Anderson Injury Lawyers | August 21, 2024 | Car Accidents
Texas is a big state marked by miles of roads and major cities where congestion occurs. It’s no surprise that car accidents are common. According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Facts report, a reportable accident occurs every 56 seconds, resulting in a fatality every two hours and three minutes and an injury every two minutes and six seconds.
Among the most common injuries are minor concerns like cuts and bruises, moderate injuries like sprains and strains, and much more serious events like broken bones and traumatic brain injuries. Also common are neck and back injuries. What do you need to know if you’ve damaged your neck or back in a rear-end crash?
The Anatomy of the Spine
The spine has three main sections. First is the cervical spine, located between the skull and the base of the neck and containing seven vertebrae.
The upper and middle section of the back, consisting of 12 vertebrae, is known as the thoracic spine, while the lower back, or lumbar spine, contains five vertebrae above the sacrum. It’s important to understand the sections of the spine because injuries in different areas can have different impacts on symptoms and long-term health outcomes.
Common Neck and Back Injuries Sustained in Rear-End Crashes
Whiplash, often seen in rear-end crashes, is perhaps the most common injury in car accidents. Sometimes called a neck sprain or strain, this injury occurs when the head is forcefully thrown back and forth or side-to-side, resulting in overextension of the neck.
Pain and stiffness are common side effects, along with headaches, dizziness, and tingling or numbness in the upper extremities. Symptoms of whiplash can worsen in the hours or days following an accident, so it’s important to receive prompt medical attention and diagnosis to ensure suitable monitoring and treatment.
Also common are slipped or herniated discs, whereby the soft discs that cushion vertebrae are damaged, ruptured, or pushed out of alignment. When damage or misalignment of the spine occurs, you could also suffer pinched nerves. This can cause mild to intense pain in different areas of the body, depending on which nerves are compressed.
These types of injuries can happen anywhere in the neck or back but are common in the thoracic spine. Lower back pain is often related to a sprain in the lumbar spine. Vertebral fractures are also a possibility, although they’re less common.
Spinal injuries that go untreated could lead to worsening symptoms and secondary concerns, such as spinal stenosis. This condition occurs when the channel running through your spinal column (that houses the spinal cord) narrows, pinching nerves and leading to stiffness, tingling, weakness, and numbness in the limbs. Don’t forget that a severe spinal cord injury could also lead to temporary or permanent paralysis in worst-case scenarios.
Recovering Physically and Financially After a Back or Neck Injury
Back and neck injuries can include mild whiplash that leaves you feeling stiff and sore for a few days, herniated discs that require surgical intervention, or severe nerve damage that results in paralysis. Your spinal health is important to long-term comfort and function. Therefore, it’s imperative that you seek immediate medical attention if you suffer any discomfort, pain, mobility issues, or other symptoms related to your neck or back following an accident.
During your recovery, you may naturally worry about how you’ll cover costs like medical bills, rehabilitation, and lost wages. An experienced personal injury attorney has the knowledge and skills to go head-to-head with insurance companies on your behalf, negotiating for a fair settlement or preparing to present your case in court.
If you’ve been injured due to the negligence or bad behavior of others, a lawyer can help to reduce your stress while you focus on recovery.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in Texas
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth or Dallas and need legal help, contact our car accident lawyers at Anderson Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We proudly serve Tarrant County, Dallas County, and throughout Texas.
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
1310 W El Paso St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 294-1900
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office (Secondary)
6618 Fossil Bluff Dr # 108, Fort Worth, TX 76137
(817) 631-4113
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office
408 W Eighth St Suite 202, Dallas, TX 75208
(214) 327-8000
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office (Secondary)
6301 Gaston Ave suite 610, Dallas, TX 75214
(469) 457-4711
