If you have back pain from a car accident, you may be unsure where to turn for advice. Car accident victims whose injuries are caused by someone else’s negligence may qualify to file a personal injury claim.
A personal injury claim can cover medical bills, pain and suffering, property damage, and more. However, there are certain legal thresholds that car accident victims must meet to recover monetary damages for their accident-related injuries.
The following outlines the steps to protect your physical health and legal rights following a car accident. If you have specific questions about back pain from a car accident, contact an experienced Denver car accident attorney.
Seek Medical Attention Right Away
If you are in a car accident, seek medical attention right away. Even if you do not feel hurt, go to the emergency room for a thorough examination.
You may have an internal injury, concussion, brain injury, or spinal cord injury. None of these are apparent upon visual examination.
After you are released from the hospital, follow up with your doctor as recommended. If you show any unusual signs or symptoms or feel unwell, get medical help immediately.
Why Seek Medical Attention Before Back Pain Appears?
You may be in shock following your car accident. Shock can mask accident pain and serious injuries. As back injuries are among the most common car accident injuries, you need to be examined by a medical professional before resuming your daily activities.
Treating a back injury immediately serves multiple purposes:
- It puts you on the road to recovery;
- It can prevent worsening of the injury;
- It can lessen the likelihood of chronic pain; and
- It provides documentation of an accident-related injury and medical treatment for your legal claim.
Delaying medical attention allows the liable driver’s insurance company to argue that you were not hurt in the accident. It also lets them say that your delay in treatment caused your injury to worsen.
What If My Back Pain Was Delayed?
Back pain can take a day or more to appear following a car accident. As soon as you recognize back pain or any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical attention:
- Back stiffness;
- Pain that shoots or radiates down the buttocks or legs;
- Numbness or tingling in the extremities;
- Difficulty standing;
- Difficulty walking;
- Muscle weakness; and
- Muscle spasms.
Start documenting your back pain and seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you are diagnosed with a spine injury, contact an experienced spinal cord injury attorney. There are strict legal deadlines to file an injury claim in Colorado.
Contact an Experienced Denver Car Accident Attorney Today
Do not wait to call an experienced Denver injury attorney regarding your car accident. Claims filed outside Colorado’s statute of limitations are barred from financial recovery.
At Dulin McQuinn Young, we have helped accident victims across Colorado get the compensation they need for over two decades! We fight for the injured and have a proven trial record of trial victories.
Reach out to Dulin McQuinn Young in Denver now to schedule your risk-free claim consultation! You can call us at (303) 246-1111 or contact us online.