Understanding Different Types of Back Pain After a Car Accident
After a car accident, most people suffer some pain. The most common areas affected are the neck, back, and shoulders. The reason is fairly simple to understand.
When you are traveling inside a vehicle and the vehicle comes to an abrupt stop by striking another object, bodies inside the vehicle do not stop. You continue to thrust in the same direction you were traveling, and your body strikes parts of the car’s interior. Your muscles are shaken and violently rattled back and forth, and soft tissue inside your joints may become injured.
Experienced Long Island car accident lawyers see the effects of soft tissue and ligament damage every day. Many clients experience lasting pain from their collisions, for months or even years after a crash. So, how do you classify and distinguish the types of back pain or sources of pain that you are suffering?
General Classification of Back Pain After an Auto Wreck
As a general matter, back pain is usually broken down into three categories:
- Acute injury:This is an injury that occurs due to a specific, identifiable trauma, such as a fall or car accident. It typically will heal when the underlying problem is fixed. Pain lasts a few days to a few weeks, on average.
- Sub-acute injury:Also typically caused by a specific event, a sub-acute injury usually lasts longer and requires more care, such as physical therapy. Pain lasts a few weeks to about three months, on average.
- Chronic:Chronic pain is something that will last for the remainder of your life or until a necessary surgery or other corrective procedure or treatment is implemented. Chronic pain may require steroid injections, nerve blocks, surgery, orthotic devices, or long-term physical therapy and rehabilitation. Often, chronic pain is not curable but can only be treated.
Whiplash
It is also worth mentioning that some back pain may not actually be due to a back injury. For example, the most common auto accident injury is whiplash. This is a term used to define injuries to soft tissue structures of the neck and cervical spine, caused by the head’s rapid back and forth motion. This can cause painful inflammation, irritation, and constant ache.
While most pain is in the neck, it can also radiate and lead to pain in your upper back and shoulders. It is also frequently accompanied by:
- Headaches
- Dizzy spells
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Cramping
- Sharp or dull pain between the shoulder blades
- Limited mobility of neck and shoulders
What to do If You Have Chronic Pain After a Car Accident
The most important thing to remember about pain is that it interferes with more than just your physical sensations. It interferes with mood, as it can result in depression and irritability. It affects your family life, as it may diminish the quality of your time with those you love. Finally, pain can lead to difficulty keeping a job and maintaining financial stability.
Suppose you suffered a serious injury that left you with unresolved chronic pain. In that case, you should speak with a Long Island personal injury attorney before accepting a settlement from an insurance company.
You may be entitled to significant monetary compensation that can help with the cost of future therapy, medical care, medications, and even lost wages. Call the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP to speak with an accident attorney about your case. The consultation is free, so you have nothing to lose.
Compensation You Can Recover From a Negligent Driver
The treatments you receive after a car accident can be costly. They can also last for weeks, months, and, in some cases, years. If your injuries are serious enough, they can impair your mobility for extended periods of time, and sometimes, permanently. Our personal injury team can help you recover compensation for the cost of treating your back injuries. That can include:
- Pain management
- Surgical procedures
- Mobility devices
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
You can also recover various damages that stem from your injuries and subsequent treatment plan. These will include:
- Income loss due to your injury and treatment
- Property damage if your vehicle was involved in the accident
- Physical and mental pain and suffering
Our team will help you create a comprehensive list of your recoverable damages. We also compile the receipts and other evidence that prove their value. When we calculate the value of your case, we also make sure it meets your state’s statute of limitations.
Your Auto Accident Case Has a State-Mandated Time Limit
Like every state, yours has a personal injury statute of limitations limiting your right to file a lawsuit against a negligent driver. Your lawyer will explain the statute of limitations that applies to your case and any circumstances that might lengthen or shorten it. If you fail to meet this filing deadline, you risk:
- Being unable to file your lawsuit at all
- Having your lawsuit immediately dismissed
Either of these outcomes could leave you with no legal recourse that will compel the at-fault driver to compensate you. However, with sufficient notice from you, our personal injury team can help you file your case on time.
When you involve our team in your case early, we also have time to investigate the cause of your accident, identify the at-fault driver and their insurer, and prepare your insurance claim or lawsuit.
Reviews From Previous Auto Accident Clients
Reviews and recommendations from clients our law firm represented in the past can tell you what working with our auto accident team means. They say:
- Fleet: Richard was very helpful from the beginning… Richard and his team really made our experience as stress free as possible… I would recommend Cohen And Jaffe to anyone in need of a personal injury attorney.
- Rachel: Richard Jaffe represented my family for injuries sustained in an automobile accident… He provided a thorough investigation into the car accident, aggressively litigated our case, and took it to completion in a short time.
Every injured client we represent is a priority for our team. In addition to client reviews, you can read about the settlements and verdicts we have won on our case results page.
Call for Your Initial Consultation Today
If you or someone you love was injured in an auto accident, we can help you fight for financial compensation. Our team will build your case, determine its value, and negotiate a favorable monetary settlement. Find out how by contacting a case review team member at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP today: (516) 358-6900.