Back injuries are common in auto accidents, and the most serious of back injuries can be disabling. If you’ve suffered a back injury then you may be unable to work, you may be unable to take care of your family, and you may be unable to do the things that you enjoy—all because of someone else’s negligence.
Things may seem like they are out of your control right now, but your legal recovery is, in great part, up to you. If you take quick action to learn about your injury, learn about your legal rights, and contact a personal injury lawyer then you may be able to protect your recovery.
When—and Why—to See a Doctor
If you experience any of the following symptoms, then you should see a doctor as soon possible:
- Pain.
- Numbness.
- Weakness.
- Tingling.
- Tenderness.
- Stiffness.
These symptoms may indicate serious back injuries such as:
- Fractures. Any bone in the back may be broken and may result in significant pain and temporary or permanent injury.
- Sprains and strains. The muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the back may be sprained or strained in an accident and require time and rest to heal.
- Herniated discs. When a disc is damaged or torn, it can cause temporary pain and sometimes permanent disability. Treatment depends on where the injury occurs. Steroid injections and surgery may be helpful to your recovery. Even after surgery, however, ongoing back pain can be debilitating. Complications may occur including problems with your bladder and bowel, loss of sensation, and paralysis.
- Spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries are among the most serious types of injuries and can cause permanent paralysis.
A doctor can make an appropriate diagnosis and create a treatment plan that manages your current pain and gives you the best chance for as full a recovery as possible.
It is important to follow your doctor’s treatment plan so that you have the best odds of recovering physically and because it will be important to your legal claim. Some treatment options that your doctor may recommend include:
- Rest.
- Pain management techniques such as ice or heat.
- Anti-inflammatory medication.
- Steroid injections.
- Surgeries.
- Physical therapy.
Some patients may require continuous care or ongoing doctors’ appointments to help them recover to the maximum medical extent possible.
When—and Why—to See a Lawyer
As you take care of your health care needs, it is also important to attend to your legal needs. Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your car crash to make sure that your right to a full and fair accident recovery is protected. Your car accident lawyer in Louisville will fight for your just recovery of past, current, and future:
- Medical expenses. All of your health care costs from doctors’ appointments to hospitalizations and from medications to surgeries should be included in your recovery.
- Lost income. Any income that you can no longer earn—whether it is wages, bonuses, benefits or income from self-employment—should be part of your legal recovery of damages.
- Out–of-pocket costs. Out-of-pocket costs may not be your most significant damages, but they are still important. You should not have to bear the financial impact of hiring household help, child care, or alternative transportation because someone else’s negligence resulted in your back injury.
- Pain and suffering. Emotional suffering and physical pain may be the hardest to prove, but the most significant of your car accident damages.
Every person who suffers a back injury in a car accident may get a unique recovery based on their damages, as described above, the evidence available to prove their damages, and the advocacy for their fair recovery.
The first step is up to you. You need to make the initial call before the statute of limitations expires and before important evidence is lost. To schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with us, simply contact us via this website or by phone at any time to set up your free meeting.
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