Can a Minor Car Accident Cause Back Pain?
A minor car accident does not result in serious damage to the vehicle or major injury to any passengers. Typically, the vehicle should still be operable after a minor car accident, but repairs will be necessary.
Make no mistake: minor car accidents can still lead to serious injuries. However, it is common for those involved in minor car accidents not immediately to feel the extent of their injuries. Normally, the pain develops throughout the following days.
In minor car accidents, many people overlook the idea of working with a lawyer because they assume that they aren’t hurt enough to file a claim. Or, they take for granted that the negligent party’s insurance policy will handle everything in their favor, but that isn’t always the case. Insurance companies are well-known for using their leverage against policyholders to underpay on claims and prioritize their own profits. Without an attorney, you may be missing important factors of your case that can be of extraordinary value.
Our team at Olson Personal Injury Lawyers™ is dedicated to helping people like you who deserve a fair settlement after enduring a minor accident that caused injuries. Attorney Sean Olson and his team will personally review the details of your case and walk you through the steps of litigation. When you work with Olson Personal Injury Lawyers™, you gain trusted and valuable resources that can make this process easier to manage. To get started, call (307) 317-4529 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation today!
Common Injuries in Minor Accidents
When dealing with the immediate aftermath of a minor car accident, chances are you won’t feel any pain because of the adrenaline rushing through your body. This is an unconscious reflex, so even if you feel no pain, it could be that adrenaline is distracting you from the sensation of your injuries.
Also, aches may naturally take a while to develop. Many first responders advise that those involved in even minor car accidents be seen by medical professionals if they feel any pain, or if the pain strengthens later. They recommend this because minor car accidents can still result in serious injuries or the worsening of previous injuries.
Some of the most common injuries documented from minor car accidents include:
- Bruising
- Neck/Back pain (whiplash)
- Sprains
- Strained muscles
- General body aches
Damages Available in a Typical Car Accident Injury Settlement
When you have suffered an injury that was inflicted by a negligent driver (or another third party), you may be entitled to receive a settlement compensating you for all of your damages. Common damages awarded in a car accident injury case include:
- Costs of past medical treatments
- Costs of anticipated future medical treatments
- Out-of-pocket costs related to the injury or accident
- Damage to personal property (vehicle repairs, lost/destroyed item replacement)
- Personal pain and suffering
Understanding Your Back: Types of Spinal and Muscle Injuries
The back and spine are complex, including many moving parts that are easily injured. In the human spine, there are three main regions: the lumbar vertebrae (found along the lower back), the thoracic vertebrae (found from the waist up to the shoulders), and the cervical vertebrae (found along the neck). These three main components of the spine are surrounded by muscles, tendons, ligaments, and of course, nerves. All of these tissues are delicate. Allowing a possibly damaged back muscle or vertebra to go untreated for a considerable period of time will only lead to intensified pain that requires more extreme treatments.
The American Chiropractic Association reports that the leading cause of disability is back pain, citing that over 50 billion dollars are spent on medical care for injuries connected to the back and spine in the United States. One of the leading causes of back pain is a vehicle collision, as 63% of ongoing lower back pain can be attributed to car accident-related injuries.
Some of the most common types of back pain include muscle and ligament injuries, which often result in ligament sprains or muscle strain. More-serious injuries include spinal cord and neck injuries, which have a higher risk of paralysis or even death. Back pain is considered a long-term and debilitating medical concern, so it is important to be regularly and thoroughly evaluated by a medical professional during your recovery process.
What Should I Do After a Minor Accident?
If you have just been involved in a minor vehicle collision, you can take some standard steps to ensure that you have covered all your bases for litigating an injury claim.
In a serious accident, you would likely have resources such as first responders to help you organize crucial information about the event, but what about minor fender-benders? Typically, you’ll be tasked with managing the steps of your accident yourself, so the steps may not be quite as clear.
Listed below are some basic things you can do to protect yourself and the validity of your claim.
See a Medical Professional Once You Can Identify the Pain
After an accident, you will likely experience adrenaline that masks the extent of your injuries. It is important that you see a doctor as soon as you can. Any indication of a serious issue like numbness, bleeding, or swelling requires immediate attention. Never put off seeing your doctor after an accident.
Note that you may be unable to describe all of the pain and symptoms you are experiencing during your initial appointment. As such, your doctor may not be able to fully diagnose your injuries, since some may not have emerged yet. Because of this risk, report for a follow-up appointment as soon as possible once increased pain or new symptoms emerge that were not documented after your collision.
Report the Accident to the Negligent Party’s Insurance, But Avoid Giving a Statement
At the scene of the accident, the other driver(s) should have given you their license number, contact information, and their car insurance policy number. Once you have safely been treated and are able to think clearly, you should inform the negligent party’s insurer that there has been an accident. You have a limited window to inform them of a possible claim. Fortunately, you do not have to detail all the aspects of that claim until a later date.
While you speak to the negligent party’s insurer, they will go through an extensive list of questions, building a better picture of what happened at the scene of the collision. Always be cautious in these interactions. You may be asked to comment on your own actions or to speculate on the extent of your injuries. You can (and should) always decline to respond to such statements based on the fact that an investigation into the accident is still ongoing, as is your medical treatment.
Avoid drawing conclusions or making any sort of statements in response to leading questions. Always decline to make a recorded statement. Before engaging with the insurer, it is ideal to have an attorney representing you. Your attorney can inform you of when a question is leading and in your best interests not to answer.
Organize Records, Photographs, and Other Important Documents
Never throw any documentation relating to the accident away. Try to reserve a folder that holds important documents from your accident, including the details of your insurance claim, cost of estimates, and photographs. If you have any recorded statements by witnesses or photographs of your injuries, these can supply crucial evidence for your injury claim.
Call Olson Personal Injury Lawyers™ to Get Started
Dealing with the complexities of a minor car accident can be stressful, but you never have to manage this alone. Our team at Olson Personal Injury Lawyers™ will help you understand the ins and outs of your case, answer any questions you have, and speak on your behalf to the insurance company. Attorney Sean Olson and his team will personally review the details of your claim and will put together a solid plan of action to represent your best interests throughout the claims process.
Olson Personal Injury Lawyers™ Represents People Like You Who Have Been In Minor Accidents With Major Repercussions
Even a minor car accident can leave you in distress with time-consuming responsibilities, on top of aches and other injuries. If you have wasted time, energy, or even money because of a negligent driver in a minor car collision, we are here to help.
The team of car accident lawyers at Olson Personal Injury Lawyers™ is will help you recover a fair and just settlement. Don’t trust that the first settlement offer an insurer throws at you will be adequate to cover all your expenses. Instead, call the Olson Personal Injury Lawyers™ to see how much your claim is really worth.
Protect your legal rights to seek a fair settlement for all damages when you call (307) 317-4529 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney near you.