The human spine is made up of a number of small bones known as "vertebrae," separated by soft, spongy discs. Between the vertebrae branch out nerves running all over the body, from the legs to the fingertips. Sometimes, a disc can slip out of place due to a severe trauma (such as a car accident) and cause severe pain, numbness, or even partial paralysis as the nerves are pinched.
The Importance of Prompt Medical Treatment
If you are experiencing back or neck pain following a car accident, you should see a doctor and then contact an attorney as soon as possible. It can be difficult to know how severe a slip disk or herniated disk injury is, and many times people will just hope that the pain goes away. Although sometimes that is the case, other times a back injury will have lifelong effects such as lost productivity or even an inability to work at all.
Although the stereotypical insurance fraud perpetrator walks into the insurance office with a neck brace and complaining of terrible pain, the reality is that the insurance companies have benefited greatly from this image. The truth is that car accidents are a leading cause of back or neck injury, and as a car accident victim you have every right to fair and legal compensation.
The Importance of Prompt Legal Advice
Getting a fair insurance settlement is one of the biggest reasons you should not dismiss the possibility that an injury to your back has resulted in a slipped disk. Many times if a person did not seek immediate medical treatment, the insurance claims adjuster will point to that as an indication of fraud. The problem is that the "adrenalin rush" that comes from being involved in a serious car accident will often mask more serious health effects until hours or even days later. By then, unfortunately, it is often too late; the insurance adjuster can claim that the injury may or may not have been caused by the car accident.
Sometimes an accident victim will try to deal with insurance companies himself. Doing so virtually assures that the insurance company will take advantage of you, because unrepresented claims of things like "slip disc" are labeled as fraud and treated as such. Think about it: do you really want to take the chance that you have experienced a life-changing injury, but will receive no compensation for it whatsoever?
Getting Legal Help
For all of the reasons stated above, if you have been involved in a serious car accident and are experiencing back or neck pain, you are advised to contact an attorney immediately. The information in this article is for general purposes only.
