Over 3 million individuals get involved in cars, motorcycles, and semi-trucks accident crashes, many of which cause back injuries. Most motorcycle accidents result in severe damage to the victim's spine and back. In semi-truck accidents, the collision may be fatal to the victim. When a person is in a car during a crash, the car is a protective barrier, but spine injury still results. According to truck wreck lawyer, Brad Nakase, a semi truck crashing into a car or motorycle will probably cause the small vhiecle occupant serious spinal injury.
A case study shows that an individual in their life will experience at least two to four accidents. The seriousness of injuries to the back from car crashes ranges from strains that are mild to disability that is permanent.
Even though modern vehicles contain airbags and seatbelts, fatal accidents still take place.
Most of the recorded damages from car crashes are to the neck as well as the back.
Depending on the force of the impact in an accident involving a vehicle, one or more parts of the back can be injured.
Tell Me More About the Different Regions of the Spine Affected in Vehicle Accidents.
Depending on the type of vehicle collsion, the injury to the back and spine may differ in severity. Our back is built up of numerous muscles, tendons, and associated ligaments that are wound together in the spinal vertebrae. The best car accident lawyers in San Diego has seen drug smugglers causing auto wrecks from speeding on interstate 5 to evade the California Highway Patrol.
The bones of the back constitute the vertebrae, and they have openings that allow the passage of the spinal cord.
The spine has many nerve endings that connect to all body parts and the brain. Since the cord of the spine goes all the way up the back, injuries to the back can be debilitating and painful.
The spine divides into these significant parts:
Cervical vertebrae: found in the region of the neck
Thoracic vertebrae: found in the region of the posterior back
Lumbar vertebrae: located at the low back region
Sacrum vertebrae: situated at the lower section of the lumbar area and they are connected.
Coccyx vertebrae: joined together, also known as the tailbone.
Soft Tissue Injury: During a collision, any number of ligaments, tendons, and muscles surrounding the vertebrae can violently stretch or tear. This injury is referred to as soft tissue injury. Symptoms of soft tissue injuries include pain (mild or severe), swelling, and stiffness.
Facet Joints: To the top and bottom of each vertebra is facet joints. Facet joints hold the weight of the whole body as the discs regulate movement. Also, the facet joints contain nerve cells that transmit pain upon injury. Muscle spasms are a typical sign of this type of injury.
Disc Damage: Motorcyclist who are involved in wreck often sustain spinal disc injuries. Discs are positioned between backbones and absorb external shock. An motorycle accident involving a vehicle can lead to bone trauma that may end up dislocating the disc cartilage. One of the best motorcycle accident lawyer in Sand Diego says that spinal disc damage from motorycle wrecks are common. When the disc breaks, the inner section of the cartilage usually comes out in a process referred to as disc herniation.
Disc slippage or slipped discs, on the other hand, occur when pressure from external objects during the crash compress and push out the discs from their original place in the vertebrae.
Damage to the discs- either through herniation or slippage- puts pressure on nerves in the area and the spine itself. In this event, around the affected region, the visible symptoms include weakness, tingling sensation, as well as limb and back pain.
Soft Tissue Injury: violent stretching or tearing of muscles, ligaments, and tendons around the vertebrae. You may experience mild or severe pain, stiff muscles, or swelling in the area.
The abrupt force put on the back in an accident can cause damage and compression on the bones. For instance, the vertebral fractures that go through the process of dislocation. The signs of these injuries could include swelling, numbness, and pain in the limbs and back.
Burst fractures: come from severe breakage to the vertebrae or the fragment, causing damage to the spinal tissue and canal.
Diagnosis of Back Injury
After an accident, the victims are taken to the hospital to assess the level of damage and seek appropriate treatment. The doctor examines the patient's back and checks their other body movements. Considering any previous diagnosis, the doctor decides whether to send the patient home or run more tests.
Mostly, the diagnosis for the damage of the back comes from four types:
• X-rays
• MRI
• Computer Axial Tomography: abbreviated CT scan
• Electromyography: abbreviated as EMG.
An x-ray is an essential diagnostic technique used to show fractures as well as spine alignment in injuries of the back. A MRI is utilized to identify wrong adjustments as well as a spinal fracture, discs, and other damages. A CAT often acknowledges the injury shown in the discs and the spine. It is the best technique in knowing the level of cartilage damage as well as the ruptures of the discs. The tool takes accurate measurements of the degree and the density of the vertebral fracture. Electromyography is a study of the nerve test that acknowledges the compression of the nerve caused by disks and the sliming of the spinal canal.
