Back injuries are one of the most common results of a car crash, particularly in rear-end collisions. Some of them heal on their own with rest and time. Many do not. The forces involved in even a moderate collision can do real structural damage to the spine, and the full extent of that damage does not always show up right away. If you have been in a wreck and you are dealing with back pain, stiffness, or any loss of feeling, you need to take it seriously.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of traumatic spinal cord injuries in the United States. Roughly 18,000 new spinal cord injuries occur every year, and motor vehicle accidents account for more of those injuries than falls, violence, or sports combined.
If you are dealing with a back injury from a crash, talking to a Virginia Beach car accident lawyer early on can make a real difference in how your case plays out.
Common Types of Back Injuries From Car Crashes
The spine is a complicated structure, and it can be hurt in a lot of different ways during a collision. Some of the most frequently seen back injuries include:
- Muscle sprains and strains
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Compression fractures
- Broken or displaced vertebrae
- Whiplash affecting the cervical spine
- Partial or complete spinal cord damage
The severity depends on the speed of impact, the angle of the collision, your position in the vehicle, and your overall physical condition going into the crash. Someone with a pre-existing disc condition, for example, may suffer a far worse injury than someone without one, and that does not make them any less entitled to compensation.
Symptoms That Should Not Be Ignored
One of the frustrating things about back injuries is that symptoms can take hours or even days to fully develop. The adrenaline from a crash masks pain. Inflammation builds slowly. Swelling around nerves gets worse before it gets better. By the time you realize something is wrong, the injury may have progressed.
The Mayo Clinic identifies several spinal cord injury warning signs that call for immediate medical attention. Watch for any of the following after a collision:
- Generalized or sharp pain in the lower back, neck, or shoulders
- Pain radiating into the arms, buttocks, or legs
- Numbness or tingling in the legs, feet, or saddle region
- Difficulty walking or changes in your gait
- Weakness in the legs or buttocks
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Trouble rotating your head
The sooner you get checked out, the better your chances of a full recovery. Nerve damage from a compressed or displaced vertebra gets worse the longer it goes untreated. What might have been a treatable condition can become permanent if you wait too long. Getting prompt medical attention also creates a documented connection between the crash and your injury, which is something the insurance company will look for when evaluating your claim. If there is a gap in treatment, they will use it against you.
Long-Term Costs of a Back Injury
Back injuries do not just hurt. They are expensive. A herniated disc might mean weeks of physical therapy, epidural injections, and eventually surgery if conservative treatment fails. A spinal cord injury can mean a lifetime of rehabilitation, assistive devices, home modifications, and round-the-clock care. These costs add up fast, and insurance companies know it. That is exactly why they push to settle early, before you fully understand how serious your injury is and what your future treatment needs will look like.
When another driver caused the crash that left you dealing with a damaged spine, you have the right to pursue compensation for the full cost of your injuries. It is important not to accept any settlement before your doctor has had time to determine your long-term prognosis.
In Virginia, a person injured by someone else's negligence can seek both economic and non-economic damages. That includes:
- Ambulance transport and emergency room bills
- Hospital stays and surgical costs
- Diagnostic testing like MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays
- Prescription and over-the-counter medication
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and counseling
- Transportation costs for ongoing medical appointments
- Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
Keep in mind that Virginia follows a contributory negligence standard, which means the insurance company will look for any reason to argue that you share fault for the collision. If they succeed, your claim could be barred entirely. That is why having a Virginia Beach car accident lawyer review your case early can prevent mistakes that cost you your claim later.
Getting the Right Help Makes a Difference
Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp was originally founded by a former railroad worker who became an attorney after being injured on the job. That history shapes the way the firm approaches every case. The attorneys are all active in local, state, and national trial lawyer organizations, and they bring that depth of involvement to the people they represent in car accident, trucking, medical malpractice, and personal injury cases across Virginia.
If you suffered a back injury in a car accident caused by someone else, contact Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp to discuss your case. Our firm is prepared to stand up to insurance companies on your behalf, as we did for one client who suffered back and neck injuries when another driver rear-ended her car, obtaining a $130,000 insurance settlement.
You can find our offices in Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton, Norfolk, and Chesapeake.
