Car Accident Injury

What To Do If You Have Back Pain After a Car Accident

By Car Accident Help on March 17, 2023 | Posted in: Car Accident Injury

Car accidents happen suddenly, and you can’t always be sure of what’s happened right away. One moment you’re cruising toward your destination, the next, you’re violently shaken by a collision. Trying to remember the steps you’re supposed to take is difficult enough, but the stress-related chemicals flowing through your body post-accident can have other effects that don’t become apparent right away.

What happens if you file your accident report, speak with a police officer, and get home to finally breathe, only to find out once you’ve begun to relax that maybe you’re a little more hurt than you realized? Worse yet, what if this doesn’t happen for a day or two following the accident?

One of the most common types of sneaky injuries that can occur during car accidents is back pain. If you’ve ever had back pain before, you know how debilitating it can be. Should this happen to you, there are some steps you can take to ensure your best outcome. Before we explore these steps, let’s examine why you may be experiencing back pain.

Common types of back pain from a car accident

Your back is a large part of your body, so back pain can mean several things that all have different degrees of severity and need for treatment. These can include:

Whiplash

Whiplash occurs when the sudden impact of a car collision causes your neck and head to whip backward and forward in quick succession. This can do damage to your spine, including the bones, ligaments, and tendons. Even though whiplash happens primarily to your neck, you can feel resulting pain in your upper lower back in addition to the neck.

Minor cases of whiplash often go away on their own with time and rest, but severe cases can lead to chronic pain or a disability. One in ten cases of whiplash lead to permanent disablement. If you experience symptoms, it’s worth getting checked out no matter what.

Strains and sprains

Soft tissue like muscles, ligaments, and tendons connect throughout your entire back, and when they’re put under too much stress, they can be strained or sprained. These injuries can be extremely painful. A pulled muscle can take up to six weeks to heal even with treatment, and some strains can take months. Certain activities will be difficult during this time, so if you have a very physical job, you might not be able to work. 

Degenerative disc disease

When one or more of the discs situated between your vertebrae are damaged, pinched, or injured in any way, back pain is a common symptom. This usually happens as a result of aging, but a car accident can trigger the process.

The resulting condition, degenerative disc disease, can cause many problems, including osteoarthritis, sciatica, slipped discs, bone spurs, and more. Pain from these injuries is often a shooting sensation that is sharp and irritating, and it can pop up during any activity. Treatment may require pain medication, physical therapy, and spinal fusion. This can all be very expensive, unpleasant, and time-consuming.

Spinal injury

The most severe back injuries are those that occur in your spine. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that connect your brain to the rest of your body with nerves, so your spine is meant to protect them. If an accident leads to spinal cord damage, chronic pain and paralysis are very real possibilities. Spinal cord injuries can also lead to infection, fluid leaks, blood clots, and more.

What to do if you get back pain after a car accident

To ensure your best chances of healing properly, it’s important to get your back pain checked out and taken care of right away. Follow these three steps for the best outcome:

1. Get examined immediately – Going to a doctor right away serves two important purposes. One is to ensure your best chance of recovery. Acting quickly means getting treatment sooner, so if any problems are worsening, your doctor will be able to prevent as much further damage as possible. The second is to help prove your injuries are related to the accident. If you wait several days to be treated, you risk a lawyer arguing in court that your injury wasn’t accident-related.
2. Receive whatever treatment is necessary – Until you are on the proper path to health, don’t worry about the legal side of things. Don’t tough anything out, and follow your doctor’s orders. If needed, get further testing done to diagnose the problem. Your health comes first.
3. Talk to an attorney – Once you’ve taken steps toward preserving your health, it’s time to start thinking about legal proceedings. However, you don’t want to wait too long before contacting a personal injury law firm as certain limitation periods are already ticking away. The initial call will almost always be free. This attorney can help review your medical records and insurance policy. They can also represent you in court if necessary, and in most circumstances maximize the outcome you need. Do not sign anything until you’ve talked to a lawyer.

Car Accident Help is here to stand with you

If you’ve recently been in a car accident and you’re experiencing back pain, we hope this guide has helped you understand the potential severity of your situation. If you decide you’re ready to better understand your legal situation, the skilled attorneys at Car Accident Help are an invaluable resource to get you through the legal process. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Serious Injuries Caused by Seat Belts

By Car Accident Help on June 27, 2016 | Posted in: Car Accident Injury

With more drivers on the road, Oklahoma City has seen an increase in auto accidents. Car accidents incur a massive number of bodily injuries, some of which seat belts have contributed to.

