NECK, BACK OR SPINE INJURIES

Author / Coordinator: Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben
Minnesota
March 2007

Neck, back and spine injuries are the most common types of injuries that happen in auto accidents. For example, in a rear-end accident the victim’s head is often jerked back and forth rapidly. This sometimes forces the muscles in the neck and back to over stretch and cause severe swelling and pain.

While chiropractic care or physical therapy can serve to minimize pain or even cure neck and back injuries, some are so severe that they result in permanent damage.

If you have had a neck, back or spine injury and pain still persists even after therapy, you may have a serious and more permanent kind of injury involving nerve damage. If this is the case, you may need to have an EMG/Nerve Conduction Test to diagnose the problem.

A serious neck or back injury can also involve the disks in your spinal column. The disks in your spinal column are plate-like structures found between the vertebrae in your back and neck. If one or more of these disks are herniated or ruptured, it can put extreme pressure on the spinal nerve roots and cause significant pain. Another type of serious back injury can cause a bone displacement because of traumatic impact.

Typically, an MRI test, CAT scan or other advanced imaging technology is performed to identify any potential disk damage (bulging, herniated or ruptured) or an X-ray to disclose possible fractures.

However, soft tissue injuries to the neck and back often are not disclosed by any form of imaging. As a result, recovering reasonable damages for soft tissue injuries is usually more difficult because of the absence of indisputable test results. This why you need a strong advocate representing you.

Neck and back injuries often are debilitating, and any of the injuries described could require expensive surgery, follow-up medical care and physical therapy. Insurance companies know that proving these injuries is often difficult, so you can count on them to fight for the bare minimum payment for recovery.

If a neck or back injury is the result of someone else’s negligence, then you or a loved one may be able to recover past and future medical expenses as a result of the injury. There may also be a claim for lost wages, other past or future costs, loss of future earnings, loss of consortium, pain, suffering and emotional distress.

If you’re the victim of a neck or back injury, it’s important to have an experienced advocate on your side. Call the law firm of Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben today at 1-800-752-4265 for a free consultation. We’ll get you back on your feet and get you the just compensation you deserve.