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Car Accident Back Pain–Should You Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?

Posted May 12, 2023 by Matt Boulton

Back pain is sometimes thought of as a natural part of aging–general aches and stiffness most of us experience at some point. But what about back pain that isn’t triggered by time? What about back pain that is brought on by a sudden trauma, such as a car accident?

Whether you’ve been rear-ended, t-boned, or involved in a multi-vehicle crash, car accidents can happen in an instant. The force of a sudden collision leaves your body vulnerable to a variety of injuries, and one of the most affected areas is the back and neck.

If your back was injured in a car accident, you may be entitled to substantial compensation, allowing you to pay for your medical bills, cover any lost wages, as well as recover for any pain and suffering.

To help ensure you receive maximum compensation for your back injury, it can be in your best interest to hire an experienced Indiana back injury attorney.

Attorney Matt Boulton has helped Hoosiers throughout our state navigate Indiana’s car accident laws and recover compensation for their back injuries. With this in mind, Boulton Law Group has put together a blog to help you decide if hiring a back injury attorney is in your best interest.

Did a Car Accident Cause Your Back Pain? You’re Not Alone.

Not only is car accident back pain one of the more common types of injuries sustained by Matt’s clients, but it’s also a condition experienced by hundreds of thousands each year throughout the U.S. Whether it’s a minor ache, or a more serious injury involving the spine, back and neck injuries are commonplace in auto accidents.

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Given the widespread occurrence of car accident back pain, it’s only natural to wonder why this type of injury continues to persist?

Simply put, our back is an amazing network comprised of nerves, discs, muscles, and a spinal cord column of vertebrae responsible for a variety of bodily movement. Yet, for all of its importance, the back is also susceptible to countless external forces that can cause injury, such as a car accident.

And while speed often plays a major factor in car accidents, varying amounts of force are transferred from the initial point of an auto collision to a person’s body. This transfer of energy leaves a person’s body susceptible to a whiplash-like motion, which often times affects parts, or all, of the back and neck.

Other factors such as proper seatbelt use, airbag deployment, and prior injuries can also play a role in the significance of a car accident back injury. Because the driver’s seat is restricted to a small area, a portion of the collision’s force is also confined to this area, placing varying amounts of pressure and energy on a person’s back and neck.

Car Accident Back Injuries Across the Spine

Over 25+ years’ of experience has taught Boulton Law Group that no two car accident cases are alike. The same can be said for how various types of back injuries will affect those involved in an auto collision.

In addition to general muscle aches and pains, car accidents can affect a number of areas along the spine. That’s why it’s important to have a general understanding of the 5 areas and vertebrae that make up our spinal composition, as well as each one’s responsibility:

Cervical

If a car accident leaves you with a cervical injury affecting C1 – C7, it may often be termed as “whiplash.” Patients with cervical injuries may be prescribed a neck collar due to pain and tenderness.

The cervical area of the spine is comprised of various joints and muscles that enable us to perform simple movements such as turning our head or positioning it in an upward or downward angle.

And though whiplash is a common type of car accident back injury, there are various other cervical injuries that can lead to an alternate diagnosis.

Thoracic

Car accidents can also be responsible for injury to the middle or center of your back. This area is termed the thoracic (T1 – T12) and one of its primary responsibilities is to stabilize the ribcage, which houses and protects various vital organs, including the heart and lungs.

Lumbar

If a car accident leaves you with an injury or pain in your lower-back, it’s possible that damage has occurred to the lumbar (L1 – L5) portion of your spine.

The lumbar vertebrae are larger than other vertebrae and responsible for absorbing a higher amount of overall body pressure. Depending on the severity of your car accident, injury to this area can result in damage to the sciatic nerve, causing leg pain and or difficulty walking.

Sacrum

The sacrum is responsible for connecting our spine to our hip bones. As is the case with any car accident, an injury to this area of the spine may entitle you to compensation.

Coccyx region

Commonly referred to as the tailbone, the coccyx attaches muscles and ligaments to the body’s pelvic floor. Matt has handled a number of car accident cases in which his clients suffered a coccyx injury.