Therapy of the back
Doctors will first treat back injuries in accident victims using conservative procedures that reduce the pain and restore normalcy in movement. Most physicians begin with the induction of medicines to get rid of the pain, muscle spasms, and swelling. The most commonly prescribed drugs are pain suppressants, as well as pharmacy steroid-free medications that are not inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen and sodium naproxen. These medicines usually suppress swelling and pain. A physician will give directions on the strength of the medicine and other applicable medications. The doctor prescribes medication that relaxes the muscles. OTC medications alone usually do not work as well. This medicine can lead to drowsiness. Narcotics are also prescribed with severe back injuries. Opioid prescriptions lead to minimal effect under supervision. Narcotics do not help in suppressing chronic pain and lingering pain. Lotions that relieve pain and creams can be directly applied to the skin outside of the injury. These pain relievers come in large pads that adhere to bigger places on the injured back. If drugs are not relieving the pain, it means that the pain is radiating, and therefore you might get therapy using a cortisone IV that is given directly into the spine. The drug eliminates the inflamed feeling in the nerve region. Treatments that involve physical activities are applicable for mild injuries like sprains and strains as well as small tearing of tendons and ligaments. Health care practitioners usually utilize all possible therapeutic measures, including resting the Patients until they recover from tissue injuries in a few days. Alternate, treatment of the back is generally conservative and, in the process, helps in relieving the pain and suffering.
However, people should understand that the insurer is not obligated to give compensation for alternate therapies. Even if the individual says they help them have a great feeling.
Optional therapies include Yoga, massagee, care from a chiropractor, or acupuncture.
Surgery of the back
There are six major surgical procedures for the treatment of a damaged back.
1. Laminectomy: a section of the injured lamina is removed from the vertebrae. Also, there is the removal of the disk material, and bone matter in the injured region of the nerve suppresses the pain.
2. Vertebroplasty: doctors use small expander inserted through the vertebrae to the disk. The tool expands and puts pressure on the vertebrae for the injection of a medicine that keeps the area stable. The process gives strength to the vertebrae, increasing its durability.
3. Endoscopy: the doctor puts an object fixed with imaging equipment into the vertebrae to enable him to observe the affected nerves and apply the necessary therapeutic measure.
4. Surgery to fuse the spine: enjoins the vertebrae together. There is grafting of tissues in the bone. Doctors us healthy tissues from the victim or a donor that matches. Since the fabric is attached to the tissues, it imitates the membranes hence making it durable.
5. Disc Replacement: (Also known as ADR) An artifical disc replaces the injured one.
6. Microdiscectomy: the doctor removes disk by pushing it to the endings of the nerves, which in the process instantly suppresses the pain.
Compensation for the damage
Compensation for accidents is essential to help offset incurred medical and property expenses. If you have a no-fault clause in your insurance, submit your claim to your auto insurance carrier. Do this even in the case where the other individual caused the crash.
The protection that covers the injuries (PIP) usually covers expenses incurred during medical therapy, lost wages chiropractic care, and expenses. Personal-injury-protection (PIP) coverage will not compensate for pain. If you have injuries to soft tissures, care for these should not be more than the minimums of the personal-injury-protection coverage. However, if you have suffered a more serious back injury, you are now in a position to take on the driver for other negligence acts. The no-fault regulations do not prevent anyone from getting their dues, as the initial phase of claiming for damages caused by the vehicle driver and the insurer.
The insurer defines damages as the expenses that are linked to the injuries. These include bills, medical expenses, and lost wages. On the other hand, the insurer describes damage to property as the expenses incurred in the repairing of the vehicle or items ruined in the car crash such as electronics and clothing.
How the Adjuster will Handle Your Claim
The compensation claim file is attached to a number and forwarded to the adjusting office. The adjusting officer can be sympathetic or otherwise. Regardless, you must remain calm and reasonable. The adjuster's role is making the claimant admit to things that could later be utilized to reduce your claim. It is essential to be careful when making recorded statements. You should avoid giving an account of the case when you are undergoing treatment or when you are not comfortable to proceed with interrogations.
Also, you should not sign for the sharing of therapeutic documents to the insurer or any other individual. Collect bills and documents to prove the damages. Keep in mind the insurer does not require files not related to the present damages. You have all the legal leeway to limit which medical records are shared. Only ones that show your back damages received from the accident.
If you are still suffering from your injuries after a medical discharge, you should seek a lawyer with competence in handling personal damages and injuries before going ahead with the claim.
After healing from the injuries to your back, the calculations are made by summing up the compensation value and the cost amounts for suffering.
You should get ready to have evidence of your damages but don't be surprised in the event the adjusting officer tries to reduce your claim. You should be polite and persistent.
You will need to provide proof of the other person’s fault. Good evidence is colleceted at the scene, which includes a law enforcer’s report. They show up at the crash area when called. They record all the happenings, including the probable cause. In the end, they document all the events in the form of a report. The law enforcer usually records images of the area of the crash and the names of witnesses and their view of the crash. Insurance emphasizes the law enforcer's statement.
You should also get your evidence by talking to people who saw the accident or someone with information to rely on for the compensation. You should record the witness statement and also request them to present themselves in court. The informants should have the exact proof of negligence that includes images or other recordings of the event in all perspectives. Photographs do not lie. Images of the specific event from the beginning when the driver started to skid, or the operator ignoring traffic lights are some of the proof needed from the informant.
With the witness information, you then supplement with doctor expenses and records to show the extent of back damage. You should have medical records clearly stating that the crash caused back injuries. Also, all the details of communications from the date of the crash should be documented to show the pain and limitations it caused should be well documented. Claims need to be filed according to the statute of limitations of the state of residency. An attorney is advised to help with filing the claim suit as one stands to lose too much facing the insurer on their own. An injury attorney is the best shot for one to get anywhere near the compensation they deserve.
Eric Leader is the owner of Every Body's Personal Trainer