Every bone, nerve, and muscle in the back serves a specific purpose, with many of the spine’s components responsible for relaying signals between the body and the brain. Significant injuries of any sort—whether sustained in a low-speed collision or a high-velocity crash—not only present a risk of life-altering disability but also raise your long-term risk of debilitating complications.
You shouldn’t have to pay the price for a Sun City Center car accident that wasn’t your fault. At DeLoach, Hofstra & Cavonis, P.A., we’ve spent the better part of 50 years fighting for the rights of Floridians injured by reckless motorists. I know what it takes to obtain the resources you need to overcome the odds in a back injury case and will help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
Impact of Car Accidents on Your Body ![graphic-of-human-with-illuminated-spine]()
Due to the sudden and violent forces exerted on the body during a wreck, the spine—which supports your body's structure and protects the spinal cord—is often subjected to extreme stress. The rapid deceleration at the point of impact causes the body to be thrown forward, backward, or sideways, and your spine twists, compresses, or stretches beyond its normal range.
Most Common Car Crash-Related Back Injuries
The abrupt movement caused by t-bone collisions, head-on accidents, and other wrecks damages vertebrae, discs, ligaments, and surrounding soft tissues, leading to complicated medical issues, significant pain, and long-term mobility issues, such as:
- Whiplash
- Herniated discs
- Nerve damage
- Lumbar spine injuries
- Thoracic spine injuries
- Spinal fractures
Even seemingly minor conditions like whiplash could grow worse with time, leaving survivors to grapple with symptoms that sometimes persist for years.
Understated Risk of Chronic Complications
Almost every part of your body, inside and out, faces big risks in an accident—but your back could keep hurting long after your other injuries have healed. In fact, back injuries, especially those that cause lasting damage to your spinal cord, are associated with a wide range of secondary medical conditions that impact your body and your mind in many ways. The stress on your immune system, lack of ability to exercise, and other factors increase the chances of developing depression, diabetes, or brittle bones.
5 Ways to Protect Your Rights After a Sun City Center Car Accident
When you’re injured in a collision that wasn’t your fault, you can bet that the insurance company representing the negligent driver will analyze every single aspect of your back injury claim closely. However, I can assure you that if you take action to preserve your health, document everything accurately, and work with me to protect your rights to pursue compensation, we’ll build a strong case. Here are the steps I recommend.
1. See the Doctor
Prompt medical care gives you the chance to not only obtain an accurate diagnosis but to gather the sort of evidence that determines the outcome of your claim—evidence that insurance companies may try to minimize, but which I know how to turn into a compelling argument for recompense.
2. Follow Up on Referrals and Physical Therapy
Florida is a no-fault state, which means that the person who caused your accident may be liable for your losses. However, state courts expect you to protect your well-being by following your doctor’s instructions, even when they entail inconvenient check-ups or intensive physical therapy. If you let your care lapse, a defense attorney might accuse you of failing to mitigate your damages—a common tactic resulting in much less compensation than you deserve.
3. Keep Track of Your Records and Receipts
State law won’t cap your recovery, but you can’t negotiate a fair settlement without providing evidence of the ways in which an accident has impacted your health, your wealth, and your well-being. Keep track of any relevant records and receipts, including:
- Hospital bills you’ve already paid
- Medical debt that you haven’t paid or can’t afford to pay
- Receipts from the pharmacy for medication or companies for assistive devices
- Invoices from physical therapy
- Copies of X-rays, prescriptions, and other medical documentation
Outside of records and receipts, don’t shy away from putting your feelings into words—if your back injury affects how you think, feel, or act, start a journal and track the changes.
4. Stay Skeptical of Insurance Adjusters
If the other driver was clearly at fault for your accident, you could receive an offer of settlement sooner than expected. However, it pays to remember that insurers are for-profit enterprises: more often than not, an adjuster who wants you to sign a check immediately is someone who knows that your claim could cost their employer a lot more money.
5. Don’t Wait Too Long to Take Action
Taking an at-fault motorist to court is your right, but it’s a right that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Every car accident-related claim is subject to a strict statute of limitations—and if you wait too long to contact an attorney, your case could be dismissed on a legal technicality. Trust that I’ll mobilize the experienced legal team at Deloach, Hofstra & Cavonis, P.A., to get to work on your case right away. We understand exactly what you need to do to seek justice and rebuild a healthy life —and we have the results to prove it.
