Isaac Newton’s first law of motion states that an object in motion stays in motion until acted upon by an external force. When a car is in motion but then suddenly stops moving due to striking another car or object, the bodies inside the car continue moving at the same speed until something stops them, such as an airbag, seatbelt, steering wheel, or dashboard. This forceful movement can cause devastating back and spinal cord injuries.
If you experienced neck, back, or spinal cord injuries in a car crash caused by someone else’s negligence, a Waxahachie car accident lawyer can explain how Texas’ personal injury laws protect your rights as a crash victim.
Common Neck, Back, and Spinal Cord Injuries in Car Wrecks
The spine is strong but also fragile, and it can sustain significant damage due to the force of a car accident. An injury to any area of the neck, back, or spine, from just under the brain stem to the pelvis, can disrupt your life for weeks, months, or the rest of your life. Injuries from a motor vehicle accident may include:
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) may cause pain and affect your movements or sensations. If the cord is severely damaged or severed, an SCI may also cause partial or complete paralysis and loss of sensation below the injury site. An impact point on the neck can lead to loss of function in your upper and lower body, with an injury further down the back causing loss of function to your lower body.
- Sprains and strains can cause lingering or chronic pain. Soft tissues, such as your muscles, tendons, and ligaments, are all susceptible to inflammation and spasms when stretched and pulled in a car accident. Muscle spasms can cause mobility issues during your recovery.
- Spinal fractures are partial or complete breaks in vertebrae. The spine contains 33 vertebrae (bones) stacked on top of each other, with discs in between. The force of a car crash may cause one or more of your vertebrae to compress or fracture. Such injuries may take months to heal and can also lead to a spinal injury if not diagnosed and treated quickly.
- Herniated discs can also result from an auto accident. The discs help hold the spinal column’s vertebrae in place. They also act as the shock absorbers of the spine. When a vertebra is damaged, the material leaking from inside the disc can press on a nerve, causing pain at the site and radiating through other parts of the body.
- Whiplash injuries are especially common in rear-end collisions. They can result in long-term neck and back pain. The force of an abrupt stop can cause serious damage to the cervical spine.
- Spondylolisthesis is when a vertebra shifts forward and increases the pressure on the vertebra below. This can cause severe pain at the injury site and in the extremities.
Our spinal cord injury attorneys encourage you to seek immediate medical treatment after a car accident, as some severe injuries do not show symptoms right away, and proper medical care is essential for your recovery and your potential personal injury claim.
For a free legal consultation, call (972) 938-1234
Compensation for Your Neck, Back, or Spinal Cord Damage
Suffering a neck, back, or spine injury in a motor vehicle collision can be both a physical and financial strain. The severity of your injury may impact the amount you receive in a compensation settlement or judgment.
Accounting for your current and expected losses before filing a compensation claim is key to receiving the best possible outcome as you seek justice for yourself and your family. Recoverable damages often include:
- Medical bills, such as surgery, physical therapy, hospital stays, rehab, specialists’ fees, ambulance, transport to and from appointments, and ongoing care
- Modification of your home to accommodate your needs
- Wages lost as you focus on recovering from your injury
- Reduction of earning capacity or loss of future earnings if your injury prevents you from working at the same level as before the crash or prevents you from resuming work
- The cost to repair or replace your car and other property damaged in the accident
- Assistance with daily tasks and activities
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Mental challenges associated with disability or disfigurement
- Reduced quality of life
It can be beneficial to discuss your losses and any settlement offer you’ve received with a Waxahachie spinal cord injury lawyer experienced in representing car accident victims. They may explain considerations that haven’t been factored into your compensation claim or settlement offer. Once you have accepted an offer, you cannot return for further negotiations.
Your Texas Car Accident Lawsuit Has a Strict Deadline
If your Waxahachie personal injury lawyer cannot reach a fair settlement with the liable party’s insurance company, you may pursue a compensation judgment or verdict in court. Texas’ statute of limitations (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003) generally allows you two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit.
While most car accident cases are settled, abiding by that deadline can mean the difference between having your day in court and not being allowed to go to trial in pursuit of your compensable damages if you cannot reach a fair settlement.
There are some rare exceptions to the two-year deadline, such as:
- Suing the state or local government may mean you must take legal action before the two-year deadline.
- If the at-fault party cannot be found or is out of the state, you may have more time to file.
- If the victim was a minor or mentally incapacitated at the time of the accident, the statute of limitations may be paused.
Exceptions to the statute of limitations are complicated. If you are unsure of your deadline to begin legal action against the defendant, speak with a personal injury lawyer knowledgeable in this area of the law.
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Call Clay Jenkins & Associates for Help with Your Back or Spinal Cord Injury Compensation Claim
Our personal injury law firm has been fighting for clients since 1948. Contact our office for your free, no–obligation case consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis—if we don’t win your case, you won’t pay our fee.
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