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What Do I Do if I Have Back Pain After a Car Accident in Cincinnati?
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While you may walk away from a car accident feeling no pain, delayed back injuries can be common. Even in minor accidents, the back and neck are vulnerable to soft tissue injuries, slipped discs, and other injuries. Unfortunately, even a minor or moderate back injury can considerably impact your life and lead to chronic pain, wage loss, and steep medical expenses.
Car crashes in Cincinnati can be caused by driver negligence, such as drunk driving, speeding, and distracted driving. Knowing what to do when you feel back pain after a car accident can be vital for recovering damages from the responsible party. Seeking medical advice and contacting an attorney can be crucial after noticing back pain.
Morgan & Morgan wants to help you recover fully and receive what you deserve. Find out if you qualify for compensation by contacting us now for a free case evaluation.
Common Car Accident Back Injuries
Injuries leading to back pain after a vehicle collision include but are not limited to:
Whiplash
Whiplash is a common injury prevalent in rear-end crashes caused by the rapid back-and-forth movement of the head during impact. According to the Mayo Clinic, severe whiplash can cause long-term pain and loss of range of motion. While minor whiplash can resolve on its own, moderate or severe whiplash may require various medical treatments such as injections, chiropractic treatments, and surgery.
Lumbar Spine Injuries
Lumbar spine injuries concern the lower back and can be common in car crashes. Sprains or strains to the lumbar spine can be painful, reduce mobility, and affect a victim’s ability to perform daily activities.
Thoracic Spine Injuries
The thoracic spine is a term describing the upper back area close to the chest and ribs. Injuries of the thoracic spine seen in car accidents include:
- Compression fractures
- Sprains and strains
- Herniated discs
Thoracic spine injuries can result in chronic back pain and permanent nerve damage.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Car accident injuries can speed up existing disc disease due to the normal aging process. Conditions grouped under the umbrella term of disc disease include slipped discs, pinched nerves, osteoarthritis, sciatica, and others. Back pain after a car accident can result from slipped discs, a common car crash injury.
You do not have to be involved in a severe car accident to experience a serious impact on your long-term health and well-being. Even a seemingly minor crash can cause debilitating and chronic back pain and restrict your mobility. Therefore, you could qualify for compensation whether you suffer from back pain or a severe injury. A car accident lawyer from Morgan & Morgan can determine whether you have legal recourse.
Seek Medical Attention Promptly After a Car Crash in Cincinnati
If you were involved in a crash, pay close attention to any unusual symptoms in the days following the accident. Signs and symptoms of a back injury include:
- Pain
- Muscle spasms
- Stiffness
- Numbness
- Loss of motion range
Your injuries may not be clear immediately after a car accident, as our bodies can suppress pain and discomfort in stressful situations such as a vehicle collision. However, not feeling pain immediately does not mean that you are uninjured. Therefore, consider seeking medical advice promptly after a car accident.
Moreover, if you fail to see a doctor after an accident, recovering compensation from the responsible driver can be challenging. An insurance company might deny or reduce your claim if you fail to provide sufficient evidence linking your injuries with the accident.
Treating Back Pain After a Car Accident
If you are experiencing back pain after a crash, always consult with a doctor first before self-diagnosing and treating your injury. Your doctor may incorporate various treatments into your back pain treatment plan depending on your injury, such as:
Ice and Heat
Your doctor may recommend ice and heat packs to treat your injury in the first few days. Cooling the injury can help with reducing inflammation, pain, and swelling. On the other hand, heat is useful for soothing tight muscles, making it easier to move around.
Medications
Back injuries can be excruciatingly painful and debilitating. Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter or prescription pain medications and muscle relaxants to help with discomfort. Pain medication can relieve discomfort and reduce inflammation and swelling after an accident.
Steroid Injections
If your pain is severe, your doctor may recommend corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation and pain in inflamed soft tissues. Corticosteroid shots can last for weeks or months, making moving around less painful and helping your body to heal.
Physical Therapy
If you hurt your back in a car accident, physical therapy can be crucial to help you get back on your feet, regain strength, and restore your range of movement.
Light Exercise
While rest is vital immediately after a back injury, too much inactivity can hinder the healing process. Once your doctor clears you for low-impact exercise, ensure to stretch and walk regularly. Light exercise can help prevent stiffness, strengthen muscles, and aid your recovery.
Most minor to moderate accident back injuries resolve within a few weeks with the right medical treatments and adequate rest. However, if you continue to experience pain and loss of movement, your doctor might suggest surgical intervention. Surgery may also be recommended for more severe injuries such as herniated discs, fractures, or a pinched nerve.
Contact an Attorney if You Develop Back Pain
After seeking medical help for your pain, contacting a car accident attorney can be your next best step. Recovering what you deserve can be challenging, particularly if you discover back pain sometime after the crash and did not visit a doctor immediately. Our car accident lawyer in Cincinnati can help you navigate the legal system, negotiate a fair settlement with an insurance company, and file a lawsuit if necessary.
