Dealing with Back Pain After a Car Accident: Legal Help from Morgan & Morgan

It's easy to take a pain-free life for granted. After all, until you experience a serious injury yourself, there isn't much reason to give lower back pain a thought. After a car accident that isn't your fault causes you to suffer, especially with symptoms like lower back pain after a car accident, it's natural to want the at-fault party to provide compensation so you can get back to your normal activities and begin enjoying life as much as you did prior to the collision.

With almost 3 million auto accident injuries every year, you may be among the many who suffer lower back damage as a result. At Morgan and Morgan, we understand how even a relatively minor back injury can impact your life. Back pain, whether temporary or chronic, can disrupt your life in all sorts of ways, from having a good night's sleep to taking care of children and other family responsibilities. Not to mention being able to work.

You should be able to recover compensation for your injuries, and a car accident lawyer can provide valuable assistance to ensure that you get a fair settlement. Morgan and Morgan Law Firm is proud to have represented countless victims of car accident injuries for more than 30 years in the industry. We're not shy about our success record either. No matter where you live, you can count on the legal experts at Morgan and Morgan to guide you in the right direction.

Why Does Your Lower Back Hurt After a Car Accident?

How you end up developing back pain after a car accident comes down to physics. When traveling inside a motor vehicle and coming to an abrupt stop due to hitting something or something hitting your car, your body continues to move forward with momentum until something else stops it. This could be a seatbelt, a deployed airbag, a steering column, a dashboard, the windshield, or the seat in front of you.

Anytime your body experiences a significant jolt, like what happens in a car accident, the force of the impact can cause injury to your back, neck, head, and extremities. Even whiplash can be connected to back pain.  

How Long Should Your Back Hurt After a Car Accident?

You can recover from back pain within a few days, but more serious injuries can cause chronic back pain that can last a lifetime, even with the proper treatment. Facing a lifetime of pain is something no one wants to consider, but sadly, it becomes a reality for some. In this case, you ought to get the compensation you deserve.

While no amount of money can make up for having to deal with chronic lower back pain, it can help you get medical treatment, physical therapy, and assistance with household tasks. Likewise, if a car accident has left you seriously injured, you may not have the capacity to earn a decent living. This kind of personal injury is also compensable.  

We always recommend that clients seek out medical care as soon as possible after a car accident. Some injuries make themselves known immediately, while others become apparent gradually. Time is of the essence when it comes to any injury involving the back or spine. Only a qualified physician can give you a proper diagnosis, so it's critical to get a medical evaluation right away.

What Kind of Back Injury Is Responsible for Chronic Pain After a Car Collision?

The back is the largest posterior area of the human body and provides support for the rest of the body. It consists of interconnecting bones, muscles, nerves, ligaments, and tendons, all of which can be the origin of pain. However, some back injuries are more common than others. Here are a few of the most typical kinds of back injuries sustained in a car accident:

Herniated discs - The bones that form the spine in the human anatomy are cushioned by small round discs that have a resilient outer layer protecting the gel-like center. These discs can be thought of as the shock absorbers of the spine. When the outer layer is damaged, enabling the center to enter the spinal canal, this is known as a herniated disc (also known as a slipped, ruptured, or bulging disc) and can cause severe pain. While discs can degenerate naturally over time, a single event, such as a car crash, can also be the source of injury.

Lumbar sprains and strains - Car accidents often cause muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the body to stretch beyond their normal capacity, resulting in painful sprains and strains. Stretched connective tissues can become inflamed, causing pain in the lumbar region of the lower back. The lumbar spine supports your body's weight and enables a wide range of motion, making injuries to this region often debilitating.

Discogenic pain - It's often a struggle for doctors to identify the source of discogenic back pain because it can be connected to degenerative conditions and inflammation, except when it occurs right after a car accident. If you experience sharp shooting pains coming from your lower back that are aggravated when you sit, stand, or bend, you may have sustained a back injury from your car accident. This kind of pain is also related to sciatica which causes radiating pain to extend into the legs, feet, and groin.

Spinal stenosis - When the space inside the backbone is too small, pressure on the spinal cord and nerves can cause lower back pain which can worsen over time. Generally, this condition is linked to arthritis, but it can also be brought about by a spinal injury from a car accident.