Should I Hire an Attorney for a Car Accident Back Injury?

Hiring an Indiana personal injury attorney helps to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve, but there are some important factors to consider before knowing if legal counsel is the right choice for your particular claim.

1.) Is liability in your favor?

Indiana law says if you’re no more than 50% at fault for a car accident, then you have a legal right to seek compensation for your back injury. (The majority of Matt’s clients are found to have absolutely no fault when it comes to determining auto accident liability.)

However, keep in mind, if partial liability is assigned to you, your overall compensation will be reduced by that same percent. For example, if you are 20% at fault for the collision and have a case that is believed to be worth $50,000, the overall total would be reduced to $40,000.

Because liability plays a key role in personal injury law, people may choose to hire an attorney to help ensure a proper investigation is performed on their behalf.

If you have liability questions surrounding your car accident, the Boulton Law Group will be happy to review the facts of your case at no cost to you.

2.) Did your car accident back injury require you to seek medical attention?

Conditions such as a spinal cord injury will require immediate medical care, but some back injuries are less severe. In some cases, a back injury may not show signs of pain until days following the accident.

If your car accident back injury is minor and/or resolves without the need for medical treatment or surgery, hiring an attorney may not be able to provide you with an advantage in settling a potential claim.

In short, insurance companies require medical documentation to support car accident back injury claims. And while some people choose to deal with certain pains on their own, the insurance company will not reward suffering in silence.

Similarly, for a personal injury attorney to prove the true value of your claim, they will require similar medical documentation. Without it, an attorney is unable to draw upon their past experience with similar cases to help justify the value of your back injury.

If your car accident back injury required you to seek medical care, hiring a personal injury attorney can be to your advantage.

3.) Do you know the value of your car accident back injury claim?

Depending on the type of back injury you sustained, the value of your case is often viewed differently between insurance companies and personal injury attorneys. The reason? Insurance companies are tasked with paying out as little as possible for back injury claims, while the goal of a personal injury attorney is to obtain the highest amount of compensation possible on your behalf.

Fortunately, most people don’t find themselves in a position where they are dealing with insurance companies on a daily basis. And while that’s a luxury, it can also be a serious disadvantage to you when trying to determine how much your back injury claim is worth.

By contrast, Boulton Law Group’s exclusive focus is Indiana personal injury law. Complete dedication to these case types helps ensure Matt’s clients’ cases are in the hands of someone who understands all facets of insurance company behavior, including case valuations.

Based on his experience with car accident back injury claims, Matt has a collection of past and present cases that help him to determine the value of a claim. He understands the tactics used by various insurance companies in attempts to devalue or deny claims. Additionally, he devises custom strategies for each client to ensure their claim receives maximum compensation.

If you have little to no experience dealing with personal injury claims, it’s understandable to not know the value of your case. As such, if you wish to understand what your car accident back injury claim is worth, Boulton Law Group can provide you a free case evaluation.

Contact an Indiana Back Injury Attorney

In addition to settling car accident back injury claims for Hoosiers throughout the state, attorney Matt Boulton also has obtained a number of favorable trial verdicts on behalf of clients who choose our firm.

And while many of his clients’ cases are settled without the need for litigation, his court room experience is a factor that insurance companies take into experience during all phases of negotiation.

Car accident back injuries can arise from any type of collision, no matter the size or type. What’s important is that you receive proper medical car and legal guidance to help ensure you recover physically and financially.

Boulton Law Group offers a Zero Fee Guarantee to injured Hoosiers who have sustained a back injury resulting from a car accident. Our guarantee simply means that you will never pay for a legal consultation, nor do you owe the firm anything unless we are hired and compensation is secured on your behalf.

If you wish to send your car accident story to Matt for a free legal review, you can contact him directly by using the firm’s confidential, free contact form.

We look forward to hearing from you and learning more about how we can help.

Matt Boulton

Author Matt Boulton

Attorney Matt Boulton is an award-winning personal injury attorney with more than 25 years of experience helping seriously injured people throughout Indiana. He designed his firm for the client who expects exceptional service and passionate, successful legal representation.

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