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Can I Sue Someone Personally After a Car Crash?
You could sue someone personally to recover damages after a crash. However, filing a lawsuit is not always necessary. You could secure compensation by filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
If you cannot recover what you are entitled to from an insurer, filing a lawsuit may be necessary for pursuing damages such as medical costs, physical and emotional suffering, wage loss, and others. An experienced car accident lawyer from our firm can assess whether suing an at-fault driver is the best choice in your case. We can walk you through your legal options and move forward with a lawsuit.
Which Damages Can I Pursue for My Back Injuries?
How much you can recover in an accident settlement will depend on several factors, including:
- The severity of your injury
- Your healthcare costs
- Your wage losses
- Whether liability of the other party is clear
A severe or disabling injury generally results in a higher settlement than a mild or moderate back injury. You could receive:
Medical Expenses
If someone else is responsible for your injury, you are generally entitled to all the current and future medical costs incurred with the injury. Healthcare costs can include medications, hospital stays, specialist appointments, physiotherapy, and others.
Lost Wages
If you missed work time due to recovering from a back injury, you could seek damages such as income loss and loss of future expected income.
Non-Economic Damages
Back injuries can be painful and limit a victim’s life considerably. Therefore, individuals could be entitled to various non-economic awards, such as:
- Pain and anguish
- Emotional distress
- Inconvenience
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Permanent disability
You could also receive out-of-pocket expenses and other types of damages.
I Have a Pre-Existing Back Injury; Do I Qualify for Compensation?
Generally, victims are entitled to compensation for any injuries occurring in an accident that was not their fault. Ohio operates under the “eggshell skull” doctrine, which means that the defendant has to take you as you are at the time of the accident. Therefore, even if your injuries are more severe than expected due to a pre-existing back injury, you are entitled to pursue adequate damages for your medical bills and other expenses.
While having a pre-existing back injury does not bar you from receiving compensation for back pain after a crash, it can complicate your case considerably. The other side and their attorney could argue that your pain stems from the pre-existing injury and has nothing to do with the accident. Therefore, if you had a back condition that was aggravated due to a car accident, consider getting a car accident attorney on your side to avoid getting short-changed.
My Back Pain Developed Weeks After the Accident; Can I Still Sue?
If you develop back pain and other symptoms days or even weeks after a crash, you could face an uphill struggle to get what you deserve. However, unless you have settled your claim already and signed a release form, you could still pursue damages for your injuries. Working with an experienced lawyer can be critical if you experience a delayed back injury.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Lawsuit for Compensation?
According to the Ohio Statute of Limitations, Ohio Revised Code section 2305.10, you generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in the state. The clock starts ticking on the date of your accident or when your injury was discovered. Filing a lawsuit too late could prevent you from recovering compensation.
Since certain factors can shorten or lengthen the time available for filing a lawsuit, consider speaking to a car accident attorney as soon as you can after your crash to protect your legal rights.
Do I Have to Go to Court for a Back Injury Claim?
Most car accident claims are resolved out of court and are settled through negotiation with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. However, some insurers simply refuse to pay or fail to make an adequate offer covering the victim’s damages. When this happens, Morgan & Morgan’s determined attorneys are prepared to go all the way and fight tooth and nail for what you deserve. We don’t settle for less and can take your case to trial if necessary.
What Are My Next Steps After a Car Accident in Cincinnati?
While seeking medical help and legal advice can be crucial steps after a car accident, there are some other things you can do to preserve your legal rights after a car accident, such as:
- Collect contact details of witnesses
- Note down what happened
- Gather names, addresses, and insurance information from other involved drivers
- Take photographs of your injuries, the accident scene, and any damaged vehicles
- Report the accident to law enforcement
- Gather evidence of your losses, such as medical bills, receipts, and pay stubs
If another driver caused your accident, filing a report and gathering evidence can be critical for preserving your legal rights to compensation.
How Morgan & Morgan Can Help
Handling the legal aspects of your back injury claim can feel exhausting and frustrating. However, you do not have to do this on your own. Morgan & Morgan’s determined and compassionate attorneys can be here for you every step of the way. We can help you with all aspects of your claim, including but not limited to:
- Help you get medical help for your back pain
- Assess your claim to determine whether you have a legal case
- Walk you through your options for recovering compensation
- Identify all those responsible for your accident
- Collect, organize, and present evidence to prove your claim
- Calculate your damages
- Negotiate aggressively with insurance companies
- Fight for maximum compensation
When we take your case, you don’t pay a dime unless we recover compensation for you.
Contact Us Today
Get in touch if you suffer from back pain after a car accident. Our Cincinnati attorneys are on standby, waiting to hear from you. Contact us now for a free and confidential case review to determine whether you have a legal claim and qualify for damages.