Whiplash & Whiplash Injury St. Louis

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The Most Common Car Accident Back Injuries and How to Deal with Them

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Let’s discuss the three most common car accident back injuries, how they occur, and their common symptoms.

Back injuries are prevalent after car accidents, and they can take a long time to heal. Below, we will talk about the most common back injuries sustained in car accidents and how to deal with them.

car accident victim with a back injury

The Most Common Car Accident Injuries

There are a variety of different back injuries that can occur after a car accident, and some are more common than others. Let’s discuss the three most common car accident back injuries, how they occur, and their common symptoms.

The good news is that most of these injuries can be treated with rest and prescription pain medications (or surgical intervention). So if you experience one of these injuries, don’t wait— seek medical help and follow the doctor’s orders.

Whiplash

Did you know that around 3 million whiplash injuries occur every year and that most of these injuries result from auto accidents? Car accident-related whiplash injuries mainly occur when the head and neck (which is the start of the spinal column) are suddenly jerked backward and then forward. This type of injury can cause damage to the tendons, muscles, ligaments, and discs in the neck.

Symptoms of whiplash include neck/back pain, headache, dizziness, fatigue, difficulty turning the head, and numbness or tingling in the arms or hands. 

Vertebrae (Spinal) Fractures

The spinal column is made up of 33 individual, interlocking vertebrae. These bones work together to provide support and flexibility for the spine. A spinal fracture is a break in one or more of these Vertebrae, and it most often happens when the victim’s car is hit from the side or rear, and the force of the impact is transmitted up the spine. Here are the three most common spinal fractures:

  • Burst fractures: This occurs when the vertebrae are compressed and then smashed.
  • Compression fracture: This type of fracture occurs when the force of the impact is so great that it crushes the vertebrae.
  • Hyperextension fracture: This is a break in one or more of the vertebrae that occur when the spine is bent back too far.

Symptoms of a spinal fracture include back pain, tingling or numbness in the arms or legs, difficulty walking or standing, and swelling in the area around the break.

Slipped or Herniated Discs

The vertebrae that make up the spinal column are held in place by tough, rubbery discs. These discs act as shock absorbers and allow the spine to bend and twist. A slipped or herniated disc is a condition in which one of these discs ruptures or bulges out of its normal position. This can cause the disc to press on one or more spinal nerves, leading to pain, numbness, and tingling in the arms or legs.

St. Louis Car Accident Attorneys

Have you or a loved one suffered a back injury in a car accident? Speak with an experienced car accident attorney at the Hoffman Law Firm today. We can evaluate your claim for free and help you determine what steps to take to protect your legal right to compensation.

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Click to Call: (314) 361-4242

What is Causing Lower Back Pain After Car Accident?

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Three major causes of lower back pain after a car accident include damaged spinal discs, muscle strains and sprains, and an injured spinal cord.

Depending on the impact of your car crash, you may experience lower back pain immediately or days later. That’s why it’s important to seek medical attention immediately after a car crash – even if the pain you are experiencing seems negligible. If left untreated, minor injuries or pain could turn into major injuries down the road. This article will explore three major causes of lower back pain in the aftermath of an auto crash.

woman with lower back pain after car accident

Back Pain as a Result of Damaged Spinal Discs

Spinal discs are spongy circular-shaped cartilages responsible for spine stability, and they also make movement possible by offering the vertebrae ‘pivot points‘. Your discs can withstand intense pressure. However, extreme levels of pressure can cause the inner jelly-like substance to push against the outer ring of your disc, triggering back pain and nerve symptoms. The pain can be excruciating. 

Back Pain as a Result of Muscle Strains and Sprains

Your lower back derives its support from soft tissues: ligaments, tendons, and muscles. These soft tissues cover your entire back from the shoulders to the tailbone. These tissues are delicate and can be damaged when subjected to extreme pressure. Depending on the severity of the injury, the strained tissues can take weeks or months to recover. 

