male holding his injured back inside a car

Did you suffer a back injury in a car accident in Alabama? Was the accident caused by a distracted, intoxicated, aggressive, or otherwise negligent driver? If so, you could be owed compensation for the harm you’ve suffered. An experienced Huntsville car accident attorney at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., can help you seek it.

Collisions occur every day on the roads of Alabama. Unfortunately, many people suffer severe or even permanent back injuries in these car crashes. According to National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, vehicle crashes are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries.

While some back injuries heal with time, rehabilitation, and other treatment, many back injuries have lifelong consequences and require ongoing care. You shouldn’t be left to struggle with the enormous costs that can accompany a back injury. You can pursue compensation from the party responsible for your losses.

At Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., our attorneys are passionate about helping injured victims recover following an accident. Our integrity, honesty, and assertive representation have helped us secure millions of dollars for clients and earned us local and national recognition from the legal community.

Our legal team is ready to review your case and help you fight for justice. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Types of Back Injuries Caused by Car Accidents

In a car accident, the extreme force of the impact could injure tendons, muscles, ligaments, and bones in the back, or it could damage or sever the spinal cord. Victims might also experience chronic pain, loss of mobility, and a range of other complications.

Some of the most common types of back injuries sustained in vehicle accidents include:

  • Herniated discs – Small discs between each vertebra in the spine provide cushioning and allow spinal mobility. During a car crash, the pressure or force on a disc can cause it to rupture or bulge. Significant pain at the injury site may occur and radiate to other parts of the body if the disc presses against a nerve.
  • Strains and sprains – The back can become strained when tendons stretch abnormally or tear during an accident. Back sprains occur when ligaments are pulled or torn. Both cause mobility issues and can be quite painful.
  • Fractured vertebrae – Any bone in the spine could break if it experiences more force than it can handle. Extension, rotation, and flexion fractures commonly occur in the lower and middle areas of the spine. Any kind of vertebral fracture can cause radiating pain, limited mobility, numbness, and swelling.
  • Compression fracture – Tiny cracks or breaks in the vertebrae can cause them to collapse and become shorter in height. With this type of injury, pieces of the bone can press against nerves and the spinal cord. Some compression fractures permanently damage the spine.

Common Causes of Back Injuries in Car Accidents

Some of the most common types of collisions that could result in severe back injuries include:

During a crash, your body may experience sudden and violent backward and forward or side to side motion. This movement may exert more force on the back than it can handle. As a result, tendons can tear, bones can break, and muscles can become strained.

High-speed accidents also commonly cause back injuries. When two vehicles collide at a high rate of speed, the body experiences the full force of the impact and rapidly jolts in the opposite direction. This can instantly injure the spinal column and cause subsequent damage to nerves, tendons, muscles, and tissue.

How to Treat a Back Injury After a Car Accident in Huntsville

If you were injured in a car accident, one of the first things you should do is seek medical attention. A doctor can evaluate your back injury and determine the appropriate treatment plan. Depending on the type of injury, they might need to take X-rays, CT scans, or an MRI.

Once the doctor diagnoses the injury, they might recommend various forms of treatment to manage pain, improve mobility, and heal the physical damage. Common types of back injury treatments include:

  • Rest – It’s crucial that you don’t resume normal activities immediately after an accident. Take time to rest and recover so your body can heal.
  • Medications – You might take over-the-counter pain medicine to alleviate any muscle or nerve pain you’re experiencing. If necessary, a doctor might prescribe something stronger.
  • Surgery – Some people require surgery to repair a herniated disc or fractured vertebrae.
  • Physical therapy – Loss of mobility in the back prevents a person from performing routine tasks. Physical therapy and rehabilitation can strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and restore range of motion.
  • Injections – You could alleviate back pain, irritation, or inflammation with corticosteroid injections. However, this isn’t a long-term solution for your injury. It temporarily relieves painful symptoms while you undergo physical therapy and other forms of treatment.

Can I Get Compensation for My Back Injury?

Treating a back injury may involve not only extensive medical treatment but also other forms of care and assistance, such as medical equipment, home renovation, in-home care, and more. The inability to work and earn an income as you recover can compound these costs.

If someone else was responsible for your injury, they could owe you significant compensation for the related losses you have incurred and will incur in the future.

If you suffered a severe back injury due to someone else’s negligence, you could be owed compensation for:

  • Medical bills
  • Therapy and rehabilitation
  • Medical devices and prescription medication
  • Lost wages due to time off of work
  • Lost earning capacity if partially or totally disabled
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Pain and suffering

Contact Our Experienced Huntsville Car Accident Attorney for Help

Our Huntsville car accident attorneys at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., have fought for the rights of people who’ve been injured in our community since 1966. We’ve secured millions of dollars on behalf of our clients in Alabama. We will be ready to work to hold the at-fault party accountable for the harm they caused you.

If you suffered a back injury in a car accident through no fault of your own, contact Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., for a free consultation today.