What To Do If You Experience Back Pain After A Car Accident in New Jersey

Suffering from back pain after a car accident is extraordinarily common. Even minor car accidents can leave a person with significant aftereffects, including back pain that can dramatically interfere with your daily life. In this article, we’ll tell you a few things you need to know about how back pain might present – and what it might mean – after a motor vehicle accident.

Can Back Pain be Delayed after an Accident?

It’s important to realize that not all back pain is immediately apparent after a car accident. There’s a couple of reasons for this. First, auto accidents are (obviously) a stressful and nerve-wracking event. They’re often associated with sudden releases of adrenaline and stress hormones that prevent you from feeling pain. It’s only afterwards, when the stress and anxiety of the accident has worn off, that the pain becomes noticeable.

Also, some kinds of physical injury don’t hurt immediately. Sometimes the increase or decrease of swelling, or other internal causes, can delay the onset of pain.

Kinds of Delayed Back Pain You Might Experience

There are so many ways that car accident back pain can manifest. Some are more common than others, however, and you may notice:

  • Headaches: Intense headaches shortly after an auto accident can be a sign of something serious. People who notice this should seek immediate medical attention.
  • Hurting shoulders and neck: While also associated with whiplash, pain in the neck and shoulders can be caused by a herniated disc or spinal cord injury.
  • Backaches: Feeling some minor aches and pains in your back immediately after a car accident isn’t unusual, but intense and persistent pain can be a signal that something has gone wrong.
  • Limb numbness: Numbness or tingling in your arms and legs is a worrying indication that you’ve got a significant injury.

Can You Sue for Delayed Back Pain in New Jersey?

Lower back pain after a car accident and similar sensations are often the first suggestion that you may have suffered significant injury. In addition to seeking immediate and qualified medical attention, you should find a qualified personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

Only an experienced lawyer can tell you if you’ve got a viable legal case and, if you do, it’s important that you begin getting your case organized as soon as possible. 

What is the legal definition of Pain and Suffering?

In New Jersey, pain and suffering is considered compensable noneconomic damage. That means that, even if it doesn’t cause you any economic loss, going through certain kinds of experiences entitles you to damages.

If you’re experiencing physical or emotional pain as the result of an auto accident, including lower or upper back pain after a car accident, don’t discount its importance. A lawyer can help explain if you’re in a position to demand compensation for your pain and suffering.

Mazie Slater Car Accident Lawyers are Here for You

The experienced New Jersey personal injury attorneys at Mazie Slater can help you obtain compensation when you experience harm as the result of the negligence of another driver. We offer free consultations and will walk you through your options based on the unique facts of your case and your individual circumstances. Finally, we don’t charge you unless we win your case.