The human back is a complex structure. It is made up of the spinal cord, discs, vertebrae, tendons, ligaments, and muscle. This complexity makes it susceptible to injury. This is why back injuries are common in car accidents where you can suffer from extreme jarring motions and forces. Injuries vary. You can suffer from pulled muscles to paralysis if you damage the spinal cord.
Even intermediate forms of back injuries may linger for years and may seriously affect a person’s income earning capacity. Back injuries can also result in lost wages, significant medical expenses, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. for these reasons you should not hesitate to get the help of a San Clemente personal injury lawyer.
Types of Back Injuries
Back injuries include herniated discs, bruising or tearing of muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and various forms of vertebrae fractures. Prompt treatment of back injuries is necessary if you notice any symptoms after an accident. Because the back is used in most physical activities, untreated back injuries tend to get worse over time.
Back Injury Symptoms
Symptoms may include some or more of the following:
- Tenderness or pain in the back (sometimes intermittent)
- Radiating pain along the legs
- Leg weakness
- Urinary or bowel problems
- Tingling or numbness in the leg, buttocks, or foot
Factors that Affect Your Injury Claim
The more serious the back injury, the greater the cost of medical treatment. Recovery times also take longer which means you will not be able to work for longer periods of time. Serious injury also increases the amount of pain suffered. Therefore, the more severe injuries to your, the greater the amount of damages.
You can also recover damages if the accident triggers pre-existing back injuries. in this case, damages will only cover the additional injury inflicted. This determination can only be made by medical experts such as your doctor. Note that the defendant will try to use your pre-existing condition to reduce your damages as much as possible.
If you fail to seek prompt medical treatment for your back injury and it gets worse, the defendant may attempt to reduce your damages. You are required to take reasonable measures to mitigate your injuries after an accident. Records of when you sought medical attention and whether you bought prescribed medication should be kept.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer Today!
If you have suffered a back injury because of an accident caused by another driver, contact us at Silverthorne Attorneys. Let our experienced lawyers help you get the compensation you need and deserve.