June 18, 2025
Neck and back injuries often result in substantial medical bills, lost wages, and diminished quality of life. The emotional toll is equally significant, as chronic pain and limited mobility can profoundly impact victims’ mental well-being.
The dedicated team of neck and back injury attorneys at Stracci Law Group has a proven track record of success in these cases. We provide clients with unwavering support and aggressive legal representation to secure fair compensation for their injuries. Contact us today to get the compassionate advocacy you deserve.
Common Neck and Back Injuries Caused by Accidents
Neck and back injuries resulting from accidents are often far more serious than they initially seem. The spine's intricate network of bones, muscles, nerves, and ligaments makes it exceptionally vulnerable. Even a seemingly minor impact can cause untold damage, leading to chronic pain, limited mobility, and substantial lost wages.
The long-term consequences of these injuries can be momentous, emphasizing the critical need for prompt medical attention and skilled legal representation to secure fair compensation.
The spectrum of neck and back injuries sustained in accidents is broad, ranging from relatively mild to severe and life-threatening. Understanding the common types of injuries is the first step in heading down the path to recovery and obtaining the necessary financial support.
Whiplash
A sudden jolting of the head and neck in a car accident can strain neck muscles and ligaments, a condition known as whiplash. Symptoms range from mild discomfort to chronic pain, headaches, and dizziness, making diagnosis challenging.
Herniated or Ruptured Discs
Car accidents can damage the spinal discs, causing them to bulge or rupture and impacting surrounding nerves. This frequently leads to pain (often radiating down the legs), numbness, and weakness. Treatment may involve surgery.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Severe injuries resulting from major trauma can cause partial or complete paralysis, impacting mobility, bowel and bladder function, and sensation. Intensive, long-term care is often necessary.
Sprains and Strains
Overstretched or torn muscles and ligaments are common in accidents. While they may heal with time, untreated sprains and strains can lead to chronic pain and limited movement.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces in the spine that puts pressure on nearby nerves. Traumatic accidents often worsen this condition. Symptoms can include pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling in the limbs.
Common Causes of Neck and Back Injuries from Accidents
Understanding the potential causes of the aforementioned injuries is crucial for pursuing just compensation. The severity of these injuries may depend on many factors, including the force of impact, the victim’s physical condition, and the presence of safety measures.
Car Accidents
High-impact collisions can produce an array of neck and back injuries, from whiplash to fractures. Speed, collision type, restraint use, and pre-existing conditions can all affect severity.
Motorcycle Accidents
Because they lack protective barriers, motorcycle riders face a high risk of debilitating neck and back injuries in crashes. High speeds, road hazards, and the threat of ejection increase this risk.
Truck Accidents
Collisions with trucks often result in catastrophic injuries due to the immense force of impact. Smaller vehicles can be crushed or trapped underneath, causing severe damage.
Pedestrian Accidents
Direct impact from a vehicle can expose individuals commuting on foot to major trauma. Speed and impact location are critical, and victims may be thrown in some instances, resulting in further injury.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Falls, especially those involving significant heights or impact to the head, frequently result in serious neck and back injuries. The fall height and impact surface are the most direct determinants of severity.
What to Do After Sustaining a Neck or Back Injury
A car accident can leave you with more than just a damaged vehicle — neck and back injuries often have destructive and long-lasting consequences. Knowing the right steps to take immediately after an accident can greatly affect your recovery prospects and ability to pursue compensation. Here’s what to do:
1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Your health and well-being are paramount. Even if your injuries seem minor, seeking immediate medical attention is vital. Delaying treatment can worsen existing problems and create complications for possible future legal claims. Getting medical care right away ensures proper and timely diagnosis, allowing for the most effective treatment plan to be implemented quickly.
Furthermore, the detailed medical records generated from this initial visit and subsequent treatment can serve as key evidence for a personal injury claim, documenting the nature and extent of your injuries.
2. Report the Accident to the Authorities
Reporting the accident to the appropriate authorities (typically the police) is another crucial early step. Doing so creates an official record of the incident and provides a neutral account of the circumstances.
This report will detail the location, date, and time of the accident, along with information from the responding officers regarding the potential cause and the identities of those involved. An experienced attorney can use this information to establish fault and build a strong legal claim.
Collect as much information as possible at the accident scene — gather contact details from witnesses, take photos or videos of the site, and record any visible injuries and/or vehicle damage. Getting such evidence while it’s fresh can be pivotal for demonstrating what transpired.
3. Notify Your Insurance Company
Don’t delay in contacting your insurer after the accident to begin the claims process. Be prepared to provide them with the necessary information, such as the police report, medical records, and details of the incident.
The sooner you make contact, the sooner you can get your claim started. Additionally, it’s important to document all communications with the insurance company, keeping detailed records of the date, time, and content of every conversation.
4. Consult a Personal Injury Attorney
It’s a good idea to meet with a qualified personal injury attorney after any kind of accident, particularly one involving neck and back injuries.
