Back & Neck Injury
Colorado attorney R. Mack Babcock and associates provide compassionate, yet aggressive representation for personal injury victims
Injuries to the back and neck are quite common and account for one of the leading reasons for visits to the emergency room or doctor, as well as one of the most common reasons for missed work. While they may seem minor in the beginning, many injuries to the back and neck can cause severe, long-term chronic pain.
Injuries to the back and neck can dramatically limit movement, and can even cause paralysis in extreme cases.
The back and neck consist of a myriad of bones, tissues, muscles, and a vast number of nerves that comprise the core structural elements of the human body. Common back/neck injuries or conditions can include:
- Strains
- Sprains
- Whiplash
- Slipped/herniated disks
- Fractured vertebrae
- Sciatica
- Compression fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
If your back or neck injury occurred due to someone else’s negligence, you do have grounds for a personal injury claim
Injuries of this nature can occur just about anywhere, but car accidents and slip & fall incidents are the most common causes. Back and neck injuries that occur in the course of your employment qualify for a workers’ compensation claim.
If you’ve sustained a back or neck injury, it’s possible you’ll have to undergo extensive medical treatment that comes at a pretty steep cost. In the course of your treatment, you’ll likely have to miss work and if your injury causes permanent disability, your future earnings potential may be affected.
All of these costs pile up and lead to helplessness and despair if you do not receive compensation.
Colorado back and neck injury attorneys at Babcock Tucker can help you establish “causation” and aggressively fight to obtain compensation & justice
Whether the cause was a car accident, slip & fall or a motorcycle accident, Denver-attorney R. Mack Babcock and associates carefully investigate the accident site, interview witnesses, and interview physicians to establish fault and “causation.”
If you or a loved one have sustained a personal injury to the back or neck due to someone else’s negligence, it’s important you speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Delaying can put your claim at risk, and load you with an extra burden at a time when you should be attending to your health.
Whiplash – A True “Pain in the Neck”
If you have ever experienced such severe neck pain that you can barely move and feel miserable, you could possibly be experiencing “whiplash.” Thinking back to when I was 18 years old and had a cheerleading accident in high school, I thought I had just pulled my neck. However, it turned out to be whiplash which resulted in two years of severe neck pain.
What is “Whiplash?”
“Whiplash” is the non- medical term used for a cervical strain, sprain or hyperextension injury. It is an injury to the soft tissue which can include ligaments, tendons and muscles. Most of the time, these types of injuries can take longer to heal than a broken bone that can be corrected in a cast.
Medicinenet.com states that the economic expenses of whiplash in the United States come in at approximately $30 billion a year. These expenses include medical care, disability, sick leave, lost productivity and litigation.
What are the symptoms?
There can be a variety of symptoms but most include:
- Headaches
- Severe stiffness and pain in the neck area
- Dizziness
- Pain in the shoulder area
- Possible irritability
- Difficulty in remembering or concentrating
- Lower back pain.
How do you get Whiplash?
Whiplash car accidents are perhaps the most common way people get this injury, typically after getting rear-ended. However, it also occurs due to sports injuries, roller coaster rides, assaults, slips and falls, and unfortunately, even child abuse. It happens often when an abnormal amount of force or pressure is applied to your neck.
Are there ways to avoid Whiplash?
Obviously, accidents are going to happen and there are things that are completely out of our control. However, there are precautions to take that may help prevent whiplash.
- First and foremost, when you are in a car, make certain the head restraint is lined up properly to your head. If it is too high or low, the restraint is not helping in any way.
- Use your seatbelt properly and drive a vehicle with an airbag
- Monitor your children’s activities on the playground
- Do stretching exercises before sporting activities
- Follow all rules on carnival and amusement rides
- Report any suspected child abuse to authorities
How is Whiplash treated?
The trend of today is to have early movement instead of complete immobilization. The quicker you begin to move, the quicker it will heal.
Ibuprofen, gentle exercising, massages, heat, ice are the most common treatments of whiplash.
However, if your situation is as severe as mine was, it may result in you needing physical therapy, injections and ultrasounds. Either way, it can take quite some time to heal.
If you have been in an accident and believe you are suffering from whiplash due to no fault of your own, contact our Colorado personal injury attorney, R. Mack Babcock, for a free consultation.
To discuss your individual case today, contact Denver-based personal injury attorneys at Babcock Tucker for a free consultation.
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