One of the most common injuries complained about after a car accident is a back injury. Car accidents can leave people debilitated from the force and impact during a collision. Understanding different types of back injuries and their symptoms can make a significant difference on your road to recovery.
If you or someone you know is suffering from a back injury in Albuquerque, New Mexico, or Sandoval County and surrounding roadways, contact our experienced attorneys for a free consultation.
by Meaghan T. Baca, Esq.
Common Types of Back Injuries from Car Accidents
Back injuries can vary in severity from mild strains to severe spinal damage. Hera are some common types of back injuries that occur in car accidents:
- Whiplash
- Bulging Discs
- Spinal Fracture
Whiplash Attorneys in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Whiplash is the forceful and rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip. Although whiplash is commonly found in the neck, it can occur in other parts of the spine. A whiplash injury can commonly be seen in rear-end car accidents. This whipping motion causes muscles, ligaments, and tendons to strain. Whiplash symptoms typically include pain, stiffness, loss of range of motion, tenderness, and headaches. Read more at the Mayo Clinic website here.
Bulging Discs
- Discs are spongey cushions that sit between each vertebra of the spine. They act as shock absorbers within your spinal column. A disc bulge occurs when the spongey part of the disc shifts out of place between the vertebra but remains intact inside its tough outer casing.
- A bulged disc can occur anywhere in the spinal column. A sudden acute trauma to the spine can cause a bulged disc. Disc issues become more common as a person ages. Thus, older adults are at higher risk for disc bulges and disc herniation after a sudden trauma, like a car accident. A bulged or herniated disc can cause other problems in the spine and throughout the body if the disc begins to push on a nerve.
- Common symptoms of a bulged disc include numbness, weakness, and tingling, as well as sharp pains in the in your arms and legs, especially with movement.
Spinal Fracture
High-impact collisions can cause fractures in the vertebrae. A common fracture from a car accident is the “chance fracture” which is the pulling apart of the vertebrae due to a violent forward flex injury.
Symptoms of a spinal fracture include pain in the neck or back, tingling, numbness, weakness or paralysis of the limbs, uncontrolled muscle spasms and loss of urinary or bowel control.
Deaths from crashes in 2020 in the United States resulted in over $430 billion in medical and other costs. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
How are Back Injuries Diagnosed?
Recognizing the symptoms of back injuries early can lead to more effect treatment and recovery. It is crucial to seek medical attention immediately after a car accident. A thorough examination and diagnostic test can help identify the extent of your back injury. Here are some ways in which doctors can diagnose a back injury:
Medical Treatment After a Spinal Injury?
What to do After a Spinal Injury in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
Depending on your diagnosis, treatments may include chiropractic care, physical therapy, and massage for soft tissue injuries such as whiplash. Some soft tissue injuries may require more extensive care like steroid injections or surgery. Sometimes, disc injuries can heal with non-invasive treatment like physical therapy, but other times the patient may need more extreme treatment like ablations. In the most severe spinal injury cases, the patient may need to undergo spinal surgery.
How Long Does a Spinal Injury Need to Heal?
The length of healing time for a spinal injury varies person to person and depends on the severity of the injury. Depending on the kind of spinal injury, recovery time may be a few weeks to several months, to several years, to being a permanent injury. Only you and your doctor can determine what treatment is best for you and your long-term recovery.
Compensation After a Car Accident
You are entitled to compensation for back injuries after a car accident if you were not at fault for the accident. The amount of compensation will depend on the severity of the injury, type of treatment received, and length of time it took to fully recover (if you were able to fully recover). It is always recommended to consult a car accident attorney in Albuquerque to help you preserve and protect your back injury claim. An experienced attorney can help you navigate the intricacies of the medical system as well as effectively present and negotiate your back injury claim to the auto insurance adjuster.
Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents in New Mexico
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in New Mexico, you have three years to either settle your claim with the at-fault driver and their auto insurance company or file a complaint against them in court. Section 37-1-8 NMSA (1978). If you need to bring an underinsured or uninsured motorist claim with your own auto insurance, you have six years to settle your claim or file a complaint in court. Section 37-1-3 NMSA (1978).
Can Attorney Help You with Your Back Injury Claim?
Hiring a personal injury attorney in Albuquerque can significantly impact the outcome of your back injury claim. An experienced injury lawyer can provide valuable advice and guide you through the legal process, helping you understand your rights and options.
Further, a back injury lawyer will handle all legal aspects of your case, allowing you to focus on recovery. The attorneys at Cassidy Baca, P.C. are skilled in negotiating with insurance companies and will help maximize your back injury settlement for your injuries and losses.
We promise to always represent your best interest and advocate for you in court if necessary.
What Our Clients Are Saying
“Cassidy Baca, P.C. prides itself on developing real connections with clients. Attorney Meaghan Baca put complex legal issues into language that we could easily understand and worked patiently with us to ensure that we understood the process we were going through. We were heard and she acted quickly giving us the rightful outcome. Attorney Meaghan Baca’s work ethic is appreciated and highly recommended!”
- L.V.
“After I was seriously injured, I immediately contacted the lawyers at Cassidy Baca, P.C. They handled my case with such care and integrity, they made me feel like family. I highly recommend this firm to anyone injured who needs help.”
- A.H.
“I have engaged services from partner [Meaghan] Baca at Cassidy Baca for a settlement of a personal injury case. She was able to resolve my settlement prior to filing within a few months and for more than the original offer. She was very professional and knowledgeable in the space, and is currently working on a reduction settlement of a subrogated claim for the medical billing portion. I would highly recommend her services to other people in need of a personal injury attorney. I would engage her services again in the future if needed.”
- M.O.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Back Injuries from Car Accidents
In the Aftermath of a Collision, Seeking Justice Can Be a Challenging Journey
However, armed with knowledge of back injuries, you’re better equipped to navigate the medical complexities, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue compensation for the damages you’ve suffered.
Remember, you’re not alone in this journey – our professional personal injury attorneys are committed to your wellbeing and road safety. We can help you work towards a just resolution. At Cassidy Baca, P.C., we are experienced attorneys in bringing injury lawsuits.
If you have been severely injured or lost a loved one due to a trucking accident or car accident, and you want to hold the other driver responsible for your loss, contact our Albuquerque attorneys at (505) 717-2992 for a free case evaluation today.
Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Are Ready to Answer Your Questions
Our lawyers in Albuquerque work on a contingency basis, so you and your family do not have to worry about how you are going to pay your legal fees.
You will pay no upfront fees or attorney fees at all unless we get you compensation for your claim.
Communities We Proudly Serve Near Albuquerque & Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Northeast Heights
- Corrales
- Los Ranchos
- North Valley
- 4th Street
- Montgomery
- Central
- Paseo del Norte
- Westside
- Taylor Ranch
- Ventana Ranch
- Bear Canyon
- Barelas
- South Valley
- Monte Vista
- International District
- Huning Castle
- Old Town
- Downtown
- Uptown
- Nob Hill
- Heights
- Rio Rancho
- Bernalillo
- Placitas
- Santa Fe
- Española
- Moriarty
- Belen
- Los Lunas
- Chimayo
- Embudo
- Taos
- Chama
- Farmington
- Gallup
- Grants
- Las Cruces
- Roswell
- Socorro
- Truth or Consequences
- Artesia
- Carrizozo
- Raton
Speak with an Experienced Severe Injury Lawyer in Albuquerque Right Away.
If you have been severely injured in an auto accident, car crash, or truck collision in Sandoval County, contact our Albuquerque Injury attorneys for a free case evaluation today.