According to the Arizona Department of Transportation’s 2016 report on motor vehicle crash facts, there were 126,845 crashes in the state within that year alone. It was determined that getting rear ended is the most common manner of collision, and that speed is the usual cause. It’s no wonder Tucson personal injury lawyers have had their hands full with cases.
Back Injuries After a Car Accident
Considering the statistics, getting rear ended can happen to you unexpectedly no matter how careful you are. After all, you can’t control other drivers on the road with you. In this situation, don’t just walk away even if you feel fine. Back injuries can appear later on and become progressively worse resulting in costly rehab and medical care.
There are different kinds of back injuries you can get from a rear-end collision:
- Back strain. When muscles, tendons, and ligaments are affected, the resulting injury is soft tissue injury, also known as back strain. Some people call this a pulled muscle. If the spine remains intact, it should resolve in four to six weeks. However, it’s can still put you on short-term disability if moving around is too painful.
- Slipped disc. Otherwise known as herniated disc, this injury occurs when the disc that separates the small bones (vertebrae) of the spine becomes ruptured and pushed out of position because of pressure. The pain happens when the displaced disc presses on the surrounding nerves. Other symptoms include tingling, weakness, and numbness. Once addressed, recovery takes one to three months.
- Fractured spine. Fractures caused by getting rear ended in collisions often involve the thoracic and lumbar spine. They compress or tear the spinal cord, resulting in severe back pain that gets worse with movement. Loss of bowel/bladder control and weakness in the lower limbs are also symptoms. It can take three months before patients can recover.
- Spondylolisthesis. This condition takes place when a vertebra – usually in the lower spine – slips down and slides over the vertebra below it. The pain travels down from the back to the buttocks and legs, and can be accompanied with loss of bowel/bladder control and difficulty walking. Symptoms may gradually build up and take years before becoming noticeable. But if it’s acute onset, patients need to stay wait around four months before they can start on rehabilitation.
Rear Ended? Contact Tucson Personal Injury Lawyers.
Any one of these back injuries can put you out of commission for some time. But it gets worse if the condition turns chronic. You may find yourself needing to manage the pain for years. Connect with the right lawyers to handle your case if you end up injured in a rear-end collision caused by someone else. It’s not enough that you receive a payout – the amount should also be sufficient for any long-term effects you may have to contend with in the future.
Don’t take risks with back injuries. Filing a personal injury claim with the assistance of a Tucson personal injury lawyers can help ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us 24/7 online via our LiveChat or by calling (520) 977-1900. We offer free consultations and you never pay us a fee unless you win compensation for your case. Don’t wait! Contact us today!