Neck and Back Injuries

The aggressive, tenacious and hardworking lawyers and paralegals at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. have extensive experience handling cases where clients have been injured in a car accident. We are prepared to fight to obtain the best result for your neck and back injuries after a Buffalo car accident.

The two most common neck and back injuries after a car accident are:

1. Whiplash; and
2. Intervertebral disc injuries.

Damage to the spinal cord after an accident can cause significant nerve damage. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the top cause of spinal cord injuries is car accidents. Serious spinal cord injuries can result in paralysis and death.

Neck and back injuries can be debilitating. They keep you out of work and result in high medical bills.

If you, or a loved one, have sustained a neck or back injury as a result of a car accident in Buffalo, New York, call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. today at (716) 839-3939.

When an accident occurs, a lot of things happen in your body. Typically, your “fight or flight” response kicks in, giving you a burst of adrenaline.

Adrenaline is a powerful hormone that boosts your physical performance to ensure that you would be able to either:

1. Escape a dangerous situation; or
2. Defend yourself.

The effects of adrenaline can last long after an accident has occurred. This can create problems for someone who is injured.

Adrenaline blocks the sensation of pain, meaning you may be more hurt than you realize after a car accident.

Because the effects of adrenaline can be dangerously misleading, it is important that you seek medical treatment immediately after a car accident.

Imagine This:
You are on your way home from work when suddenly the car behind you strikes the back of your car. Everything from there happens in slow motion. Your head whips back and forth as your car pushes forward. Chances are, you sustained a whiplash injury.

The sudden movement of the head and neck in a car accident can easily cause muscle, joint, intervertebral disc, ligament and nerve damage. A whiplash injury occurs when the neck stretches too far due to a quick movement. A whiplash injury may be delayed for 24 hours or longer after your car accident.

A whiplash injury is very specific to the person and the accident. Generally, some common symptoms of a whiplash injury are:

1. Pain and stiffness;
2. Generalized neck pain;
3. Jaw pain;
4. Dizziness;
5. Headache;
6. Blurred vision;
7. Difficulty concentrating; and
8. Swelling.

It is imperative that you see a doctor to diagnose your whiplash injury if you believe you have one. Symptoms of a whiplash injury can overlap with symptoms of serious spinal cord injuries that will only get worse with time if not treated properly.

Call our office today at (716) 839-3939 so that we can review your case for free. You may receive significant compensation for your neck and back injuries after your Buffalo car accident.

Treatment of a whiplash injury usually takes place at home with oversight from your doctor.

Home remedies could include:

1. Over-the-counter pain medication;
2. Prescribed pain medication;
3. Neck braces;
4. Ice;
5. Neck stretching; and
6. Special pillows.

In some cases, the emergency response team may refer you to specialists who would be able to help with your specific whiplash injury.

Car accidents frequently cause intervertebral disc injuries. An intervertebral disc is a type of cartilage that is between the vertebral bone in the spine. Intervertebral discs in the cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (mid back) or lumbar spine (lower back) may be:

1. Herniated;
2. Bulging; or
3. Ruptured.

The diagram below has examples of a healthy intervertebral disc, a protruding or bulging intervertebral disc and a herniated intervertebral disc.

Intervertebral disc injury symptoms vary depending on where the injury is located relative to the spinal cord. Typically, some common symptoms of intervertebral disc injuries include:

1. Sciatica (shooting pain from the buttocks down the back of one leg);
2. Numbness or tingling;
3. Weakness;
4. Radiating pain;
5. Pain that increases with movement; and
6. Burning sensations.

Proving the existence of your intervertebral disc injury is essential to your personal injury case.

The standard for corroborative diagnostics is a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan. This type of scan can show the doctor whether you have disc damage as a result of a car accident.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. has a close relationship with many neck and back injury specialists in Buffalo, New York. In the event that you require specialized treatment, you want a trustworthy and knowledgeable attorney on your side. Call Jed Dietrich, Esq. and the top rated Dietrich Law Firm P.C. now at (716) 839-3939 to discuss your neck or back injury as a result of a car accident in Buffalo, New York.

Treatment for intervertebral disc injuries depends on your specific condition. The following doctors treat those who have suffered intervertebral disc injuries:

1. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) doctors;
2. Neurologists;
3. Osteopathy doctors;
4. Physical Therapists;
5. Orthopedists;
6. Rheumatologists;
7. Neurosurgeons; and
8. Chiropractors.

It is common for those who have sustained intervertebral disc injuries to receive intervertebral steroid injections. These invasive shots aim to relieve severe pain around the intervertebral disc injury.

In some cases, surgery may be necessary to correct severe intervertebral disc damage.

After a car accident, if you experience any of the symptoms of an intervertebral disc injury, contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his top rated team of lawyers at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. at (716) 839-3939. We focus on neck and back injuries after a car accident in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

1. Who Pays for My Neck and Back Injury Treatment After a Car Accident?
2. What Type of Doctor Should I See for My Neck and Back Injury?
3. How do I Know if My Whiplash Injury is Serious?

Who Pays for My Neck and Back Injury Treatment After a Car Accident?

New York State is a No-Fault state. This means that the No-Fault insurance policy held by the owner of the car, SUV or truck that you were in when the injury occurred will primarily be responsible for paying your medical bills and lost wages, even if the driver of the vehicle that you were in did not cause the accident.

What Type of Doctor Should I See for My Neck and Back Injury?

The following doctors specialize in treating those who have injured their neck or back in a car accident in Buffalo:

1. Physical Medicine and Rehabiliation doctors;
2. Neurologists;
3. Osteopathy doctors;
4. Physical Therapists;
5. Othopedists;
6. Rheumatologists;
7. Neurosurgeons; and
8. Chiropractors.

Immediately following a car accident, you should receive emergency room treatment.

How do I Know if My Whiplash Injury is Serious?

The best practice after a car accident is to receive emergency room medical treatment. Remember that the stress hormone adrenaline can block the sensation of pain, which could result in delayed treatment and further injury.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at (716) 839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!