Even after the most minor car accident, you could still sustain a personal injury. That is because our bodies are simply not able to withstand the violent nature of a collision, even at slow speeds. This is particularly true for our neck and spine areas, which are the most affected parts of the body during a car accident. In fact, with the millions of car accidents in the United States per year, more than 800,000 of those accidents are reported to include neck injuries.
Unfortunately, back and neck injuries are sometimes difficult to diagnose and may also be difficult to treat. They sometimes appear hours, even days, following a car accident and may take months to treat. Recovery from serious back and neck injuries can require years and may even lead to permanent disability or death. There is indeed a long road ahead for anyone who suffered a neck or back injury stemming from an accident.
How Does a Car Accident Cause Back and Neck Pain?
During a car accident, the sheer amount of force is put on the human body; when a collision happens, the body is subject to the direction the impact occurred but then is held in place by seat belts and airbags, or anything else that stops the body from moving. This is where the damage occurs, as the neck and spine are simply not able to withstand such force, causing pain and injury.
Types of Neck and Spine Injuries
The type of injury from any accident largely depends on how serious the collision was. However, with neck and back pain, the injury itself may not reveal itself until well after the accident, mostly owing to the shift in vertebrae as well as the sudden movements to the surrounding muscles and tissue. The following are a few symptoms, as well as a few types of neck and spinal injuries:
- Loss of sensation in extremities
- Whiplash
- Headaches
- Muscle spasms
- Degenerative disk disease
- Bulging disks
- Pinched nerves
- Breathing issues
- Lumbar sprains
- Spinal stenosis
- Herniated disks
- Spinal cord injuries
Medical Costs and Treatments
An injury to the spine or neck can get quite expensive, mainly owing to the length of recovery and the number of treatments. In fact, it is estimated that back and neck injuries from car accidents result in more than five billion dollars annually in the United States.
Medical costs will likely climb depending on the severity of the injury. An average treatment plan for a patient with a neck injury can include any of the following:
- Pain medication
- Surgery
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Massages
- Acupuncture
- Hydrotherapy
- Household mobility aids, such as a wheelchair
- Vehicle alterations
Unfortunately, many treatments for these types of injuries are not normally covered under health insurance, leaving many in pain and frustrated.
Quality of Life and Loss of Productivity
Deteriorated quality of life and loss of productivity at work or in your personal life are other concerns of which patients with a neck injury should be aware. No one wants to live in constant pain, and it is evident that loss of quality of life can lead to anxiety, depression, and other emotional distresses. In fact, a recent study found that people diagnosed with whiplash still felt pain and would consider their quality of life deteriorated even five years after their accident.
A neck or spinal injury can cause one to lose movement or mobility, which can drastically affect one’s career. It can also certainly be frustrated to being restricted in doing even the simplest household chore. This time off work and inability to do daily tasks can lead to pain and suffering, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, even post-traumatic stress disorder.
Delco Car Accident Lawyers at Eckell Sparks Help Those Suffering from Neck and Back Injuries Following a Collision
Suffering a neck or back injury following an accident is common. These injuries are painful, and the recovery time is long. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, reach out to Delco car accident lawyers at Eckell, Sparks, Levy, Auerbach, Monte, Sloane, Matthews & Auslander, P.C. Our experienced legal team will be your advocate and fight to secure the compensation for which you are entitled. Call us at 610-565-3701 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. Located in Media and West Chester, Pennsylvania, we serve clients throughout Delaware County, Chester County, and Montgomery County.