The trusted legal team at Stracci Law Group can help you understand your legal rights and options, manage interactions with your insurance company, gather compelling evidence, progress your claim, and negotiate a fair settlement or represent you in court.
A timely consultation will allow us to promptly assess your case and put winning legal strategies in place quickly. Schedule your free case evaluation today!
Damages You Can Claim for Neck and Back Injuries After an Accident
The financial impact of a neck or back injury from an accident can be substantial, extending far beyond immediate medical bills. Securing fair compensation requires a thorough understanding of the various types of damages you may be entitled to.
Medical Expenses
Medical costs associated with neck and back injuries can be extensive, and they’re often ongoing. You’re eligible to seek payment for all reasonable and necessary medical expenses stemming from your injuries, both past and future. This may include the following costs:
- Emergency room visits: Initial treatment and stabilization following the accident.
- Doctor visits: Consultations, examinations, and ongoing care with your primary care physician and any specialists (neurologists, orthopedists, etc.).
- Diagnostic testing: X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and other diagnostic tests to evaluate your injuries.
- Surgery: Procedures necessary to repair spinal fractures, herniated discs, or other structural damage.
- Physical therapy: Physical therapy sessions intended to restore strength, flexibility, and range of motion.
- Medications: Prescription medications for pain management and other treatments.
- Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation services to help you regain your functional capacity.
If you require ongoing medical treatment, your projected future medical expenses will also be part of your claim. Expert medical testimony will often be necessary to project these costs accurately.
Lost Wages
If your injuries prevent you from working, you may be entitled to recover some of all of your lost wages. That includes both wages you’ve lost since the accident due to your inability to work and those you’ll miss as you recover.
Expert testimony from vocational rehabilitation specialists may be necessary to support claims of future lost wages. They’ll offer projections of your ability to return to work, as well as your potential earning capacity and any limitations this may impose.
Loss of Earning Capacity
Even if you can return to work, your injuries may keep you from performing certain duties, resulting in a lower earning capacity than before the accident. Compensation for this loss can account for any permanent limitations on your ability to work, as well as any impact on your future income. This is often determined by such factors as:
- Your previous job and salary
- The nature of your current limitations
- The types of jobs you can now perform
- The average wages associated with your new career options
Your attorney can examine these factors and help you take the proper steps to recover the payment you would have received had you been able to continue working.
Pain and Suffering
This category of damages acknowledges the physical and emotional suffering associated with your injuries, accounting for the discomfort and distress resulting from the pain, limited mobility, and overall disruption to your life.
Such effects are often determined based on the nature and extent of your injuries, which is in turn supported by your medical records, testimony from medical professionals, and personal statements.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
This category addresses how your injuries have affected your ability to engage in recreational pastimes, hobbies, social events, and other activities that contribute to your overall quality of life.
While it can be tough to quantify this type of loss, the effects can nonetheless be profound, impacting the claimant’s psychological and emotional well-being. You’ll need to carefully detail how your injuries have changed your lifestyle and taken away opportunities you previously enjoyed.
When Should You File a Claim for a Neck or Back Injury?
It’s advisable to file a claim for neck and back injuries arising from an accident as soon as reasonably possible. Several factors make prompt action crucial:
The Statute of Limitations
Indiana has a statute of limitations for personal injury claims, which is generally two years from the date of the accident. However, the specific time frame can vary depending on the circumstances, so it’s critical to speak with an attorney to avoid missing any important deadlines.
The Need to Preserve Evidence
Time is of the essence when it comes to evidence. Witnesses' memories fade, physical evidence may be lost or destroyed, and medical records might become incomplete or unavailable if you delay. The more complete a picture you can create, the better your chances of maximizing your financial recovery.
Prompt Medical Treatment
Timely medical care allows for early diagnosis and effective treatment, which can only benefit your recovery and the strength of your subsequent claim. Your medical records are your strongest evidence of your injuries and the treatment you require.
The Insurance Company’s Response
Insurance companies often respond more favorably to prompt claims. Delaying your claim can make them less cooperative and may result in a significantly lower settlement offer.
Effective Legal Counsel
You’ll want to consult an attorney as soon as possible after your accident to assess your situation and explore your options. By doing so, you can ensure that your lawyer has ample time to gather evidence, educate you on your rights, and build a robust legal strategy.
Why Choose Stracci Law Group for Your Accident Claim?
At Stracci Law Group, we understand the devastating impact neck and back injuries can have. We’re committed to fighting for our clients’ rights and helping them obtain the financial assistance they need to pick up the pieces of their lives.
With decades of combined experience, we’ve successfully represented countless clients in personal injury cases, securing sizable settlements and jury awards. We pride ourselves on offering compassionate, personalized attention and aggressive legal representation to each of the people we work with.
We're here to guide you through every step of the legal process with confidence and clarity. Contact us today to learn more about how we can be of service to you.
