The extreme forces involved in a car crash put incredible strain on the human body, so it is no wonder that back injuries are one of the most common injuries caused by auto accidents. But what makes upper back pain after a car accident so harmful is how it can impact many areas of your life. Severe upper back pain could prevent you from working or enjoying many of your favorite activities, negatively impacting both your finances and your quality of life.
If you suffered an upper back injury after a car accident that was not your fault, contact the team at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, right away. Our Georgia car accident attorneys only handle personal injury cases, so we can provide you with the focused legal representation you deserve. Founding attorney David Brauns is a former insurance company defense lawyer who has used the skills he learned there to help people throughout Georgia recover fair compensation for their injuries. We have secured millions of dollars for our clients to date and will work to help you recover the money you need as quickly as possible. Give us a call or visit our contact page today for a free consultation.
How Car Accidents Cause Upper Back Injuries
There are a few different ways a car accident can cause an upper back injury, such as:
- Rear-end collisions – When you are struck from behind, your neck and upper back can jerk back and forth in your seat, putting severe strain on your muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other body parts. In particular, this violent back-and-forth motion (often called “whiplash”) puts extreme pressure on your neck, shoulders, and upper back.
- Sideswipe and T-bone collisions – Being struck from the side can affect your body similarly to being hit from behind. While you may not experience the violent front-and-back motion that comes with rear-end collisions, the side-to-side motion caused by a sideswipe or T-bone collision can also cause damage to your bones, muscles, and soft tissues.
- Head-on collisions – Head-on collisions are particularly devastating because the force from two cars hitting each other is much greater than the force of one car hitting another from behind or from the side. A head-on collision can send you flying forward at high speeds, leading to cracked or broken vertebrae and other upper back injuries.
Common Symptoms from Upper Back Injuries After a Car Accident
An upper back injury after a car accident can cause symptoms like:
- Sharp, knifelike pain in part of the upper back
- Reduced mobility or stiffness in the muscles, ligaments, and joints in the upper back and neck
- Radiating pain in the back, which can range in intensity from a dull ache to something like an electric shock
- Discomfort and throbbing in the upper back, neck, or shoulders
- Weakness, numbness, or tingling in the back that spreads to the arms, chest, or stomach
If you notice any of these symptoms after a car accident, see your doctor immediately, so they can diagnose your injuries and create a treatment plan. Putting off treatment for an upper back injury could lead to more severe symptoms and make it harder for you to recover compensation for your injuries.
How Common Is Back Pain After a Car Accident?
Given how many people drive in Georgia and how many crashes occur here every year, it is no surprise that car accidents are one of the most common causes of upper back pain. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, auto accidents caused about 32.2 percent of all spinal cord injuries nationwide in one recent year. The number of spinal cord injuries caused by car crashes is half again as big as the number caused by falls (22.9 percent) and more than twice the percentage of spinal cord injuries caused by gunshot wounds (15.2 percent).
Getting Compensation for an Upper Back Injury After an Accident
If you have suffered an upper back injury after a Georgia car accident, an attorney can help you pursue compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Diminished future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Damaged personal property
The Georgia car accident attorneys at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, are ready to start on your case at your earliest convenience. Call or visit our contact page today for a free case review.