Cauda equina syndrome - At the end of your spinal cord is a collection of nerves known as the cauda equina that send and receive messages from your legs and pelvic organs. This syndrome may be the result of a large herniated disc which can be caused by a wide variety of reasons, including a violent injury from a car accident. The syndrome frequently requires surgical intervention for relief. Beyond pain, it can cause weakness, numbness, bladder issues, incontinence, and sexual dysfunction problems.

Degenerative spinal disorder - This condition is a catch-all for issues that cause the gradual loss of function and the deterioration of the normal structure of the spine over time. Degenerative spinal disorders often stem from osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and slipped or herniated discs. However, a violent impact from a car accident can exacerbate or fast-forward degeneration of the spine.    

These are some of the more common lower back pain issues people can experience after a car crash. However, the proper diagnosis from a medical professional is always the best way to determine what is causing your lower back pain. Having a doctor perform diagnostic tests and offer a diagnosis also provides valuable evidence for your insurance claim.

Back injuries should never be left untreated if you want to avoid the possibility of permanent damage. Furthermore, a doctor may be able to provide ways to alleviate the pain while you recover.

How to Make an Insurance Claim After a Car Accident?

Anytime you're injured in a car accident that isn't your fault, you may be entitled to recover compensation for medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and more. Under certain circumstances that involve serious injury, you can even seek compensation even if you live in a state that observes no-fault insurance laws. To understand your options, we advise you to speak with a car accident lawyer right away, as the time you have may be limited.

Most insurance providers have strict protocols and deadlines for filing a claim, so it's important not to delay. Be prepared when you contact the other party's insurance provider with information regarding your accident, including a police report and the information of any eyewitnesses. However, be wary of making any statement without legal guidance, as insurance companies often use tactics meant to protect their clients (and themselves) from liability.

What Damages Are Available to Car Accident Victims Who Suffer Back Injuries?

An expert car accident attorney has the knowledge, experience, and resources to help zero in on the kind of damages you should seek after a car accident causes a back injury. The damages may include the following:

• Pain and suffering
• Lost income
• Lost income capacity
• Medical expenses, including hospital bills and treatment
• Loss of consortium
• Permanent disability
• Permanent paralysis
• Emotional anguish
• Chronic or severe pain
• Loss of quality of life

In rare cases where the injury resulted from intentional or irresponsible actions, punitive damages may apply.

What Is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident That Causes Lower Back Pain?

Every case we take on is unique and will have a wide variety of factors that influence how much the case is worth. Generally, aspects that will factor into how much you may be eligible to recover will be determined by the following:

• The state in which you live
• How many parties were involved in the accident
• If there were commercial drivers involved
• Policyholder limits
• The extent of your injuries and losses

Settlements can vary widely, but according to the Insurance Information Institute, in 2020, the average claim for bodily injury after a car accident was $20,235. However, we've had cases that were resolved by multi-million dollar settlements. If you want to understand how much your case is potentially worth, it would be best to speak to one of our car accident lawyers personally. 

How Can Working With Morgan and Morgan's Car Accident Attorneys Can Strengthen My Case?

When filing a claim for expenses and losses, the insurance adjuster may ask you to provide an estimate for the damages. This is where you need to be careful because you may not realize all the factors to consider. For example, an injury that causes chronic lower back pain may impact your ability to work the same job as you did before, causing a disparity in your income potential. Additionally, a long-term injury may require future medical treatment or even surgery.

Future medical expenses and wage losses, along with extensive pain and suffering, should be included in your estimate for damages, and it often takes an expert to calculate losses that have yet come to pass. Don't expect an insurance adjuster to work with your best interests at heart. They owe their loyalty to their employer. When you have a dedicated car accident attorney working on your side, you can be assured you'll have an advocate considering your future.

We can also help you deal with medical bills while you're waiting for a settlement by negotiating with your medical providers. Often, our lawyers can work to reduce your medical bills and arrange necessary treatment on a lien basis. This means you may get the help you need to get relief for your lower back pain while reducing the amount you'll owe once your settlement comes in.

Whenever you're unsure if you're getting a fair settlement offer or if you're having issues getting your claim approved, a knowledgeable car accident attorney can do wonders. If we accept your case, you'll have the power and resources of one of the largest and most successful law firms at your disposal.

If lower back pain after a car accident has left you needing legal assistance, contact us today for a free case evaluation. If we're unable to conclude your case successfully, you'll owe us nothing.