Understanding the Basics of Whiplash and Back Injury
No matter how mild or serious your injury is, if you have been involved in a car accident, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible as some mild injuries get worse if it not treated immediately. Some of the most common injuries that result from car accidents include whiplash and back injury. This article will mainly discuss the overview of these two car accident injuries.
Whiplash
Whiplash occurs when the soft tissues in the neck are damaged or injured by a sudden “whipping” or jerking of the head. This kind of movement strains the neck’s ligaments and muscles beyond its normal range of movement.
There are many factors that cause whiplash, such as being shaken or punched, amusement park rides, and sports injuries. But one of the most common and most dangerous is a whiplash from a car accident.
Whiplash caused by car accidents occur in various situations, such as when a car is hit from behind or suddenly stops in a crash, a seat belt will prevent someone’s body from being thrown forward, however, the head may possibly snap forward and then backward, causing the injury of the neck’s soft tissues.
Symptoms of whiplash include the feeling of stiffness and pain in the neck for a few days after the injury and then feeling better. However, the stiffness and pain might return after several days. This discomfort that you experience may possibly involve the surrounding muscle groups in the arms, shoulders, chest, and head.
Back Injury
Back injury occurs when there is damage to any one of the structures that make up your back, including:
- Bones
- Muscles
- Ligaments
- Tendons
- Disks
- Spinal cord
Back injury may be referred as injured back, back pain, or injured spine.
Severe back injury may be caused car accidents. However, there are other various factors that can cause such injury. Some of the causes include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Sports
- Industrial accidents
- Trip and fall accidents
- Construction accidents
- Premises liability accidents
- Other motor vehicle accidents
Back injuries may be classified as minor or severe. The symptoms of minor back injuries include the following:
- Back pain (pain that gets worse with movement, improves with rest, and does not disrupt normal activities)
- Back stiffness
- Back tenderness
Here are the symptoms of severe back injuries:
- Severe back pain
- Tingling and numbness in the buttocks or groin
- Leg weakness (unilateral)
- Leg numbness (unilateral)
- Pain shooting down the leg
- Fainting
- Urinary incontinence
- Decreased urination
- Pink urine
- Red urine
- Inability to walk
Getting Help
Whiplash and back injury may not be considered as dangerous as other types of injury (such as brain injury and spinal cord injury) that may be sustained in car accidents. However, it can still have a significant effect on one’s life both physically and emotionally.
Under the personal injury law, sustaining such injures due to car accidents, no matter how mild or serious it is, entitles you to receive compensation. That’s why it is important to consult with experienced lawyers to assist you with your legal concerns.