Neck and Back Injuries Resulting From Car Accidents in Miami, FL

May 2, 2023 | Sagi Shaked | Car Accidents

Suffering an injury to the neck or back as the result of a car accident can have lifelong consequences. Unfortunately, it is impossible to tell when an accident will happen or discern how extensive the injuries will be. Not everyone in Miami practices safe driving or looks out for the well-being of their fellow citizens.

If you have suffered neck and back injuries as a result of a vehicular collision, you are probably wondering what kind of compensation you could receive. This article will examine the average neck and back injury results from car accidents in Miami, FL.

Common Neck and Back Injuries From Car Accidents

There are several common injuries that people report after car accidents. If you have been in an accident, it helps to know what these injuries are so you know what symptoms to be on the lookout for.

Whiplash

Whiplash injuries are extremely common after a car accident. These kinds of injuries occur when the head moves back and forth too rapidly and beyond the normal range of motion. Due to the force and rapid motion, the soft tissue in the neck is damaged. In addition to torn muscles and ligaments, whiplash can result in lengthy pain.

You might have whiplash if you are experiencing the following symptoms:

Headaches
Difficulty concentrating
Acute neck pain
Neck stiffness
Dizziness

Unfortunately, if the whiplash is extensive enough, it may require extended physical therapy or even surgery.

Spinal Injuries

Any injury to the spine has the potential to be debilitating and lifelong. Sadly, these injuries are very common after car accidents. In addition to pain, these injuries can result in any combination of the following:

Total or partial paralysis
Decreased range of motion in neck, back, or both
Numbness
General weakness
Tingling

Spinal injuries result from an impact to the neck or back and can range from mild to extreme. This is why it is a good idea to see a doctor immediately following a car accident, regardless of how you feel.

Herniated Discs

One of the most common neck and back injuries you can sustain in a car accident is a herniated disc. This occurs when the interior of a spinal disc bulges out through the disc’s external wall. The result is immense pain and irritation. Other symptoms can include all of the following:

Neck pain
Shoulder pain
Tingling and numbness in the legs
Weak muscles

If you suffer a herniated disc after a car accident, you will likely be required to undergo a series of specialized tests to determine the extent of your injuries. Potential tests include MRIs, CAT scans, and X-rays. Unfortunately, these tests can be expensive.

Vertebrae Damage

The most common form of vertebrae damage following a car accident is fracturing, which is also known as a vertebral compression fracture. When extreme force is applied to the vertebrae in the spine, they can crack. This results in severe pain and decreased motion in the neck and back.

Damages

Financial damages following a car accident can vary depending on the extent of the injuries and personal property damage. The following are some of the most common damages that can be sought through litigation.

Pain and Suffering

If you suffered an injury as the result of someone else’s negligence, odds are you have experienced physical and mental pain, psychological distress, and other setbacks that are difficult to quantify in traditional economic terms. This is where non-economic damages like pain and suffering come in.

Damages for pain and suffering encapsulate how the injury has affected your life, your career, and your daily activities. Another significant component of pain and suffering is how the accident impacted your mental health.

Medical Costs

Neck and back injuries often result in snowballing medical costs. Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine how long treatment will need to progress, as it depends on the nature and location of the injuries as well as the victim’s health. In this regard, a qualified attorney can help you with calculating projected future medical costs.

Long-Term Care

Sometimes neck and back injuries can result in the need for long-term care. Whether it’s assisted living or specific treatments that must be consistently administered over time, long-term care can create a financial burden for victims and their families. While some of these expenses are immediate, others manifest over a longer period of time.

If long-term care is needed and the victim was not at fault in the accident, it is imperative that the victim hold the responsible party accountable. In this situation, consulting a qualified attorney can yield answers to your monetary questions.

Lost Wages

Certain injuries can take an individual off the job for a prolonged period of time. Even if the victim is absent from work for only a couple of days, lost wages can severely upend their finances. This is something the perpetrator should compensate for. In addition to damages pertaining to lost wages, victims can also seek projected wages.

Factors That Can Affect a Settlement

Because every individual is different and no two accidents are the same, injuries tend to differ from situation to situation. This reality has resulted in a wide range of settlement potentials, even when solely applied to the City of Miami.

When calculating factors that could potentially affect a settlement, victims need to take into account three things: the severity of the injury, the potential treatments and general prognosis of their current mental and physical condition, and how the injuries have impacted their life.

Receiving Fair Compensation for Your Neck and Back Injuries

After an accident, the victim will be contacted by an insurance adjuster from the opposing party’s insurance agency. The adjuster will make an initial offer to pay the victim out. Unfortunately, these offers are typically much lower than what the victim is entitled to.

This is why many accident victims seek accident attorneys to help them. A lawyer can represent the victim’s rights and interests throughout the claims process, working to ensure they recover compensation for every consequence of their injuries.

Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in Miami, FL

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Miami, FL and need legal help, contact our Miami car accident lawyers at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.

Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers
20900 NE 30th Ave Suite 715
Aventura, FL 33180
(305) 937-0191