It may have been only a fender bender, but the jarring motion of your car accident may still have caused serious injuries. Sometimes those injuries are not easy to see with the naked eye, and sometimes the symptoms may not appear for days or even weeks. This is why emergency responders urge victims of car accidents to go to the hospital even if they feel fine.
If time has passed since your accident, and you are beginning to feel back pain or other mysterious symptoms, you may very well have suffered an injury to your spine. Besides back pain, the most common symptoms of any kind of back injury may include:
- Pain in your arms or legs
- Numbness or tingling in your extremities
- Weakness in your arms or legs
- Difficulty walking
- Loss of bladder or bowel control in the most serious cases
These symptoms indicate that your spine has suffered an injury. It may be mild or severe, but doctors recommend you do not take chances.
How bad is your injury?
Back injuries vary in severity. The injury could be something self-correcting like whiplash that may be uncomfortable for a few weeks before the pain fades. It could also be something that might become more debilitating as time goes on, like a herniated disk or a displaced bone. In these cases, the pain would intensify instead of fading.
You may also be one of the unlucky few who suffered a spinal fracture. This happens when your safety belt secures the lower half of your body, but the impact of the other vehicle hitting your car throws your upper body forward. The vertebra can separate, causing a fracture in the middle or lower back.
At the very least, you may have to endure surgeries and therapy, and you may suffer with back pain for the rest of your life. This may result in lost days at work and the need for powerful painkillers or other types of pain management.
The worst-case scenario is when the spinal fracture also causes injury to the spinal cord. When this happens, any loss of strength or function is likely permanent. In this situation, you may require special care to protect your quality of life.
An advocate who feels your pain
Who would be better able to defend your rights than someone who has been in your position? A lawyer who has also suffered a spinal injury brings a special compassion and commitment to your case. Whether it is standing up to the insurance company or pursuing a personal injury claim, such an attorney will passionately undertake your cause.
Because your attorney understands what you are going through first hand, you will be able to focus on getting well while your lawyer handles the legal strategies. Whether your case can be negotiated satisfactorily or requires determined litigation, you can be assured of having a powerful advocate who will fight for positive results.