Being able to walk away from a Kansas City car accident does not mean that you were not injured. Car accidents cause many different injuries. Some injuries might be immediately noticeable. Other injuries might take days or weeks to discover. Back injuries are one of those types of car accident injuries.
You might experience stiffness and minor back pain after a crash. You assume the back pain will go away in a few days. For some people, it does. For other individuals, back pain is an indication of a severe back injury.
What Should I do if I Have Back Pain After a Car Accident in Kansas City?
Yes, back pain is a common symptom reported by many car accident victims.
The force of a collision between motor vehicles can cause severe injuries to the passengers in the vehicle. The neck and back are sensitive to sudden force and movements.
When your vehicle is struck by another vehicle or slams into an object, your body continues to move even though the vehicle stops. Your body moves until the seat belt, airbag, or other object stops your motion. Unfortunately, your back and neck are not equipped to handle the pressure caused by these forces.
Immediately after the accident, you might feel okay. The shock of being involved in a crash and the adrenaline produced by your body can mask symptoms for a few hours or days after the accident.
After the adrenaline wears off, you might notice back pain or stiffness. The back pain might continue or worsen. It could be a strain or sprain the heals in a few weeks, or the back pain could indicate a more serious back or spinal injury.
For that reason, it is a good idea to seek medical care after a car accident, even if you feel okay. Seeing a doctor after a car accident protects your health. Prompt medical care also protects your legal rights. If your back pain continues or worsens, you have medical records that reflect you were in pain after the accident. Delays in medical care give the insurance company a reason to argue that the car accident did not cause your back injury.
Types of Back Injuries Caused by Car Accidents in Kansas City
There are numerous back and spinal injuries caused by car accidents.
Whiplash
One of the most common injuries is whiplash. It occurs when the tendons and muscles in the neck tear from the force of your head "whipping" back and forth during a collision. Whiplash is a neck injury, but the pain from whiplash can radiate through your shoulders and back.
Back Sprains and Strains
Damage to the soft tissues of the back can cause muscle sprains and strains. The ligaments, muscles, and tendons that support the lower back can stretch and tear during a car accident. Lower back pain from a sprain or strain can cause debilitating pain for several weeks after the accident. Certain activities and positions could make back pain worse.
Fractured Vertebrae
The vertebrae are the bones that protect the spine. During a car accident, these bones can fracture or break. Depending on the severity and type of fracture, you might experience pain, which can worsen during movement. In some cases, spinal fractures can result in pinched or damaged nerves that can lead to muscle spasms, numbness, weakness, tingling, and bowel or bladder problems.
Disc Injuries
The discs are the little "sacs" that provide a cushion between the vertebrae. The discs can be damaged during a car accident, causing a variety of injuries such as:
- Pinched nerves
- Herniated (bulging or slipped) discs
- Sciatica
- Spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
Injury to the spinal discs can create sharp, shooting pain that can be debilitating for some individuals. The pain can spread down through the lower portion of your body.
The treatment for a back or spine injury after a car accident in Missouri or Kansas depends on the type of injury and the severity of the injury. Minor back injuries can heal in a few weeks to a few months with over-the-counter pain relievers and rest.
Other back injuries might require prescription medications, such as muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs, cortisone injections, and prescription pain medication. The doctor might prescribe physical therapy in addition to medications.
For severe back injuries, surgery might be required to repair the damage and relieve the pain. In some cases, a car accident victim might sustain a back injury resulting in permanent impairments and disabilities.
Get Prompt Medical Attention After a Kansas City Car Accident
If you feel back pain after a Kansas City car accident, it is best to seek prompt medical treatment. As discussed above, your treatment is important for your healthcare and your legal case. After your physician diagnoses your back injury, he can develop a treatment plan that gives you the best chance of a complete recovery.
It is also wise to seek advice from a legal advocate for injury victims as soon as possible. Your damages could be substantial. The at-fault driver's insurance company is not interested in paying fair compensation as much as it is interested in saving money.
A Kansas City car accident lawyer investigates your car accident to gather evidence proving that the other driver is liable for your damages. Your attorney also helps you avoid mistakes that could hurt your case. He also helps you document your damages to maximize the value of your personal injury claim.
Contact Our Car Accident Attorney in Kansas City for a Free Case Review
Waiting too long to contact a lawyer about your back injury could result in much less money than you deserve.
Contact The Law Office of Kevin J. McManus for a free consultation with our Kansas City car accident attorney. Call 816-203-0143 now to speak with a representative.
