Being involved in a serious motor vehicle crash in Oregon can lead to severe injuries. However, these injuries are not always noticeable immediately. Even if emergency medical providers check you over and clear you after the accident, you should still follow up with your primary care provider if you have any pain after the crash. Back pain is common after a motor vehicle accident, and it can be a sign of an underlying issue that could get worse if not treated promptly.
Assess your condition
The impact of a car crash often causes the body to move forward and then back rapidly. This quick movement can cause trauma to the spine, which may not be evident initially. Head-on collisions and rear-end collisions often happen at high rates of speed, which increases the chance of suffering from a serious injury. While the adrenaline that comes immediately after an accident can often mask pain, you may feel soreness in your back, neck and shoulders hours or days after the crash, which can mean that you have an injury that requires treatment.
Seek medical attention after a high-impact collision so that your physician can perform diagnostic tests to determine what treatment is appropriate. Damage to the spine or neck may require surgery, physical therapy and other treatment to prevent the condition from getting worse. Over time, even a minor back injury can lead to debilitating pain in other parts of the body if not treated promptly.
Back injuries
One of the more serious injuries that can occur in a motor vehicle crash is a fracture of the lumbar or thoracic vertebrae. The vertebrae can shatter or crack, which can be extremely painful and lead to other health issues if not treated. Herniated discs are also very painful and can lead to numbness or weakness in the back and other parts of the body. Damage to the spinal discs often results in discogenic pain, which can make walking and standing difficult.
If you do not receive treatment for a back injury, you could suffer from degenerative spinal disorders. This could impact your quality of life far into the future. Sciatic, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and other conditions can prevent you from working and enjoying activities you participated in before your injury.
Seek legal advice
Seeking medical attention after an Oregon motor vehicle accident where negligence was a contributing factor is the first step in dealing with your injuries. Once you’ve begun receiving treatment, you may realize just how impactful those injuries will be on your finances and your personal life. Seeking compensation through a personal injury lawsuit against the person at fault can provide you with funds to cover your expenses.