A car accident can be a traumatic incident in itself. If someone gets injured, it can lead to long-term issues such as scoliosis after car accidents, also known as traumatic scoliosis, among other debilitating diseases.
If you have already had scoliosis, a car accident can worsen the injury and thus impact your quality of life to a large extent.
So, if you or your loved one was involved in an accident that resulted in a back injury, read on to learn more about treatment for scoliosis after a car accident in Calgary.
What is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a spinal injury where the spine curves sideways gradually. It is usually diagnosed in adolescence. Symptoms are typically mild and do not cause much pain. However, severe cases can often lead to intense pain and lack of mobility.
This sort of injury does not occur overnight. It is instead a gradual injury that happens over time. The damage worsens for children diagnosed with it as they grow into adults, and this causes the spine to curve sideways. Signs of scoliosis include uneven shoulders and hips.
Although most cases of scoliosis are idiopathic, meaning the cause is unknown, there have been cases where an injury caused by an accident can cause or aggravate scoliosis.
How Can a Car Accident Cause Scoliosis?
If you were involved in a rear-end accident at high speed, the impact can cause your head, neck, and back to suffer from whiplash. While your spinal disc acts as a shock absorber, the extreme force you will suffer due to the collision can cause them to become herniated, bulge, or even fracture.
If left untreated, these injuries can gradually degrade the tissues surrounding the cord, thus causing the spine to curve. You could also experience other issues such as damage to organs, arthritis, and problems with mobility.
If you have already had scoliosis, there’s always the possibility that an accident can aggravate it. Although many people go through their whole lives in relative normality with scoliosis, if a negligent driver has caused your injury to worsen, you may be able to hold them responsible.
What are the Signs of Scoliosis Caused by Trauma?
If you or your loved one experiences pain or discomfort in your back after an accident, you must report it to your doctor immediately. In many cases, the degree of injury is not apparent right away, and if you fail to treat it immediately, your spine can curve.
Signs of traumatic scoliosis include:
- Tingling or numbness in your extremities
- Strain in your lower back and legs
- Uneven shoulders
- Uneven ribcage
- Uneven hips
Your doctor will take x-rays to find any damage to your spine and determine the severity of the injury. If your diagnosis is traumatic scoliosis, you may need to wear a back brace to fix the curvature and go through physio and chiropractic therapy to improve the pain. You may undergo surgery if you have suffered herniated discs or fractured vertebrae.
Can you Claim Compensation for Scoliosis After a Car Accident?
Spinal injuries can be challenging to recover from, and you may have to spend a long time in bed until you’ve healed fully, thus causing you to lose income. Treatments are also expensive, especially if there are any complications and surgeries become necessary to correct them.
Claiming compensation for traumatic scoliosis can be tricky as some insurance companies may delay paying out a claim. At the same time, some may argue that your scoliosis is unrelated to your injury, even if you had no previous back issues before the accident.
Even if you had scoliosis before the accident, this does not mean the driver or their insurance company can get away with it. When someone else’s actions cause an existing condition to worsen, an experienced and specialized injury lawyer can help you prove your injury claim and represent you in a trial if necessary.
Bottom Line
Car accidents can cause life-changing injuries, including traumatic scoliosis that may require extensive treatment and leave you unable to work. If the accident was caused due to the recklessness or willful negligence of another driver, you have every right to seek compensation and even file a personal injury claim.
To get a favorable result in your compensation claim, you will require an experienced lawyer to protect your rights and fight the insurance company or opposition lawyers on your behalf. If you or your loved one has suffered from a back injury resulting from a car accident, contact a lawyer as soon as possible to get the compensation you deserve.
