January 8, 2023

Blog, Car Accidents

With more than two million people injured in auto accidents each year, the odds are that either you or a loved one will become a car crash victim at some point.  One of the most common accident injuries that many victims suffer are back injuries. Many crash victims sustain serious enough back injuries that they require extensive medical treatment and/or miss time from work, resulting in lost wages. If you have been injured in a crash, consider contacting a seasoned Virginia car accident attorney to find out what financial compensation you may be entitled to for your injuries.

Types of Car Accident Back Injuries

One of the most common types of back injuries is those to the soft tissue. This type of injury can occur even in low-impact collisions. Victims can suffer from tears to the tendons, muscles, or ligaments, strains, or sprains. In most cases, the injury will heal, however, medical treatments and physical therapy are often required. Depending on the extent of the injury and limitations required for rehab, victims may also be unable to work while the injury heals.

Injuries to back discs are also common in a car accident. Discs protect the nerves running up and down the spine from bony vertebrae. The outer part of the disc is made up of hard material, but the inside contains a fluid that is like jelly. If the disc becomes punctured – which often happens during crash impact – any fluid that leaks will irritate the nerves. The condition can be extremely painful and it may take months to recover from the injury. Many victims require surgery to repair the damage. Whether or not surgery is needed, rehab and recovery for this injury is typically long-term and often results in months missed from work.

Victims of car crashes can also sustain injuries to their spinal cord. These injuries usually require life-long medical treatment and care and the victims are left with permanent disabilities.

If the injury is incomplete – meaning less severe – there is a chance the injury will eventually heal. An incomplete spinal cord injury may not only result in an extended period of time the victim is unable to work, but they may eventually become completely disabled and not able to work at all. If a spinal cord injury is a complete injury, or severe, the injury is likely a permanent one which will never be repaired.

Complete spinal cord injuries typically leave the victim suffering some level of paralysis. The higher on the spine the injury is, the more widespread the paralysis is. A spinal cord injury changes the victim’s life forever, leaving them with lifelong medical expenses and the inability to do many of the activities they could do before the accident and injury occurred.

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Virginia Today

If you suffered a serious back injury in a car crash caused by the careless or reckless actions of another motorist, contact an experienced Virginia car accident attorney today to schedule a free, confidential consultation. Our law firm has effectively represented many clients whose back injuries left them with long-term or permanent disabilities and we have secured sizable settlements and verdicts on their behalf.

 

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