injury. The spinal cord can be harmed in a variety of ways including bruising, tearing, and compression. A spinal cord injury may result in nerve damage causing paralysis, sensory loss in specific sections of the body, loss of instinctual reactions, and autonomic disturbances. Beyond loss of mobility, spinal cord injuries can lead to infection, impotence, muscle spasms, bladder and bowel control issues, and intense, inexplicable pain in certain regions of the body.

Numerous medical tests are available to determine what kind of back injury a car accident victim may have sustained. X-rays are a popular test, but muscle strains and sprains do not show up on them. Other common tests to help verify the nature and severity of the injury include CT scans, MRIs, myelograms, discograms, electromyograms, and bone scans.

If someone else is liable for the back injury and other damages your auto accident has caused, you probably are eligible to seek legal restitution. The responsible party may be mandated to pay the victim for medical costs, loss of income or earning potential, and pain and suffering. Contact an auto accident attorney to find out exactly what you stand to gain.