What is Causing my Neck & Back Pain after an Accident?
Car accidents can result in property damage and physical injuries to those involved. Some injuries are easily identifiable, such as cuts, bruises, fractures, and other injuries that cause immediate pain. There are other times, however, when auto accident injuries are not readily apparent. This is more common with motor vehicle accidents that cause minor property damage, also known as “fender benders.”
When a low-impact auto accident occurs, many people view it as an inconvenience, something that has to be dealt with, but something they do not want to waste too much time on. So, you exchange phone numbers and insurance information with the other party, head home, fix any minor damage to your vehicle, and try to forget the whole thing.
A few hours after you get home or maybe even a couple days later, you start to feel pain in your neck and lower back. You are not sure what it is and where it came from, but you believe it might be related to the accident you are just in.
Why Some Accident Injuries are Delayed
It is important to understand that some symptoms of an auto accident do not show up immediately. This is often due to the adrenaline rush people typically experience after they are involved in a collision. Colliding with another vehicle causes an immediate state change. Suddenly, your heart beats faster, your mind starts racing, and you are solely focused on handling the situation. The adrenaline often masks the pain of certain injuries until well after the accident is over.
What is Causing my Neck and Back Pain after a Car Crash?
If back and neck pain show up soon after an auto accident, these symptoms should not be ignored. This could be a sign of whiplash, a sprain or strain in the neck that can cause moderate to severe symptoms depending on each individual case. The effects of a whiplash injury can last for just a few weeks in minor cases, but it more serious cases, the affects can last several months or even several years.
Whiplash is fairly common even with minor vehicle accidents, especially rear-end collisions. The impact of the collision throws the body rapidly back and forth, similar to the motion of a horse whip. Occupants of the vehicle that was collided into without warning are particularly susceptible to whiplash, because they did not see the collision coming and did not have time to brace for it.
In addition to general neck and back pain, there are several other symptoms that may be associated with a whiplash injury:
- Neck and back stiffness;
- Severe headaches;
- Limited range of motion in the neck;
- An increase in pain with neck movement;
- Tingling or numbness in the shoulders and arms;
- Pain or tenderness in the shoulders and arms;
- Dizziness and blurred vision;
- Problems with memory, focus and concentration;
- Anxiety and difficulty sleeping.
Neck and back pain may be a sign of whiplash, but it can also be a sign of a herniated disc or spinal injury, or multiple injuries. A qualified medical professional will be able to correctly diagnose your condition and ensure that it is properly treated.
It’s Just Minor and Neck and Back Pain: Do I Still need to Go to the Doctor?
The short answer is “yes” and do so as soon as possible. Back and neck pain often starts out as a minor annoyance, but it can become more serious as time goes on. And whatever the degree of severity, the injury associated with your pain is not going to go away on its own.
Another important reason to get medical treatment right away is to help ensure that you are able to recover compensation for your injuries. If you wait too long, you will have increasing difficulty getting the insurance company to pay your injury claim is they will often argue that the delayed symptoms and further delay getting them treated shows that they are not related to the accident at all. By getting medical attention immediately, it will be easier to establish a legal connection between the accident and the injury, and you will also be able to show that you did everything you could to mitigate the effects of your injury.
Injured in a Car Accident in West Virginia? Call the Experienced Attorneys at Bailey, Javins, and Carter L.C.
If you or a loved one suffered neck and back pain or any other type of injury in an auto accident that was the fault of another party, you deserve to be compensated. Seek medical treatment right away for your injuries, then contact Bailey, Javins, and Carter L.C. to discuss your legal rights and options. For over 40 years, we have successfully represented clients injured in motor vehicle accidents and those who have suffered all other types of personal injuries in West Virginia. We work closely with our clients, putting our extensive experience to work to obtain full and fair compensation and to ensure that those responsible for your injuries are held fully accountable. To schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys, call our office today at (800) 497-0234 or (800) 296-6979, or send us a message through our online contact form.
