Common Causes of Back and Neck Pain After a Car Accident in Alberta

posted in: Personal Injury

A motor vehicle collision can change your life instantly, leaving you with injuries that greatly impact your life and take a long time to heal. If you’re experiencing neck or back pain after a motor vehicle collision, you may be dealing with serious injuries that impact your quality of life. At KMSC Law, we know that understanding these injuries and knowing your legal options are crucial first steps. Our Injury Law Team is here to support Albertans in their recovery, providing guidance and legal representation to help them secure the compensation they deserve.

What Causes Neck and Back Injuries in Car Accidents?

Car accidents on Alberta’s roads can exert significant force on the neck and back, leading to painful and sometimes long-term injuries. These are the most common types of neck and back injuries following a collision:

• Whiplash: Often caused by rear-end collisions, whiplash happens when the neck is violently forced back and forth. This motion can damage the muscles, ligaments, and nerves in the neck and upper back. Symptoms may include pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and blurred vision, sometimes arising days after the accident.
• Disc Injuries: Discs between the vertebrae in your spine cushion and protect the bones, but a forceful impact can cause a disc to bulge or herniate. When discs bulge or herniate, they can press on nearby nerves, resulting in intense pain, numbness, or weakness in the lower back or legs (a condition known as sciatica).
• Facet Joint Injuries: Facet joints are located between each vertebra, stabilizing the spine and enabling flexibility. During a collision, these joints can become injured, leading to pain that worsens with movement.
• Cervical Spine Injuries: The upper part of your spine, known as the cervical spine, supports the head and neck. Trauma to this area can cause severe neck pain, limited mobility, and in some cases, partial loss of sensation or movement.

At KMSC Law, we encourage those experiencing pain after a collision to seek medical care immediately. Many injuries are not immediately visible, and a prompt diagnosis can play a vital role in both your physical recovery and your legal claim.

Understanding Whiplash: The Most Common Collision Injury

Whiplash, defined as damage to the connective tissues in the muscles, ligaments, or tendons caused by a car accident, is the most common injury resulting from motor vehicle collisions. If you’ve been involved in a collision, especially a rear-end impact, you may be at risk of whiplash. Soft-tissue injuries like whiplash often don’t show symptoms right away, which is why early medical evaluation is crucial.

Common Symptoms of Whiplash

• Pain and stiffness in the neck
• Headaches, especially near the base of the skull
• Reduced range of motion in the neck and shoulders
• Dizziness and blurred vision

KMSC Law’s Injury Law Team frequently works with medical professionals to ensure that our clients’ injuries are documented and assessed. If your whiplash or other injuries are due to another driver’s negligence, we can help you pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Causes of Lower Back Pain After a Collision

Back pain is another frequent complaint following a car accident. Here are a few injuries that can result in lower back pain:

• Lumbar Strains and Sprains: These injuries occur when the muscles or ligaments in the lower back are stretched or torn.
• Spinal Stenosis: If an impact causes a disc to rupture or bone fragments to press against the spinal cord, it can create a narrowing around the spine, causing pain and nerve symptoms.
• Disc Herniation: The discs in your spine absorb shock and allow movement. When one is herniated, the disc’s ability to move and absorb shock is limited, resulting in severe pain, especially when bending or lifting.

Symptoms of Lower Back Injuries

• Persistent lower back pain
• Radiating pain into the legs or other areas
• Limited movement and discomfort with everyday activities

If you’re suffering from lower back pain after a collision, KMSC Law can help you assess your damages and begin the process of your injury claim.

What to Do If You’re Experiencing Back or Neck Pain After an Accident

After an accident, it’s essential to seek medical attention—even if you’re feeling only mild discomfort. Injuries like whiplash and spinal damage often have delayed symptoms. Following a medical evaluation, a few common treatments for neck and back pain may include:

• Physical Therapy: Helps restore movement, reduce pain, and prevent long-term issues.
• Medications: Pain relievers or anti-inflammatories can help with symptom management.
• Surgery: For severe cases where non-surgical options are ineffective, surgical procedures may be necessary.

Navigating Alberta’s Compensation System for Injury Claims

If you’ve sustained neck or back injuries due to another driver’s negligence, Alberta’s personal injury claims process allows you to seek compensation for the various losses resulting from your accident. The types of compensation, or “damages,” can cover both immediate and long-term effects of your injuries, including:

• General Damages (Non-Pecuniary Damages): These damages address non-financial losses, such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent disfigurement. While there is a cap on pain and suffering compensation set by the Supreme Court of Canada, an experienced injury lawyer can ensure your rights are fully represented within this framework.
• Special Damages (Pecuniary Damages): This category includes out-of-pocket costs directly linked to the accident, covering expenses like medical treatments, therapy, and repair of damaged property.

• Loss of Income and Earning Capacity: If your injuries have caused you to miss work, you may claim compensation for lost wages. Additionally, if your injury limits your future earning ability or requires you to take a lower-paying role, you can seek compensation for this impact on your earning potential. Lost income and reduced earning capacity can be a common source of damages for neck and back injury claims.

• Cost of Future Care: This category of damages is also a common consideration for serious neck and back injury claims. “Cost of Future Care” includes ongoing medical or rehabilitative needs, anticipated expenses for treatments, therapies, and any long-term care required.

• Loss of Consortium: If your injuries affect your relationship with a spouse or partner, you may be eligible for compensation for the loss of companionship, care, or affection you have suffered because of your reduced ability to participate fully in the relationship.

• In Trust Claims: Family members who have provided essential care or assistance as a result of your injury may be entitled to compensation for their time and support.
• Punitive and Aggravated Damages: In cases of particularly harmful or reckless conduct, the court may award additional damages to penalize the defendant’s actions. Punitive and aggravated damages are not common in most injury cases, though they are not uncommon in cases involving physical assault.

Navigating these complex categories of compensation is challenging, which is why it’s essential to work with a lawyer who knows Alberta’s laws and can advocate for the full compensation you deserve. KMSC Law’s Injury Law Team is here to guide you through every step and help you pursue the best possible outcome for your claim.

How KMSC Law Can Help You

Dealing with insurance companies on your own can be challenging, especially when it comes to compensation for injuries that may not be visible right away. Insurance adjusters often try to reduce claim amounts or attribute injuries to pre-existing conditions. When KMSC Law is on your side, we manage all communications with insurers to help protect your rights and secure a fair settlement. Our Injury Law Team will work closely with you to build a strong case and make sure that every aspect of your injury and every change to your life is factored into your settlement.

Contact KMSC Law’s Injury Law Team Today

If you’re dealing with neck or back pain after a car accident, the Injury Law Team at KMSC Law is here to help. Our Injury Law Team has extensive experience assisting injured Albertans, providing compassionate legal representation, and fighting for your right to fair compensation. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation so we can start building a path toward your recovery.