Despite the many safety features that now come standard in all new vehicles, car accidents remain the ninth leading cause of death around the world, and even minor collisions can cause debilitating injuries. In fact, Men’s Health reports that more than 70 percent of people who go to the emergency department following a car crash still feel neck and back pain six weeks afterward.
Back injuries are especially common in car accidents, and they can range in severity depending on the circumstances of the crash. Unfortunately, even minor back injuries can affect your everyday life and inhibit you from being as productive as you could or should be.
If you sustained a back injury in a collision, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and non-economic damages. An Albuquerque back injury lawyer from The Law Office of Brian K. Branch, PC will evaluate your case to determine if you have grounds for a claim. Call 505-207-4401 to schedule a free consultation.
Read on to learn about some of the most common kinds of back injuries suffered in car accidents:
- Compression Fractures
Compression fractures are essentially tiny cracks that develop in the bones of the spine and can eventually lead to collapsed or deformed vertebrae. If this happens, it can alter the shape of the spine permanently.
Symptoms of a compression fracture include changes in posture, pain, and difficulty breathing. This back injury is especially common among older adults because their bones are more brittle, but it is often mistaken for arthritis or the early signs of aging.
- Disc Injuries
There are 23 spongy “cushions” between the 24 vertebrae that make up the spine. These discs essentially act as shock absorbers, so when one of them bulges out of its natural position as the result of trauma, the pain can be unbearable.
Slipped and ruptured discs are two of the most common kinds of back injuries sustained in car accidents. When a damaged disc puts pressure on the surrounding nerves, it can cause numbness, pain, and weakness throughout the body. Disc injuries in the lower back area can eventually lead to sciatica, as well, which is a serious condition that causes debilitating pain and can get progressively worse over time.
- Spinal Cord Injuries
Your spinal cord is the bridge between your brain and the rest of your body, which means a healthy spinal cord is essential for proper sensory function and motor control. If you sustain a spinal cord injury in a car accident, it can prevent the brain from communicating with the rest of the body, resulting in some form of paralysis.
Spinal cord injuries are typically apparent immediately following a crash, but other kinds of injuries can take time to manifest symptoms. That is why you should visit a doctor following a car accident even if you feel fine.
If you sustained debilitating injuries in a car wreck that another driver caused, contact The Law Office of Brian K. Branch, PC. With a combined 32 years in legal practice, our attorneys have the experience and professionalism to help you through this tough time and get you fairly compensated.
Call 505-207-4401 to schedule a free case evaluation with a back injury attorney in Albuquerque. You can learn more about car accident claims in New Mexico by visiting USAttorneys.com.