You were involved in a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence. Their insurance company has already settled with you for the vehicular damage. But you are left with a nagging backache from the rear impact.
Your doctor said that it might resolve over time — months, if not weeks. But they also added that some back injuries never fully heal, and in fact can worsen over time. Below are some things to consider before settling that supposedly “minor” car accident case.
Your quality of life may never be the same
Maybe you’re a young parent who is used to tossing your toddlers up and catching them or giving them rides on your shoulders or back. Those days might be gone forever if your car accident left you with chronic back pain.
Imagine never being able to stroll along a beach at sunset, stand for your favorite band at a music festival or swing a tennis racket or a golf club without clutching your lower back as the muscles spasm. All those little things that enhance the quality of your life and leisure time may no longer be doable.
Future treatment costs can break the bank
According to a Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) article, in a single year in the last decade, over $87 billion was spent on the treatment of “low back and neck pain,” the third-highest amount expended on health care costs in America during that period.
Consider, too, the effects of chronic back and neck pain on your ability to continue to carry out your job duties. Anyone who is on their feet most of the time — people working retail, health care professionals, hairdressers, realtors showing properties to prospective clients — could discover that they are no longer capable of standing for long periods or walking more than a few feet without pain.
Preserve your legal options after a car accident
Don’t be so quick to accept a fast check. If you suffered back or neck injuries in a collision with an at-fault driver, you may be entitled to compensation for past, present and future medical expenses.