“Help! I hurt my neck during a car accident. Now what?”
When you have been involved in a serious auto accident, your back and neck is the most common area of the body that is injured. Back injuries can be very painful and result in expensive treatments, therapies and surgeries. Even if you are only in a minor accident with a smaller back injury, your pain could last for months or years. When a back injury causes spinal damage, this could lead to permanent disability or paralysis, so such injuries should be taken seriously.
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, you want an experienced attorney on your side to fight for your rights and get you the compensation you deserve. For Montana residents, your search starts with the Murphy Law Firm.
Common types of crash-related neck and back injuries
The most common injuries to the neck, back and spine that result from an auto accident include whiplash, herniated disc, sciatica, spondylolisthesis, spinal fractures and spinal cord injuries.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a common injury you can suffer in an auto accident, and it is not always treated. This can happen when the muscles, ligaments and tissues in the neck get torn or pulled when your neck is pushed forward or backward with force. A seatbelt can help keep your body anchored in a car, but it’s not very effective at protecting your neck or head from sharp movements.
Even a minor accident can create enough force to result in serious whiplash in your neck. Whiplash can last for weeks or months and sometimes won’t manifest until days or weeks after an accident. Symptoms of whiplash include headaches, tightness in the neck, dizziness, persistent pain and fatigue.
Spinal fractures
Spinal fractures can occur even when you are properly wearing a seatbelt because your head, neck and upper body are not anchored as securely as your lower body. Basically, the parts of your body above the waist can be whipped around violently; this movement can cause the spine to fracture in a number of places, including along the vertebrae.
Spinal fractures can cause extreme pain when you are sitting, walking or even breathing. Other symptoms include incontinence, numbness and muscle weakness. The best way to treat a spinal fracture is to relax and rest your body for extended time periods, but more serious cases may require surgery.
Sciatica
People who suffer herniated discs can also suffer from a secondary (related) issue known as sciatica. Sciatica occurs when a nerve extends from the spinal base down to the legs and through your feet. Victims of sciatica often feel pain that goes down their legs, as well as a lack of feeling in their legs. Another symptom is leg weakness when trying to stand or walk.
This injury can be treated by working out and applying heat to the legs. In more severe cases of sciatica, you may need the help of a chiropractor, physical therapist or surgeon.
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis occurs when the vertebrae in the spine are moved out of their natural positions by a stress fracture. Such movement of these vertebrae can cause spinal nerve pinching, compression and pain. This pain may be chronic and could make it difficult to walk or create weakness or numbness in your legs.
Spondylolisthesis can be treated with the help of a chiropractor or physical therapist, but more serious cases may require surgery.
Herniated disc
A herniated disc is also known as a bulging, ruptured or slipped disc. This type of injury can occur when the discs that cushion the vertebrae in your spine are pushed out of place during an accident. The discs can pinch the nerves in the spine during displacement, and this can cause you pain. Thankfully, a herniated disc can be treated with the help of a chiropractor or physical therapist.
Spinal cord damage
Spinal cord injuries are among the most serious of the injuries you may experience in a car accident. You may require long-term medical care and face a lifetime of disabilities. This is not an injury to take lightly.
Common causes of car accidents which result in back injuries
Auto accidents are commonly caused by drunk driving, distracted driving and reckless driving. In the majority of cases, these injuries are due to another person’s negligence.
It’s important to know what to do after a car crash, including documenting the accident scene, taking photos and verifying the blood alcohol content (BAC) of the drivers involved. This evidence can be used to prove fault.
You also need to make sure you have the right legal firm on your side to both protect your rights and ensure you are fairly compensated for injuries you sustained due to another person’s negligence. These injuries could cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars to treat over the course of your lifetime.
Why hire Murphy Law Firm for help with your neck, back or
spinal cord injuries?
Murphy Law Firm is a family-owned law firm that has fought for Montanans for more than 75 years, and we put this experience to work for you. We understand that neck, back and spinal cord injuries caused by a car accident can be very traumatizing and may change your life forever.
When you or a loved one has experienced a serious auto accident with injuries, don’t hesitate to turn to the personal injury lawyers at Murphy Law Firm. Our legal practice is based in Great Falls, MT, and we are ready to help you recover financially from auto accidents, workplace injuries and more.
