Back injuries can be caused due to the sudden change in speed due to an auto accident, lifting something heavy, picking something up wrong or could be something you are born with. Many time people have back pain on and off due to a congenital issue or a progressive disease and then trauma occurs it can make that back problem worse or unbearable. Because you cannot stand, stoop, knell or even lay down without putting strain on your back a back injury is often partially or completely debilitating.
When you suffer from a back injury due to an accident or the negligence of others you can be entitled to money damages to compensate you for your wage loss, medical expenses, loss services, attendant care and for your pain and suffering. To learn how a devoted auto accident attorney in Michigan can help you call or use or online contact form.We will be happy to speak to you free and to represent with you with no attorney fee’s unless you are successful. Represent client in the following areas of Michigan.
Do Not Let Them Say It is Only “A” Soft Tissue Injury
Your back may have bones in it but it is the soft tissues such as your muscles, ligaments, disks, and spinal cord that make it and you work. Back injuries are unfortunately very common and acute lower back pain is most often caused by a sudden injury (trauma) to the muscles and ligaments that support the back, the trauma causes tearing or micro tears or worse in the structure of the ligaments and muscles in your back. Due to the injury to these “soft tissue” injuries can cause back pain, muscle spasms and swelling. The injured muscles and ligaments are hard to heal because you cannot just stop using your back.
What Are The Most Common Type of Back Injuries From an Accident?
More severe back injuries, to other structures in the back such as the discs or the spinal cord can cause loss of strength in the legs and arms, loss of sensation, burning or radiating pain in to other parts of your body and loss of mobility and other body functions. The more sever back injury when there is a spinal cord injury or compression on the spinal cord patients may also experience dysfunction of the bowel and bladder, sexual dysfunction, inability to regulate blood pressure effectively, drop foot (you have to lift and drop your foot to walk) and, in some cases, trouble breathing.
A total spine injury will leave a patient paralyzed with no function or sensation below the point of the injury. An “incomplete spinal cord injury” leaves some function below the injury. A person with an incomplete injury may be able to move one limb more than another, feel parts of the body that cannot be moved, or may have more function on one side of the body than the other.Injuries to the spinal cord may include:
A Herniated Disk – the disk in your back are made primarily of cartilage, the substance in your nose and ears. The disk is made up of cartilage but it also contains a fluid inside the disk. The disc is between the bones of the back and the cartilage allows for a smooth surface so you can bend and twist without rubbing bone to bone, and the fluid inside acts as shock absorber and help distribute the pressure on the disk. A sudden trauma, fall, auto accident, work injury can cause the disk to rupture or become herniated. When this happens there is often a tear in the disk, allowing the disk fluid to leak out and the disk can flatten.It losses it height and losses and is compromised. This loss of height and can move out of position and push against the spinal cord and the fluid loss can also contact the spinal cord causing back pain and pain radiating into other parts of the body.
Compression of The Spinal Cord – Sometimes called Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is narrowing of the spinal canal to the point that the spinal cord is compromised. The amount of compression can be seen in a MRI. The greater the compression generally the greater the risk for permanent injury to the spinal cord and the need for timely surgical intervention. There are many types of CMS and some are treatable and some or not thus the need for a consultation with a highly trained Neurosurgeon or Back Specialist.
Paralysis – Paralysis caused by spinal cord injury may be paraplegia, which is paralysis of all or part of the trunk, legs and pelvic organs; or tetraplegia or quadriplegia, which is paralysis of the trunk, legs, pelvic organs, arms and hands.
Common Causes of Back and Spinal Cord Injury
Automobile Crashes – Car and motorcycle accidents account for the majority of spinal cord injuries each year due to the tremendous forces involved in a motor vehicle or motorcycle accident.
Slip & Falls – Falls are the leading cause of injury in the elderly and a major cause injury to back
Sports Injury – Football, basketball, hockey, etc. and diving into shallow water result in less than 10% of back and spinal cord injuries.
Our Lansing Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You
If you suffer from back or spinal cord injury because of an accident that someone else caused, such as a motor vehicle accident or a slip-and-fall incident, or because of workplace conditions, The Clark Law office has been helping clients like you for over thirty years in Lansing. If a negligent party or work injury caused your back pain you have a right to compensation assistance with medical expenses and your loss of income while you recover.
In general, victims of back injuries caused by accidents can obtain funds to cover:
Expenses Related to Medical Treatment
Bills From The Hospital
Expenses Related to Rehab
Wages That Were Lost Due To Injuries
Lower Income Than Previously
Damages to Buildings or Property