What are back and neck injuries?
The force of a crash can strain muscles, sprain ligaments, injure the discs between your vertebrae or, in severe cases, fracture the spine. Lower back injuries are common in rear-end and side-impact crashes, while neck injuries often come with whiplash.
Some back injuries heal in weeks; others become long-term problems that affect work and daily life. Imaging such as an MRI may be needed to see disc injuries.
What are the symptoms of back & neck injuries?
Back and neck injury symptoms include pain, stiffness, muscle spasms and pain or numbness that spreads to the arms or legs.
- Pain or stiffness in the back or neck
- Muscle spasms
- Pain, numbness or tingling in the arms, hands, legs or feet
- Weakness in the arms or legs
- Trouble standing, sitting or bending
- Pain that gets worse over days
Disc injuries can worsen over days as swelling increases. Numbness, tingling or weakness are signs to get medical attention promptly.
Read more about delayed pain after a car accident.
Why does documenting treatment matter for a claim?
Back injury claims often turn on medical records showing when pain started and how it affects you.
- Tell every provider the injury started with the crash.
- If you had an old back problem, tell your doctor what changed after the crash.
- Follow through with imaging, specialists and therapy your doctor recommends.
- Keep notes on missed work and activities you can no longer do.
How is back & neck injuries usually treated?
Treatment may include rest, medication, physical therapy, injections or, for some injuries, surgery. Recovery depends on the type and severity of the injury.
Claims often wait until you reach maximum medical improvement, so the full cost of the injury is known. See how long settlements take.