A car accident has the potential to inflict injury on virtually any part of the body. If you experience pain in your neck or back following an automobile accident, this could be a sign of a serious injury involving the spinal cord. You should always seek professional medical care and hire an experienced San Antonio car accident lawyer following a car accident to diagnose and treat these injuries.
What Injuries Can Cause Back or Neck Pain After a Car Accident?
After a car accident, symptoms such as pain in the back or neck, pain when moving the head or neck, stiffness or a loss of mobility, or numbness or tingling anywhere in the body could all point to a potential spinal cord injury. Common types of injuries that cause back or neck pain include:
- Whiplash: an injury to the soft tissues (tendons, ligament and muscles) of the neck due to a rapid back-and-forth motion of the head and neck, which often occurs in a rear-end collision
- Herniated disk: a spinal disk that has shifted out of its correct place due to the impact of a collision. A slipped or ruptured disk can place pressure on surrounding nerves.
- Back sprains or strains: pulled, strained or torn muscles due to the sudden trauma of a vehicle collision. These injuries can result in muscle spasms, pain and a loss of mobility in the back.
- Spinal cord injuries: a cracked or broken vertebra from the force of a car accident. Severe collisions could cause a broken back or severed spine and permanent paralysis.
If you notice pain, dizziness, headache, fatigue, or loss of range of motion after a car accident, you may have a neck or back injury. It is critical to see a doctor right away after an auto accident for prompt injury diagnosis and treatment. This may include the stabilization of your spine to prevent further injury.
Delayed Back and Neck Pain
A unique feature of back and neck pain after a car accident is that it may be delayed, meaning you may not feel pain immediately after the crash. It may take hours or even days for the pain of an injury to set in. This is especially true if you experience a rush of adrenaline from the collision.
The possibility of a hidden injury is why you should always see a doctor after a car accident, even if you don’t think you were injured. A doctor can run tests to detect an injury even before you notice neck or back pain. That way, you can receive prompt treatment and improve your odds of a successful recovery.
What to Do if You Experience Back or Neck Pain After a Car Accident
If you get into a car accident in Texas, try to remain calm and gather information. Exchange names and insurance details with the other driver. Call 911 to report the car accident to law enforcement. When the police arrive, don’t tell them you are uninjured, even if you feel fine. You may have hidden or delayed injuries. Decline to answer questions about your injuries until you have seen a doctor.
If you are diagnosed with a spinal cord injury, whiplash or any other type of injury from the collision, file a claim with the at-fault driver’s car insurance company. Do not discuss the details of your injuries with an insurance claims adjuster. Instead, hire a personal injury lawyer in San Antonio to take over insurance negotiations for you. A lawyer will work hard to collect maximum financial compensation on your behalf.