Spine Injuries

The back of a human body is composed of bones, muscles, and tissues connecting the neck to the pelvis. At the center of this skeletal system is the spine which connects the head to the neck and the back of a person.

The neck, back, and spine all work together to enable the body to perform basic functions such as standing, moving, and sitting. When any of these portions are subjected to powerful force, sudden jolt or trauma in a car crash, workplace accident, fall or violent attack, back or neck injuries can happen, causing extreme pain and limiting a person’s overall movement.

Trauma Injuries of the Neck, Back, and Spinal Cord

Neck Injury in Manassas

Many neck injuries result from hyperextension or hyperflexion, also called ‘whiplash’ when the head is flung backward or forward due to a formidable force. Whiplash injuries usually result from automobile collisions during a front, side or rear impact. The speed of the colliding vehicles or the extent of physical damage to the car may not always reflect the severity of a neck injury. Even vehicles that travel at lower speeds can produce sufficient force to cause whiplash in passengers.

The usual signs of a neck injury:

• Pain, whether immediately or the days following a vehicular collision
• Decreased range of motion that limits the injured person’s ability to perform usual tasks
• Weakness, dizziness, numbness, and tingling sensations
• Neck stiffness

Difficulty chewing and swallowing often indicate more severe neck injury and must immediately be reported to a doctor for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Back Injury in Manassas

Because the neck and back are connected by the vertebrae, it is possible for neck and back injuries to exhibit similar symptoms such as localized pain, tenderness, and stiffness around the injured area. Numbness and paralysis of the arms or legs often indicate a more severe injury to the back and must be treated immediately.

Spinal Cord Injury in Manassas

The spine is also susceptible to injury during a severe vehicular crash. When the spine is fractured, dislocated, or crushed by a sudden and traumatic force, nerve fibers passing through the injured area may become damaged, impairing movement of connecting muscles in the arms, legs, and torso. Severe injury to the spine is often indicated by the following symptoms:

• Loss of movement
• Inability to feel heat, cold and touch
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Intense pain or tingling sensations
• Impaired sexual function
• Breathing difficulty
• Exaggerated reflex motions or spasms

Severe spinal cord injury can also lead to complete loss of movement in the arms and legs, also known as quadriplegia.

What to Do after a Vehicular Incident

Neck, back, or spinal cord injury may not always manifest immediately after a crash, collision, workplace injury or fall. Symptoms that are not immediately recognized may develop into more severe injury. Because of this delay, it is imperative that the injured party visits an emergency room right away.

• Do not attempt to self-diagnose a neck, back or spinal injury
• Allow a trained, professional physician to examine the injuries fully
• Early detection and treatment of any injury to the neck, back or spine are crucial for minimizing the effects of trauma and creating a long-term health plan

Recovering Compensation for Neck, Back, and Spine Injuries

Severe damage to the vertebrae is often irreversible and the injured party may require lifelong treatment and care to improve their quality of life. Many who suffer serious spinal cord injuries are unable to resume their normal functions and may have to stop working and performing their daily household chores. Ongoing medication, tests, and rehabilitation are often prescribed to manage the effects of extensive spinal cord injury.

Legal Options

An injured party and their loved ones may want to know their legal options for catastrophic incidents where other parties may have been at fault. An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to determine whether the injured party has a potential claim for compensation. Our office provides free consultations to determine that likelihood. If it does not, we are happy to provide information in pursuing a smaller case without a lawyer.

Value of Compensation

When a vehicular collision, workplace accident or fall is due to the negligence of another party, tort law generally allows the injured party to recover economic damages that include the past and future medical bills. This can include the initial emergency room visit, diagnostic testing, X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, (or MRI),  nerve conduction studies, CAT scans, physical therapy and even surgeries.

In addition, the past and future lost income, future costs for rehabilitation and home care, as well as non-economic damages for the pain and suffering that the injured party may additionally experience, can be recovered in successful cases.

Experience Matters in the Courtroom

As a long-time practitioner of personal injury law, John pays particular attention to the medical aspect of spinal injury cases in the courtroom. This is important because the doctors on both sides of the case are going to provide influential testimony the jury will use to determine the damages and recovery.

At Whittington Law, our experienced attorney will properly prepare the victim’s doctors to testify on our client’s behalf by proper preparation of the doctor questions and allowing their medical expertise to explain the injury sustained and its likely effects on the client.

Conversely, our attorney is also adept at understanding the defense’s tactics in minimizing the injuries to decrease their liability. We have worked on both sides, and cross-examining the insurance company’s witnesses, including doctors, is something we prepare for in each case that is in litigation.

Get Help Now: Call Whittington Law Today

In Virginia, the statute of limitations for personal injuries through negligence is two years from the date of the incident. There is an exception for individuals under the age of 18. Under the age of 18, the statute of limitations does not begin for them until their 18th birthday, placing the statute expiration in Virginia on a minor’s 20th birthday.

Whittington Law represents victims of personal injury to the neck, back, and spinal cord. Call us today at (703) 257-5668 to learn more about how we can help you.

Service Areas

• Manassas
• Quantico
• Nokesville
• Triangle
• Woodbridge
• Occoquan
• Gainesville
• Bristow
• Haymarket
• Dumfries
• Catharpin