Car accidents occur every day on Florida roadways. While many of these are minor, others are more serious and lead to pain and injuries. Some of the most common injuries that occur during these accidents are to the neck and back.
If you have been involved in car accidents Fort Pierce that led to back and neck injuries, our legal team at Fetterman Law is here to help.
Symptoms of Neck and Back Injuries after Car Accidents Fort Pierce
After a car accident, you need to know the symptoms of a neck or back injury. You’ll experience the pain right away in some situations and know you need medical treatment.
However, the symptoms won’t become clear for several hours or weeks after your accident in other car accident cases. This may mean that you mistake your symptoms for another issue. One example is if you develop a headache and believe it’s caused by stress from the accident; however, the true cause of the pain is a cervical spinal injury.
These are extremely dangerous since some people let them go on untreated because they aren’t aware they were injured. It’s a good idea to get medical treatment right away after any car accident. This will increase your chances of a full recovery.
Immediate Symptoms of Neck and Back Injuries
Some of the immediate symptoms that you have experienced a back or neck injury after a car accident include:
- Extreme pain in the head, back, or neck
- Issues breathing
- Inability to move your toes or fingers
- Feeling like you are in a twisted, awkward, or unnatural position after the accident
- Unable to control your bladder or bowels
- Numbness, burning sensations or tingling in any part of your body
- Loss of balance or the inability to walk
- An immediate headache after the accident
If you experienced a spinal cord injury during the accident, there’s a good chance you will be transported by ambulance to a hospital.
Delayed Symptoms of Back and Neck Injuries After a Car Accident
Not all neck or back injury symptoms after a car accident are immediately obvious. In some cases, the signs or symptoms may be delayed. Some of the most common delayed symptoms of back or neck injuries after a car accident include:
- Feelings of inexplicable panic, anxiety, or stress
- Reduced ability to hear or see clearly
- Feelings of numbness or tingling that doesn’t go away in your fingers, hands, or arms
- Pinching sensations or pain in your back, neck, or shoulders
- Inability to lift light items or weakness
- Belly pain, bruising, swelling, or tenderness
- Headaches several days after your accident
Causes of Delayed Back and Neck Pain After a Car Accident
Your body is complicated. Your injury will be unique from someone else’s, even if you were in the same accident. However, there are a few reasons that you may experience delayed symptoms after a car accident.
The first reason that delayed symptoms may occur after an accident is because of your body’s “Fight or Flight Response.” When you are involved in some type of stressful situation or event, like a car accident, your body releases adrenaline. The adrenaline enters your bloodstream to help fight this situation.
Adrenaline will be moving through your veins for several hours after car accidents in Fort Pierce. During this time, you will have a higher tolerance to pain, which means you may not notice the neck or back injury you sustained.
It won’t be until the levels of adrenaline return to normal that you will begin to feel the pain from the injuries you sustained.
Another reason you may experience neck or back pain is more physical. It may take several hours for external symptoms, like swelling or bruising, to appear. This applies to inflammation and the discomfort it causes, too.
Only after you realize that you have developed these symptoms will you realize that the delayed pain is from a neck or back injury caused by your car accident.
Common Neck and Back Injuries That Occur in Car Accidents
Most cases of back and neck pain caused by a car accident result from the “whipping” motion resulting from the force of the collision and impact. This motion is referred to as whiplash. It’s also possible to feel the impact of whiplash in your neck all the way to your lower back.
The pain can vary in severity and may be minor or more severe. Keep in mind that whiplash is the cause of your injury rather than a specific diagnosis.
The recovery time for your injuries depends on how severe they are. Some of the most common types of neck and back injuries that may occur after you are involved in a car accident include:
- Lumbar sprains: Lower back pain you can’t pinpoint may be caused by a lumbar sprain. This occurs due to a sudden or strong force of impact.
- Lumbar spine injuries: These occur in the lower back and require expert care and treatment. They can be a spinal cord fracture or sciatica.
- Spinal stenosis: Untreated back injuries may cause spinal stenosis, which is a progressive disease that will only get worse as time passes.
- Disc herniation: This occurs if your vertebral discs are moved out of proper alignment.
Contact Our Legal Team at Fetterman Law for Help with Your Car Accident Claim
If you are involved in car accidents in Fort Pierce, our legal team at Fetterman and Associates PA can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Neck and back injuries may have short- and long-term effects that require ongoing treatment. We will help you understand your rights and fight to help you receive the maximum amount of compensation possible.
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