Neck and back injuries can have a tremendous impact on your everyday life, and they’re extraordinarily common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), neck and back injuries are the most common cause of emergency room visits related to car accidents, and approximately 23.6% of auto accident-related ER visits between 2010 and 2011 involved sprains or strains of the victim’s neck and back.
If you injured your neck or back in an accident, it’s essential that you talk to a qualified neck and back injury attorney serving New York. Call us at 1-800-NOW-HURT to get in touch with our experienced team at Buttafuoco & Associates for a free consultation.
Common Causes of Neck and Back Injuries
Auto accidents aren’t the only common cause of neck and back injuries. Other types of accidents often cause them, including:
- Slip and fall accidents: Uncontrolled falls can lead to serious injuries, including to the neck and back.
- Workplace accidents: These can include injuries from repetitive strain, lifting heavy objects, or falls on the job.
- Sports injuries: This is most common in high-impact sports like football, gymnastics, or soccer.
There are of course many scenarios that can cause injuries to the back and neck, so if you feel that another party’s negligence may be responsible, getting in touch with a personal injury attorney may be in your best interest. A New York back and neck injury attorney at Buttafuoco & Associates can help you better understand your rights and clarify whether you have a case.
Types of Back and Neck Injuries
Depending on the type of injury, symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening, and even injuries that seem minor can sometimes result in chronic pain. Seeking prompt medical attention after this type of injury is essential to your progress, and to your ability to recover damages.
Whiplash
Whiplash is the most well-known neck injury associated with car accidents, and it’s common in accidents where the victim has been rear-ended. It’s caused by forceful back-and-forth movement of the neck, like a whip. According to the Mayo Clinic, common symptoms include:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Headaches, tiredness, or dizziness
- Tingling or numbness in the arms
- Blurred vision or ringing in the ears
- Psychological symptoms, including trouble focusing, memory problems, or depression
Sprains and Strains
Sprains are stretched or torn ligaments and strains are stretched or torn muscles and tendons. These types of injuries are common and occur all over the body, but sprains and strains of the neck and back can be especially debilitating, limiting your ability to work and severely diminishing your quality of life.
Slips and falls commonly result in these injuries, as well as sports.
Herniated Discs and Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Between each vertebra in your spine is a soft, gel-like disc that cushions the bones and allows for flexible movement of the spine. When one of these discs ruptures or bulges out of place, it can press painfully against nearby nerves, causing back or neck pain, numbness, or weakness. This is what’s known as a herniated disc. Over time, this can lead to discs losing their structure and elasticity, causing chronic pain and reduced mobility.
Sciatica & Cervical Radiculopathy
When the sciatic nerve in the lower back is compressed, often by a herniated disc or spinal injury, it can cause a condition known as sciatica. This leads to radiating pain that travels from through the hips, buttocks, and down one or both legs.
Cervical radiculopathy is a similar condition that can occur in the neck and arms. This occurs when nerves extending from the cervical spine (in and around the neck) are compressed or irritated, resulting in pain, weakness, or numbness that can travel down the shoulders, arms, and hands.
The Physical and Economic Impacts of Back and Neck Injuries
For many with neck and back injuries, the most common symptom injuries is pain, and it can range from mild to chronic and debilitating. However, these injuries can cause a variety of additional symptoms that can disrupt daily life and have lasting impacts:
- Reduced Range of Motion: Neck and back injuries can limit your ability to turn your head or bend your neck and back.
- Weakness, numbness, and tingling: Since many back and neck injuries involve damage to the spinal cord, the effects can reach the limbs. Nerve damage can cause weakness in the limbs, as well as numbness, tingling, or pain that radiates into in the arms, hands, legs, and feet.
- Limited mobility: A serious neck or back injury may result in temporary or even permanent loss of movement.
These symptoms also can carry serious financial impacts. Back and neck injuries can impact your ability to perform nearly any job, whether it requires heavy lifting, long hours standing, or even working at a desk on a computer. This can limit your ability to work even indefinitely.
Once you consider your medical expenses, the financial strain becomes even heavier. Neck and back injuries often involve visits with medical specialists such as orthopedists, costly imaging such as MRIs, surgeries, and extensive physical therapy. The cost is often ongoing, rather than one claim, which makes it essential to work with an attorney who can properly value your case.
Recovering Compensation for Back and Neck Injuries
To recover damages for your injury, you need to prove that it was the result of someone else’s negligence, and that your injury cost you financially. That takes solid evidence. According to our New York back and neck injury attorneys, this may include:
- Photographs or video of the accident scene
- Police or accident reports
- Statements from witnesses
- Medical records and treatment history
- Expert testimony
A seasoned personal injury attorney in New York will be able to gather the key evidence and fight to recover the compensation you need. The team at Buttafuoco & Associates has seen the serious repercussions of these injuries, so we understand what’s at stake and are prepared to fight for your rights in court.
Call 1-800-NOW-HURT for a free consultation.