A back injury can turn your life upside down in the blink of an eye. The disruption and pain can make it tough to do even the simplest of tasks. Your work and daily life suffer, and medical bills start to pile up. If you’ve hurt your back in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, it helps to know your rights and understand your options.
How Serious Is A Back Injury?
Some back injuries are little more than mild muscle strains, but they can also be severe enough to involve major damage to the spinal cord. Such an injury can alter your life regardless of how bad it is. While some people can recover with rest and treatment, others deal with pain for months or even years afterward.
Chronic pain isn’t the only issue. Many injuries to the back create limitations in mobility, making it tough to sit, stand, or walk for any length of time. That, in turn, affects everything else — your ability to work, take care of your family, and even enjoy simple hobbies. Persistent pain can also take a toll on mental health and can lead to stress, depression, and anxiety.
Common Causes Of Back Injuries
A back injury can happen in almost any situation, but certain accidents are more likely to cause them. Some of these include:
- Vehicle Accidents: The force of a car crash can damage muscles, ligaments, and even the spine itself; whiplash, herniated discs, and fractured vertebrae are all possibilities.
- Slips and Falls: A wet floor, an uneven sidewalk, or a poorly lit staircase can trigger a hard fall, and landing the wrong way can cause surprisingly severe injuries.
- Workplace Accidents: Physical labor, like lifting heavy objects and repetitive movements, can lead to serious back pain.
- Medical Malpractice: Back injuries can result from botched surgery or a defective medical device, both of which are completely avoidable.
No matter the cause, a back injury can upend your life in ways you never expected. Understanding the cause is the first step toward getting the help you need.
Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore
Not all back injuries hurt immediately after an accident. Some symptoms can take hours or even days to appear. It’s easy to dismiss them at first, but waiting too long to get treatment can make things worse.
Watch for warning signs like:
- Persistent pain, especially if it intensifies
- Numbness or tingling in your legs, arms, or lower back
- Weakness
- Trouble walking
- Loss of bladder or bowel control (a sign of a severe spinal issue)
- Pain that spreads to other areas like the shoulders or hips
If you experience any of these, see a doctor as quickly as possible. Even if the pain is manageable, it could be a sign of a deeper problem.
How A Back Injury Can Affect Your Future
A mild back injury aggravates enough, but a serious one can change your future. Some patients need surgery, ongoing physical therapy, and long-term pain management to deal with their injuries. Others aren’t able to go back to work or need a caregiver for the rest of their lives.
Besides the physical anguish, the financial and emotional toll gets just as heavy. Hospital bills add up quickly, and not being able to work makes it even harder to stay afloat. The frustration of not being able to do the things a person used to love can cause them to isolate themselves and become depressed.
No one should have to deal with this in the first place, but it’s even worse when the injury wasn’t your fault. Thankfully, the law allows victims to pursue personal injury lawsuits to recover compensation to help with the financial losses.
What To Do If You’ve Hurt Your Back In An Accident
If you’ve suffered a back injury because of someone else’s negligence, there are important steps you should take to protect your health and your legal case:
- See a doctor immediately, even if you think the pain will go away, to get a diagnosis and start treatment before it gets worse.
- Keep records of all your doctor visits, prescriptions, and any treatments you get; take pictures and write down what happened.
- Don’t give a statement to the insurance adjusters; if you say the wrong thing, it can hurt your claim later.
- Talk to an attorney with a background in cases similar to yours to help you understand your rights.
Acting early can make all the difference in your recovery and your ability to collect compensation.
Don’t Face A Back Injury Alone
A back injury can change everything in an instant, but you don’t have to deal with it by yourself. If someone else’s negligence caused your pain, you have legal options. The team at Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers fights for injury victims in Baton Rouge. Call us today at (225) 263-4787 for a free case evaluation.