Injured Spinal Cord

A high-velocity car accident can likely cause spinal cord damage. A damaged spinal cord can lead to irreversible health conditions, including chronic pain, partial or total paralysis, blood clots, and spinal fluid leaks. 

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

If your back starts hurting after an accident, don’t ignore it. The injury and pain may get worse as time passes. Seek medical help immediately.

Not only is seeking medical attention important for the sake of your health, but it also helps protect your claim. Insurance companies will often argue that your back pain was not caused by the auto accident. In such a situation, your doctor’s report will help play an important role in proving that the car accident caused your back pain and injuries.

In addition to seeing a doctor right away, it is highly recommended that you speak with an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney as soon as possible. We can’t emphasize this enough: resist the urge to talk to your insurance provider without a lawyer. Any statements you make could be used against you. Also, during this period, make sure you follow your doctor’s advice.

Speak With an Experienced St. Louis Car Accident Attorney

If you have suffered injuries in a car accident, contact The Hoffman Law Firm today. Our experienced attorneys can evaluate your case for free and help ensure your legal rights are protected.

FREE Consultation

Speak with an experienced attorney 24/7

Click to Call: (314) 361-4242

Disability after a Car Accident Injury – St. Louis Auto Accident Attorneys

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Some St. Louis car accident victims have suffered physical and psychological trauma, making it impossible to work.

car accident disability

Car accidents are not usually the reason that people file for disability. The aftermath and the repercussions are the reasons that people file. Some have suffered physical and psychological trauma, making it impossible to work. While they may not qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance because the injuries are not going to incapacity them for more than 12 months, they will be able to get something. Individual and group long-term disability policies generally cover the precise disability due to car accidents. These include health issues like whiplash, broken bones, and other diagnoses. While broken limbs are painful, they do not typically keep most people out of work for more than a year. Those bones will heal.

Whiplash and Neck Injuries

Whiplash and neck pain are the pair of most common injuries in a car accident. Many people who have been in an accident do not even know that they have suffered from it. The side effects can take some time to become evident. Whiplash affects 1 in 5 people long-term. They generally must be living with pain for around a year to be considered chronic.

Whiplash often causes sleep deprivation, forgetfulness, blurry vision, ringing in the ears, and extreme fatigue. These symptoms may make it hard to concentrate or work. Therefore preparing and filing a disability claim becomes important if a person happens to have these symptoms. Claims examiners are trained to be skeptical, especially of those claiming that they have a debilitating whiplash condition. Therefore it is imperative to have supporting medical documentation to support a claim and to prove that the condition is a real injury. It is also important to consider that whiplash can worsen, so following a physician’s guidelines is imperative. If ignored, the increase of long-lasting complications will be almost inevitable.

Back Injuries

Back injuries are common and are too often left to be diagnosed long after the accident. There are, in fact, three general types of back injuries. In some cases, cervical vertebrae injuries are common and much like whiplash. Lumbar spine injuries are painful, and while not always the most severe, the pain can still be debilitating. Thoracic spine injuries are often the most severe in an auto accident. These injuries involve the upper back and are connected to the ribs and chest region. They are usually caused by high-speed collisions and can result in permanent nerve damage. In fact, no matter what part of your back is experiencing pain, it is still important to understand that there can still be a disc herniation, and this can happen suddenly. When it does, it will cause intense pressure and pain until it is resolved. Back claims are another area that insurance adjusters are trained to be extremely skeptical. Again, documentation of your injuries is crucial.

Broken Bones

Broken bones and fractures are common too. While most heal without any long-lasting injury, other complications can affect a claimant’s ability to work right after the fracture. There may be soft tissue injuries or other pain. There may be blood clots or Chronic Pain Syndrome. These are major issues that arise from a broken limb. These conditions may only allow for short-term leave at most workplaces. With these injures, some believe that working less strenuously is still an option.

