How Should I Handle Back Pain After a Car Accident in Fort Myers?

When you have been involved in a car accident in Fort Myers, it is normal to feel confused and overwhelmed. Most people do not know what steps to take after a traffic collision.

If you have been in a car crash and are experiencing back discomfort, it is critical to take steps to ensure your health and safety. You should also speak with a knowledgeable legal professional at the firm of Morgan & Morgan. 

When someone’s negligent driving causes a car accident, the victim may be owed significant financial recovery. This is especially true if the victim suffered an injury. 

Back pain from a car crash can be a sign of a severe or catastrophic injury. It is important to take the right actions to secure the compensation that you need to move forward. 

The skilled personal injury attorneys at Morgan & Morgan proudly serve clients in the Fort Myers area. When you have been involved in a car accident, reach out to our firm for a no-cost and no-obligation consultation. 

You should not have to handle the financial and personal losses from your Fort Myers accident alone. Our legal team knows what it takes to successfully represent the victims of traffic collisions. 

To arrange a free case evaluation, complete the contact form on our firm’s website today.

Steps to Handle Back Pain Following a Car Accident in Fort Myers

In the moments after a car accident, emotions run high. Because of this, it is very important to take the right actions. 

Failing to do so could result in the loss of the financial recovery that you deserve. If you have questions about what to do for back pain following a Fort Myers car accident, make sure to speak with an attorney. 

When your back hurts after a collision, do not hesitate. Take the following steps as soon as possible:

Get a Medical Assessment

If you feel pain in your back following a traffic accident, it is vital to seek care immediately. After a crash, you may be unsure about what is causing your back pain. 

It is important to have a medical professional diagnose the cause of your back pain. This will ensure that you receive the treatment and medical care that you need. 

The sooner you are diagnosed, the sooner you can begin the process of recovery. In most Fort Myers car accident cases, victims should get diagnostic images of their backs. 

This helps determine whether your back pain is due to a strained muscle, a spinal injury, or another cause. After a physician diagnoses the reason for your back pain, they will guide you on appropriate treatment options. 

Follow Your Doctor’s Guidance

After receiving a medical assessment, it is critical to follow your doctor’s guidance exactly. Doing so is important for your personal health, and it is also necessary to ensure the best possible outcome in any resulting car accident claim. 

Following your doctor’s treatment instructions will be strong evidence that you are taking your injury seriously. The medical documentation from your doctor’s appointment can help to prove that your car accident injury is legitimate. 

Those who can provide evidence of the relationship between their injury and their traffic accident will have a good chance of recovering compensation. If you delay medical care for your back pain, the insurance provider may attempt to undermine or devalue your claim. 

Speak with a trusted personal injury attorney at Morgan & Morgan to begin the process of seeking compensation following a Fort Myers car accident. Do not ignore even the slightest back pain following a crash.

Common Types of Back Pain After Car Accidents

Car accidents involve massive amounts of speed and force. Because of this, collision victims are at high risk for many types of serious injuries. 

Back injuries are some of the most common types of harm that result from traffic accidents. The violent impacts and motion from a collision can result in fractures, sprains, and more. 

Even seemingly minor car accidents can cause drivers and passengers to suffer long-lasting physical harm. Some of the most common types of back pain that can result from car accidents include:

Muscle Spasms

After a crash, you may experience the muscles in your back repeatedly twitching. Oftentimes, these spasms are accompanied by the feeling of a hard knot in the muscle. 

Those who experience this type of pain may also feel tenderness and sensitivity on the surface of their back. If you are suffering from back spasms, you should speak with a trained medical professional immediately.

Burning

Many traffic accident victims experience searing pain vertically along the length of their back. In some cases, this pain may extend to the victim’s buttocks or legs. 

This type of back pain may resolve on its own within a few days after the incident. However, burning pain can also be a sign of serious injuries. It is vital to seek medical treatment if you experience burning pain in your back.

Sharp Pains

Acute sharp pains in your back can result from many different types of muscle or nerve injuries. Many victims experience sharp pains in their back when changing positions after a car accident. 

Stiffness

Following a collision, it is common to feel less flexible. Oftentimes, victims’ muscles experience severe tension. 

This is part of the body’s defense strategies. While minor stiffness can be worked out with light stretching, it can also be a sign of back injuries. 

