Common Injuries
Measuring the True Costs of Neck and Back Injuries
Bart Costello has represented over 1,500 people with auto collision cases involving neck and back injuries and understands the impact these injuries have on their lives.
Neck and back injuries are a common result of car collisions, truck collisions and slip and falls. Neck and back injuries are the most common reason why people seek medical care every year.
As those who suffer from such pain know, a neck and back injury can be persistent and hard to treat. These chronic injuries may require extensive physical therapy, alternate care modalities, medications or surgery.
Neck and back pain can cause you to stop participating in everyday activities that you once enjoyed, and can destroy your ability to work or function from day-to-day.
Let the Law Office of Bartley A Costello Jr. help you make sure that your medical bills are paid and that you are fairly compensated for all you have lost after a neck or back injury.
Common Injuries
It is important to understand the symptoms of a back or neck injury so that your condition can be treated properly. Three common types of back and neck injuries are:
(1) Herniated, Ruptured or Slipped Disks: The round, flat discs located between the vertebrae of the spine act as the spine’s shock absorbers. These discs are designed to absorb pressure and maintain the spine’s flexibility. These spinal discs can rupture or slip out of place when the spine experiences trauma.
(2) Connective Tissue Injury (“whiplash”): “Whiplash” occurs when the head “snaps” back and forth, and is commonly associated with a rear-end collision. The spaces between the vertebrae, discs, ligaments, muscles, and nerve roots in the neck can become overstretched, torn or damaged. “Whiplash” often causes back pain, headaches, blurred vision, nausea, ringing in the ears, and numbness.
(3) Compression Fractures: Trauma can cause fractures of the vertebrae whereby the bone collapses on itself. These are called compression fractures. Spinal compression fractures can sometimes feel like normal back pain.
Perhaps you or someone you love suffered neck or back pain after a collision at an intersection. You may be curious about what kind of legal options you have, to collect money to help you pay medical bills, cover work losses, physical therapy and other therapies, and other losses.
Measuring the True Costs of Neck and Back Injuries
When someone suffers an obvious major injury, such as a broken leg, contusion or traumatic brain injury, the injured usually obtains appropriate, timely medical care. The injured person (or their family) immediately recognizes that the injury will take significant time to heal. However many people fail to recognize the potential long-term severity and costs of the more subtle and common neck and back injuries.
For example, if someone is rear-ended at a red light or stop sign they may have immediate but subtle symptoms of a stiff neck. They may feel nothing until the next day. They might take some anti-inflammatory drugs and rest in bed for a few days, hoping that the pain will subside. They may be uncomfortable but not in excruciating pain. Then more chronic symptoms of whiplash injuries may settle in. The pain of the injury often persists, requiring ongoing treatment such as medical and physical therapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, special diets or prosthetics. The total bill for the care of a seemingly mild injury could easily exceed $50,000 in short order. Unfortunately, by the time the whiplash victim realizes the enormity of the costs involved in treatment, it may be too late for him or her to put together an effective and compelling legal case to hold the liable party responsible for those costs. Crucial evidence may be lost or the statute of limitations may have already expired.
If you haven’t yet obtained the advice of an attorney to help address your neck and back injuries – whether you sustained them in a car or truck collision – consider calling the Law Office of Bartley A Costello Jr. to schedule a free consultation or contact us here. We can explain all of your rights and potential avenues to obtain justice and fair compensation.