While this may seem like the thing to do, it is not advisable. Car accidents in America often cause PTSD and depression.  Some develop an anxiety disorder from their pain, and these go hand in hand with PTSD after a car crash. Those who have been in the midst of an attack know that it can be crippling. However, insurance companies are very, very good at developing reasons to deny this.

Speak With an Experienced St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer As Soon As Possible

Car accidents cause a lot of stress, and you will likely have to deal with other things in addition to your pain. You will have police reports, insurance claims, medical bills, and possibly disability forms to fill out. Our team of highly skilled legal professionals can help.

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Speak with an experienced attorney 24/7

Click to Call: (314) 361-4242

Common Injuries Resulting From St. Louis Motorcycle Accidents

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Motorcycle accidents can be severe and can result in catastrophic injuries or even permanent disability.

While an accident can happen in a split second, the aftermath of an accident and the recovery period can take months, if not years. Even with a helmet, motorcycle riders can sustain a head injury, and these can require ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, therapy, home and lifestyle adaptations, assistive devices, etc. If an accident victim is fortunate enough to recover partially or fully from their injuries, the chances are that the process will be difficult and expensive.

st. louis motorcycle accident scene

Possible Injuries

While a minor accident may simply result in road rash or a fracture or two, it is not uncommon for victims of motorcycle accidents to sustain severe injuries including:

Any of these injuries or the combination of several can be life-altering. Though the recovery process might be long and/or difficult, with medical treatment, most of these injuries can be recovered from. The injuries most likely to have long-lasting implications, however, are spinal cord injuries and brain injuries. Because these injuries can be permanent, they will most likely require ongoing and costly medical treatment. It is possible that a patient may not be able to make a full recovery.

Brain Injuries

Brain injuries are, unfortunately, common injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents. Motorcyclists should always wear a helmet to prevent serious head injuries, but even wearing a helmet does not mean that you are fully protected in a major accident. Brain injuries can be minor, or they can be severe. Symptoms may not immediately present themselves. If you have been in an accident where you may have hit your head, you should always see medical attention to make sure a head injury does not go undiagnosed.

Symptoms of brain injuries can include:

  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Memory Loss
  • Chronic Pain
  • Headaches

A more serious brain injury can result in cognitive and behavioral problems and physical disabilities. Someone with a serious brain injury may need long-term medical care.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are also common in motorcycle accidents. Spinal cord injuries can cause varying degrees of paralysis or physical disability. Caring for someone with a spinal cord injury for the rest of their life can cost millions of dollars, and unfortunately, many of the treatments may not be covered by health insurance.

Legal Help for St. Louis Accident Victims

Discussing your accident and potential case with a St. Louis auto accident attorney as soon as possible is important. Your attorney can advise you regarding the best way to proceed. They can protect your rights and pursue full compensation for you and your family. Your attorney will make sure that the insurance company is not taking advantage of you or underpaying you and will help you to decide whether settling is right for your particular case or not. Acting quickly and finding a supportive attorney to guide you through the legal process is extremely important.

Contacting an experienced St. Louis motorcycle attorney as soon as possible is the best way to maximize your chances of getting full compensation.

FREE Consultation

Speak with an experienced attorney 24/7

Click to Call: (314) 361-4242

Back and Neck Pain After a Rear End Collision

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The impact of a car accident can have a great negative effect on the neck and back.

Both of these areas are crucial, yet very sensitive to force or sudden movement. When your car gets hit, the moment of the impact causes everything inside the vehicle, including yourself, to move. However, because there is no room inside the vehicle to move, that can mean extra pressure is put on your neck and back.

st. louis man with neck pain

You may experience some pain in these areas immediately after the collision. If you do, it’s imperative to seek treatment as soon as possible.

The First Step

The first thing you need to do after a car crash is getting medically checked. Even if you don’t think you got injured, it’s best to let a doctor see you and determine your medical condition. Some injuries may not show any immediate signs, and you won’t begin to feel any pain until some time has passed since the accident.

