Nobody uses the roads expecting an accident to happen, but there is always a chance that, as a pedestrian or occupant of a vehicle, you can be involved in an accident. Car accidents are one of the most common accidents in the United States. If you have had an accident that you were not to blame for, then you may be able to file for damages against the people who were responsible, if liability can be proved.
A common injury as a result of a car accident is to the back. Back injuries may involve the back muscles and / or the spine. The spine is an easily damaged part of the back that helps to protect the spinal cord, running inside the vertebrae. Any serious damage to the spinal cord can affect your life for a long time, possibly the rest of your life. Back muscles are also commonly damaged in a car accident, but this is less likely to be as debilitating as they will normally heal with time.
An experienced accident attorney will make all the difference
Whatever your injuries, you should contact a personal injury attorney as soon as practically possible after the accident and make sure you choose one who is experienced in car accidents. You will find that most consultations are free and the attorney will offer their services on a contingency fee basis. This means that you have nothing to lose by contacting them, as you wonโt have any upfront legal fees to pay. These are only paid when you get a compensation payout
Back injuries can be very costly for the accident victim. Even simple damage to the back muscles can mean a lot of pain and it will be difficult to go back to work until the pain wears off. If you have done any damage to your spine, then the period of rehabilitation and repair will be extended greatly, depending on what exactly has been damaged.
Damage to the spine is the most serious of back injuries
Back injuries can involve dislocation of the individual vertebrae or the disks of cartilage that are found between each vertebra. These can be hard to revert back to their normal position. Usually there is a long period of recovery in which the dislocation gradually sorts itself out. Sometimes, smaller slithers of bone are broken and these can impact on the spinal cord itself. This will require quite sensitive surgery to remove and repair.
The worst back injury is a complete break in the spinal cord itself. As nerve tissue does not replace itself, any breakage will mean paralysis below the point of the break. The higher up the point at which the spinal cord has been seriously damaged, the greater the effects of paralysis.
The long term financial and emotional significance of these injuries is enormous. It is vital in these circumstances that a full and fair compensation settlement is fought for by a determined and experienced accident attorney as any amount short of what is needed will mean a much lower quality of life.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, learn how to protect your rights with a free consultation. Contact our experienced Auto Accident Attorneys.