Pain When Standing or Walking

Physical activity can cause discomfort when you have been injured in a traffic accident. Walking and standing may cause back pain for victims. 

If you feel pain while standing or walking, it is critical to contact a medical professional. This type of discomfort may be the result of damage to your back.

Numbness and Tingling

Tingling and numbness are often signs of nerve damage in the victim’s back. 

The spinal cord connects to the muscles in your arms and legs. Because of this, pinched nerves can result in numbness in the following areas: 

• Arms
• Feet
• Hands
• Legs

Numbness and tingling sensations can signal a serious back injury. Seek medical care as soon as possible following your Fort Myers car crash. 

When you have been harmed because of another person’s careless driving, you should not bear the financial consequences. It is important to schedule a consultation with a trusted Fort Myers injury attorney after a traffic collision.

Typical Back Injuries From Car Crashes

Discomfort in your back after a motor vehicle accident can be caused by many different types of injuries. However, some kinds of physical damage are more common than others. 

Some of the most common back injuries in Fort Myers accidents include:

Herniated Discs

Spinal injuries are a common result of car crashes. Because of the enormous force from traffic collisions, a victim’s spinal discs may shift. 

Moving spinal discs can result in compressed nerves and hernias. When the soft interior of a spinal disc pushes past the tough outer ring of tissue, it is known as a “herniated disc.” 

This severe condition can result in: 

• Numbness
• Burning
• Weakness

A herniated spinal disc requires immediate medical attention.

Back Strains and Sprains

When the soft tissue in the back is overstretched, a sprain or strain may occur. Strains happen when the tendons in the back are stretched too far due to massive force. 

Sprains happen when the ligaments connecting to the bones in the back are damaged. Both types of injuries can result in long-lasting and severe pain. 

Medical imaging does not always provide visual evidence of this type of back injury. Because of that, it is critical to speak with a physician when you have strained or sprained the soft tissue in your back.

Degenerative Disc Disorders

Back injuries caused by the trauma from a car crash can begin or aggravate degenerative disorders in the victim’s back. Sometimes, this type of condition does not appear until months or years after the inciting incident. 

Older individuals are more susceptible to these disorders as the result of car accident injuries. Degenerative disc conditions can cause: 

• Disc bulges
• Degenerative scoliosis
• Painful bone spurs
• Herniated spinal discs
• Sciatica
• Pinched nerves
• Foraminal stenosis

Injuries from a traffic collision can have long-lasting consequences. Even if your back pain seems minor, you should never ignore it or assume it will heal on its own. 

Speak with a medical professional immediately following an accident. The knowledgeable team at Morgan & Morgan will help you recover the compensation that you are rightfully owed from your Fort Myers collision.

Examples of Damages in Fort Myers Traffic Accident Cases

Victims of motor vehicle accidents often face mounting costs and expenses. If your accident was the result of another person’s reckless or careless behavior, you have the right to pursue compensation for your losses. 

Like most types of personal injury claims, motor vehicle crashes usually involve two categories of damages. These categories are “economic” and “non-economic.”

What Are Economic Damages?

Economic damages are ordered monetary payments to the injury victim from the at-fault party. These payments are meant to restore the accident victim to the financial status they enjoyed before the incident. 

In other words, economic damages only cover direct monetary losses. Some of the most common examples include: 

• Current medical bills
• Future medical expenses
• Property loss and vehicular damage
• Lost income from missed work
• Decreased earning capacity

Not every type of damage results in financial losses. Still, victims deserve compensation for all of the negative consequences of an accident.

What Are Non-Economic Damages?

Payments for the intangible losses from a traffic collision are known as “non-economic” damages. These payments are intended to compensate the victim for the mental, emotional, and personal harm from their injuries. 

Typical examples include: 

• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental trauma and distress
• Loss of ability to enjoy life
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 

Sadly, some Fort Myers collisions result in fatal injuries for the victim. When this happens, the estate holders have the right to pursue damages on behalf of the deceased person.

Through a wrongful death claim, the decedent’s survivors can seek compensation for funeral and burial expenses. They can also potentially recover damages for their own pain and suffering. 

To accurately calculate the value of your Fort Myers accident claim, speak with a knowledgeable tort lawyer. The experts at Morgan & Morgan will happily review the facts of your case to determine appropriate damages.