One of the most common types of car accident injuries – especially rear-end collisions – is injury to the back. Back injuries caused by car accidents may be minor, requiring only rest and a pain management in order to recover. More frequently, however, injuries to the back from car crashes end up being more serious, sometimes even catastrophic. If you have suffered a back injury in a crash, contact a Virginia personal injury attorney to find out what legal options you may have.
Types of Back Injuries
Common types of car accident back injuries include:
- Broken vertebrae
- Compression fracture
- Displaced vertebrae
- Herniated disc
- Muscle sprain or strain
- Severed spinal cord (partial or complete)
- Whiplash
Back Injury Symptoms
Symptoms of back injuries can sometimes take hours, even days, after a car crash to show up. The following are symptoms that could indicate a serious back injury:
- Changes in gait
- Difficulty rotating head
- Generalized pain in the lower back
- Loss of bladder control or inability to urinate
- Loss of bowel control
- Numbness or tingling in buttocks, saddle region, legs, or feet
- Pain moving through arm and shoulder
- Pain shooting down buttocks or legs
- Sharp pain in back, neck, or shoulders
- Trouble walking
- Weakness in buttocks or legs
It is important to note that the quicker you seek medical treatment at the first sign of a back injury, the better chances you will have at recovery. The longer the issue is left untreated, the more damage may be done. For example, if you suffer from numbness or tingling in your legs, that could be a sign of nerve damage caused by an injured vertebra. The longer the nerve is inflamed, the longer it will take to heal.
Recovering for Damages
Many back injuries require long-term recovery and often leave the victim with permanent issues. A person who has suffered a back injury in a car accident caused by another driver may be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages for their injuries. A Virginia accident attorney can discuss with you in more detail what damages you may be entitled to for your specific case, but generally, the damages a victim can collect include:
- Fees for ambulance transport
- Emergency room visits
- Hospital stays
- All diagnostic testing, such as X-rays and MRIs
- Both prescription and non-prescription medication
- Physical, occupational, and mental therapy fees
- Costs of transportation for medical services
- Pain and suffering
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Loss of consortium
Let a Virginia Back Injury Attorney Fight for You
If you have been injured as a result of an auto accident caused by another party, contact an experienced Virginia car accident attorney to find out what legal recourse you may have to collect for the damages you have suffered because of that injury. Call Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp to schedule a free and no-obligation consultation with a Virginia Beach car accident lawyer and learn what kind of financial compensation you may be entitled to.
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