5 Back Injuries Resulting from a Car Accident

In 2017, there were 43,951 car crashes in San Antonio – many of which resulted in serious injury to the passengers involved. The scary truth is that it’s impossible to know exactly how many of these San Antonio crashes resulted in injury, because not all car accident victims report their injuries. Back injuries in particular are often underreported, because the onset of their symptoms can be delayed by 24 hours or more.

There are several types of back injuries that can result from being in a car accident, many of which can have lasting, irreversible consequences. If you’re suffering from back pain caused by a car accident, it’s important to visit a doctor as soon as possible to receive an accurate diagnosis, and to call a lawyer if you suspect an injury. Here, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common types of back injuries that our San Antonio auto accident attorneys at Carabin Shaw encounter in clients who have been in car accidents:

One of the most common car accident injuries, whiplash occurs when the neck and head are quickly forced backward and forward. This rapid motion subjects the cervical spine to stress, resulting in injury.

Most cases of whiplash occur when someone has been rear-ended, resulting in the passenger’s rapid acceleration and then deceleration. Even “minor” car accidents can result in whiplash – in fact, studies have shown that whiplash injuries have occurred in rear-end collisions where the rear-end impact speed was as low as 10 miles per hour.

Although the most common symptom of whiplash is neck discomfort – ranging from mild tingling to excruciating pain – there are many other possible symptoms. Whiplash can cause stiffness, reduced range of motion, shoulder and/or upper back pain, headaches, weakness, and even numbness radiating into the shoulder or down the arm.

A herniated disc (also called a “slipped disk” or “ruptured disk”) occurs when a cushiony spinal disc located between vertebrae is ruptured, causing the soft interior “jelly” to ooze out.

Because spinal discs can’t be seen on x-rays, herniated discs can easily be missed. Unless a patient undergoes a CT scan or MRI, they may not be detected at all.

The most common symptoms of a herniated disk are:

• Arm or leg pain
• Numbness / tingling
• Weakness

Spinal fractures occur when the bones in the spine break or collapse. Symptoms include sudden onset back pain or a dull, constant ache.

There are several ways that vertebrae can be fractured. Burst fractures are often the most serious, in which the bone is compressed and splintered. Crush fractures occur when the bone is collapsed from pressure. With wedge fractures, the height of the vertebrae is compromised, forcing the impacted vertebra into a wedge shape. Left untreated, spinal fractures can cause spinal misalignment, decreased mobility, and chronic back pain.

This condition occurs when stress fractures push vertebrae out of place, resulting in compression of nerves or of the spinal canal. Spondylolisthesis symptoms may include numbness, pain, weakness, and difficulty walking.

Car accidents are the number one cause of spinal cord injuries every year. In fact, the Mayo Clinic estimates that auto accidents account for more than 40 percent of spinal cord injuries every year. A spinal cord injury is characterized by damage to the spinal cord that results in a loss of function, such as a loss of mobility or feeling. This can occur after the spinal cord is bruised, cut, or severed. Serious spinal cord injuries can result in paralysis or even death.

It is important to note that even low-speed car accidents can result in spinal cord damage, and that there is no such thing as a minor spinal cord injury.

These are just 5 back injuries resulting from car accidents, but there are many other ways victims can sustain injury in the event of a wreck. If you’ve been in an accident, it’s important to consult a doctor and an attorney as soon as possible to ensure that you will be able to receive and afford the necessary medical treatment for your injuries. A car accident settlement for back pain could help ease your physical and financial suffering in the wake of a painful wreck, and our car accident attorneys in San Antonio can help you decide if you have a case.

Contact Carabin Shaw so our San Antonio auto accident attorneys can help with your car accident back pain claim today. Call us at 210-222-2288 for your free consultation, and see what our experienced lawyers in San Antonio can do for you. Don’t wait – let our attorneys help you get your life back on track.