This is exactly what happens in the case of whiplash, which often affects the neck and spine. Unfortunately, if left untreated, these injuries can cause even more issues in the future.

While the signs of whiplash can differ from patient to patient, some common symptoms include:

  • Dizziness;
  • Fatigue;
  • Nausea;
  • Stomach issues;
  • Concussion.

It’s vital to know these signs and identify them as whiplash as soon as they first appear. Sometimes, they can appear even a few weeks after the collision, but once they show, the pain will not go away on its own. If left untreated, the pains are known to grow stronger, to the point where it can become unbearable. An initial doctor’s visit after the collision could potentially save you from this scenario.

File a Compensation Claim

Because these injuries appear after the accident, many people can experience difficulties in getting compensated for their treatment. The insurance company may claim that your neck or back pain could have been caused (or worsened) by some other event in your life.

However, if you work together with a St. Louis car accident lawyer, you can build a strong case and successfully get sufficient damages to cover the cost of your medical treatment.

Essentially, you will have to link your injuries directly to the car accident and show that the other driver is responsible for them. Because the injuries only appear long after the collision, this may complicate things, but a good lawyer could handle it successfully.

Speak With an Attorney

Neck and lower back injuries aren’t just issues that affect your physical health – they often take a toll on your personal life, relationships with family and friends, and your overall quality of life. If these injuries were the results of a car accident where you were the victim, then you may be entitled to compensation for damages. Reach out to a St. Louis car accident lawyer to discuss your next steps. Give us a call today at (314) 361-4242 for a FREE consultation.

What to Do If You Suffer a Back Injury in a Car Accident

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Though many injuries can occur as a result of car accidents, back injuries are one of the most common.

The severity of back injuries has a wide range, with simple strains near the bottom and spinal cord damage at the top. No matter what back injury you might sustain in a car accident, you could be eligible for compensation. The best way of finding out is by discussing your accident with a St. Louis car accident lawyer. Additionally, it is wise to carry out the following steps.

St. Louis man with back pain after car accident

Decide if You Need Emergency Assistance

No matter what, you need to think of your health first. This means that after getting into a car accident, you have to assess your injury. If it is relatively minor, you may decide to move on to the post-accident procedure. If it is moderate or severe, you should call an ambulance and head to the hospital. Get the medical care you need and fight for your compensation later. For back injuries, this could be the difference between getting better quickly or having a lifelong ailment, so choose wisely.

Carry Out Post-Accident Best Practices

If your injury is manageable, you can start to collect evidence of the accident scene. In general, that involves calling the police, take photos of the incident, collecting information from other drivers, and searching for witnesses. When you eventually hire your lawyer, they will want to have as much information as possible. For this reason, it is critical that you act responsibly.

See a Doctor as Soon as Possible

When you are injured in a car crash, you want to get an accurate assessment of your injuries. This will allow you to treat yourself back to health and strengthen your personal injury case. The best way to get this assessment is by seeing a doctor as soon as possible. When you do, they will tell you what the nature of your injuries are and assign a treatment plan for nursing you to optimal health. Additionally, they can help you estimate your total treatment costs.

Follow Your Treatment Plan

Once you understand your back injury, it is time to start following your treatment plan. This is an integral step in the process because the back is such a precious part of the body. If you neglect it, the consequences could be dire. Additionally, following your treatment plans looks good in personal injury cases, as it shows your devotion to improving your health.

After you decide if you need emergency service, carry out post-accident best practices, see a doctor, and begin a treatment plan, it is time to speak with an experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer. What they will do for you is assess your case, give you an estimate of the compensation you could receive, and guide you through the process of obtaining it. Hiring a lawyer is one of the best ways to ensure proper treatment, so in many cases, it is essential.

Call 24/7 for a FREE Case Evaluation :: (314) 361-4242