When an accident occurs, and the vehicle comes to a sudden and violent stop, a seat belt is often the only means of slowing the momentum of the moving bodies inside. It is a jolting and harsh action to be slowed so suddenly by a seat belt, and people often suffer injuries at the sites where their bodies make contact with the belt. Abrasions on the chest and abdomen of people wearing seat belts are commonly seen in the wake of car accidents. Subcutaneous bruising, or bruising which occurs beneath the skin, as well as sternum fractures, which are breaks or cracks in the bone running down the center of the chest, have become among the most common injuries to be suffered from seat belts. Read the rest »

Common Spinal Cord Injuries Caused by Car Accidents

By Car Accident Help on June 22, 2016 | Posted in: Car Accident Injury

The spinal cord is a delicate bundle of nerves that’s strung down through the inside of the backbone. It plays a pivotal part in connecting to the brain stem and carrying important messages to different parts of the body. Because of the major role it plays in our daily life, spinal cord injuries can be tragic, painful, and costly.

Spinal cord injuries are far from uncommon in the medical world. With roughly 8,000 new cases diagnosed each year; spinal cord injuries make up a serious fraction of the debilitating injuries suffered in America. Most spinal cord injuries occur in young people, and the majority of these injuries are caused by car and motorcycle accidents. As the spinal cord is responsible for controlling so much of the body’s movement, damage to it can have serious consequences. Complete loss of mobility, or paralysis, as well as death can all result from an injured spinal cord. Read the rest »

Head Injuries Most Commonly Suffered in Oklahoma Car Accidents

By Car Accident Help on June 7, 2016 | Posted in: Car Accident Injury

Car accidents are terrifying for everyone involved, and can cause numerous types of injuries. Brain or head injuries, however, can often be the most severe and mysterious.

Even in a minor collision, the head and brain are often left exposed, and any driver involved should seek medical attention right away in case of internal bleeding or a concussion.

At the time of an accident, a concussion can seem insignificant considering the severity of other injuries typically associated with car accidents, but they shouldn’t be taken lightly. They can also be tricky to diagnose, as signs of a concussion are often not noticed until days or even weeks after the event. Read the rest »

Oklahoma City Police Chase Causes Injuries

By Car Accident Help on August 26, 2013 | Posted in: Car Accident Injury

Four people were injured in an Oklahoma crash involving a drunk driver evading police in a stolen car. According to a News OK news report, the police chase and car accident occurred in southwest Oklahoma City. Officials say the driver of a stolen car crashed into a vehicle injuring three people. The driver continued on and crashed into another vehicle near SW 104 and Western Avenue. None of the injuries were life threatening. The driver has been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

The consequences of drunk driving can be catastrophic or even fatal. According to Oklahoma Statute 47-67-761: “Any person who operates a motor vehicle while his ability to operate such motor vehicle is impaired by the consumption of alcohol, or any other substance, other than alcohol, which is capable of being ingested, inhaled, injected or absorbed into the human body and is capable of adversely affecting the central nervous system, vision, hearing or other sensory or motor functions,” is driving under the influence. Read the rest »

Preparing Your Vehicle for a Safe Summer Road Trip

By Car Accident Help on May 21, 2013 | Posted in: Car Accident Injury

Road trips are relatively inexpensive and can be fun for the whole family. They can also prove dangerous if proper precautionary steps are not taken. Even if your car is relatively new, it is important that you perform a mechanical check before hitting the roadway. It is particularly important to check the fluids, hoses, belts, tires, and brakes. If you are uncomfortable with performing this type of check on your own, take your vehicle to a trusted mechanic for an inspection.

Here is what you should look for if you perform the inspection yourself: Read the rest »

Dealing with Medical Expenses after an Oklahoma Car Accident

By Car Accident Help on February 27, 2013 | Posted in: Car Accident Injury

In the year 2011, there were approximately 189 traffic accidents every single day in Oklahoma. According to the Oklahoma Crash Facts Report, 36,294 people were injured in Oklahoma traffic accidents during that same year. It is important for anyone who has been injured in an Oklahoma car accident to take the necessary steps to protect his or her rights.

Oklahoma car crash injury attorneys advise that immediately following the crash, it is imperative that you contact the authorities, exchange information, take photos of the crash site, and seek medical attention. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for a speedy and complete recovery. Furthermore, symptoms can get much worse if you are not treated right away. Failing to see a doctor right away can even be used against you if the at-fault driver’s insurance company decides to fight the claim. Read the rest »