When you hop in the car to drive to work in the morning, getting into a car crash is probably the last thing on your mind. Unfortunately, with the way many people drive, you may find yourself in the emergency room with a serious back injury before you have time to blink. Car crash victims can suffer from a few different injuries, and the severity can vary greatly:
- Herniated discs. A herniated disc, also known as a slipped or ruptured disc, occurs when a disc is damaged by the impact of a car accident. Discs are like padding for your spinal column, so when they are damaged, that cushion for your bones is taken away. Without the padding from the discs, many people experience nerve pain, numbness, and tingling.
- Spinal cord injuries. Your spinal cord is your body's connection between the brain and the rest of your body, so when it is injured, things can go bad very quickly. If a spinal cord injury is considered “complete," it means you will experience paralysis in certain parts of your body. That will depend upon where the injury occurred on the spine. If the injury is considered "incomplete," you may experience numbness or tingling in certain parts of your body, but you should still be able to feel and move that area.
- Compression fractures. This is when bones in the spine develop tiny cracks from the impact of the accident. This type of injury is more common in older people because their bones are not as strong as younger folks’ are.
If you've been in a car accident, and you suspect you may be suffering from a back injury, be sure to see a doctor immediately for treatment. If your injury was caused by the negligence of another driver, seek treatment and call the Texas car crash attorneys at Girards Law for a free consultation at 888-897-2762