Back Injuries And Car Accidents: What You Need To Know
Last year, more than 37,000 Americans died from car accidents while millions suffered from injuries
, mostly from their spinal cord and head. In total, car accidents account for approximate $67.6 billion economic losses (from medical expenses and property damages) every year.
Back Injury in Car Accidents
Because car collision usually involves sudden acceleration and deceleration, injuries in the spinal cord are very common (because its anatomy makes it vulnerable to accidents involving high impact and trauma).
Contrary to popular belief, most back injury symptoms are not apparent for the first few days after the car accident. With this, doctors believe that people who encountered a traffic accident should immediately seek medical advice even if they are not feeling any symptoms yet.
Meanwhile, these are the most common symptoms of back injuries involving high-impact collision:
Swelling in the back area
Piercing or throbbing pain
Weakness
Instability (patients may find it hard to sit or walk)
Numbness which may be accompanied by stiffness or locking
Difference Between Acute and Chronic Back Pain
Car accident victims may experience either an acute or chronic back pain, depending on the severity of the injury and the location of the affected spinal disc.
According to doctors, acute pain happens right after the accident and usually subsides quickly (it commonly lasts less than six weeks).
And because acute pain is not a serious medical condition, patients can take over-the-counter medication such as aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol which can provide relief from pain.
On the other hand, chronic pain is a condition that lasts for more than three months, thus interfering with the patients everyday activities. Usually, this medical condition requires surgery and special medication.
Legal Remedies for Victims Involved in Car Accidents
In car accidents, determining the injuries is important not just to receive the right medical treatment. In terms of legal aspect, injuries will also amount to lawsuits and claims if these are caused by someone who has been reckless and negligent in driving.
Under traffic law, drivers whose reckless action caused injury to another person are legally liable. This means that they should pay for the hospital bills and future medical treatment of their victims.
Aside from medical expenses, reckless drivers should also pay the victims with loss of wages. Damages are usually awarded to people who sustained temporary or permanent disability that may result to complete loss or diminished earning capacity.
Meanwhile, reckless drivers are not the only people who may be held liable for car-related injuries. According to personal injury lawyers, several carmaker giants and distributors have been charged with product liability lawsuits over defective auto parts.
For example, Ford Motor has recently settled its class-action lawsuit which involved its Explorer which is prone to rollover crash with its unsafe chassis design.
by: Nemilou Despuez
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