Linking Back Pain to a Harrisburg Car Crash

You may initially walk away from a car accident feeling fine, and then days later start to feel a sharp pain down your back. This is not uncommon, as initially shock and adrenaline block some degree of pain. As the shock wears off and inflammation from the crash increases in your body, what might have seemed like minor soreness to the back can get much worse. Unfortunately, crash victims who develop delayed injuries, especially for an internal injury, like severe back pain, can expect a lot of push back from the liable insurance company.

At Schmidt Kramer, our experienced Harrisburg car accident attorneys are ready to help you navigate the legal process. We encourage you to contact us as soon as your injuries have been stabilized, and we welcome questions you may have about your potential case. We are committed to holding at-fault parties accountable for their actions, and we know how to dispute insurance companies looking for reasons to devalue your back injury claim.

Call our firm today to request a FREE case review: (717) 727-2550

How Do I Prove My Back Pain Was Caused by My Harrisburg Car Accident?

Back pain is common after a car accident, but be prepared that the insurance company will likely work hard to dispute your claim. To protect your rights and your claim, you need to provide solid evidence that links your current back pain to the Harrisburg car crash that caused it.

These are some key steps to take immediately after your crash:

Seek Medical Care Immediately

Even if you feel fine, see a doctor within 24 hours. This creates a crucial medical record documenting your condition immediately after the crash. People who are truly injured do not wait to seek medical care.

during your examination, be sure to tell the ER doctor that you were involved in a car crash. This provides key information about what the impact may have done to your back. Mention any discomfort, stiffness, or unusual sensations, no matter how minor they seem. Those early symptoms are likely to feel a lot worse later.

Emergency room visits create the strongest initial documentation. ER doctors specifically look for trauma-related injuries and note them in your medical records. This creates hard-to-dispute evidence that helps to link your back pain to the crash that caused or exacerbated it.

Get Diagnostic Tests

The ER doctor treating you will likely request diagnostic testing to rule out more serious back injuries. All of this information gets added to your medical records, including the results of your tests and the diagnosis provided by your doctor.

X-rays show broken bones but miss soft tissue damage. Your back pain likely involves muscles, ligaments, or discs that do not appear on basic X-rays.

MRI scans reveal herniated discs, pinched nerves, and soft tissue inflammation. These detailed images can directly link your symptoms to specific anatomical damage. Schedule an MRI as soon as your doctor recommends it.

CT scans offer different angles and can detect injuries that MRIs may miss. Some doctors order both tests to get a complete picture of your spine’s condition.

Work With Spine Specialists

Your family doctor provides initial care, but specialists offer the expertise needed to prove causation. Orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, and pain management doctors understand spine mechanics.

These specialists can explain exactly how crash forces affected your specific vertebrae, discs, and surrounding tissues. They use medical terminology that carries authority in legal proceedings.

Gather Solid Documentation

The police report captures the basic facts of the accident, including the time, date, and those involved. You may need more detailed evidence about the crash.

Accident reconstruction experts examine evidence using a combination of scientific analysis and other software, such as photogrammetry software and 3-D scanners. They also use vehicle simulation software to interpret and calculate the forces your body experienced during impact. They consider vehicle weight, speed, angles, and specific impact points to determine the trauma your spine absorbed.

Document Your Pain and Limitations

Keep a daily pain journal starting immediately after your accident. Write down your pain levels, activities that worsen your symptoms, and how the injury affects your overall quality of your work and personal life.

You should also document the treatments, test results, and care recommendations as you receive them from your doctor. Save all medical bills, prescription receipts, and therapy appointments. These financial records prove the ongoing cost of your injury and show consistent treatment.

What Types of Back Injuries Are Common in Harrisburg Car Accidents?

Car accidents create unique forces that can damage your spine in multiple ways. Although crash victims may sustain various types of injuries, they must recognize the symptoms and seek proper treatment for these injuries.

Herniated Discs: This type of injury occurs when the gel-like center of the disc pushes through the outer ring. This puts pressure on nearby nerves, causing sharp pain that radiates down your legs.
Spinal Compression: An injury that happens when a crash forces your vertebrae together.
Lower Back Whiplash: While whiplash injuries often effect the neck and upper back, they can impact your lower back as well. Deep, aching pain that worsens with movement. You might feel stiff in the morning or experience spasms when changing positions. These symptoms can persist for months without proper treatment.
Facet Joint Injuries: This happens when the small joints connecting your vertebrae get jammed or stretched. These joints help control spinal movement, and damage creates persistent pain and stiffness.
Paraspinal Muscle Strains: A type of muscle strain that affects the long muscles running alongside your spine. These muscles work constantly to maintain posture and support movement. When damaged, simple activities like getting out of bed become painful.
Ligament Sprains: This occurs when the tough bands connecting your vertebrae stretch beyond their limits. Unlike muscles, ligaments heal slowly and may never regain full strength without proper treatment.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A syndrome that develops when muscle knots form after trauma. These trigger points create referred pain that spreads throughout your back and into your legs.

Can I Still Obtain Compensation if I Had Previous Back Pain?

Pre-existing injuries, including previous back injuries, do not disqualify you from receiving compensation after a Harrisburg car accident. Pennsylvania law protects your right to fair payment when crashes worsen existing conditions.

Pennsylvania’s “eggshell skull” rule requires at-fault drivers to pay for all injuries they cause, even when accidents worsen pre-existing conditions. Insurance companies cannot reduce your compensation simply because you had back problems before the crash.

However, it is still you and your attorney’s responsibility to provide the evidence needed to link your injuries to the accident. You must show how the accident made your pre-existing injuries worse.

How Long Do I Have to Report My Back Pain After a Harrisburg Car Accident?

You have exactly two years from your accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit in Pennsylvania. If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to compensation, regardless of how severe your injuries are.

Courts rarely grant extensions to this deadline. Even if you develop or discover pain or injuries weeks after the accident, the deadline is still the same. Do not assume you can wait until the last minute to decide whether to file a lawsuit. A strong case requires significant time and preparation, especially if you go to court.

Why Delayed Back Pain Treatment Hurts Your Harrisburg Car Accident Claim

When you delay your back pain treatment, it makes it difficult to link your injuries to the car crash. As a result, you may not have the proper documentation, and your words alone do not show the severity of your injuries.

Makes it Harder to Link Your Injuries to the Crash

The longer you wait to see a doctor, the harder it becomes to prove your back pain stems from the accident. Pre-existing conditions become more problematic with delayed treatment.

Can Reduce Settlement Outcomes

Claims with immediate medical treatment may settle for more than those with delayed care. Crash victims with delayed care may have to overcome the challenges of finding medical evidence that shows the initial state of their injuries.

Casts Serious Doubt on Your Credibility

Delayed treatment damages your credibility with insurance adjusters, attorneys, and potential juries. People expect genuinely injured individuals to seek immediate medical care.

Your pain complaints carry less weight when you wait weeks or months to see a doctor. Medical professionals and legal experts question the reliability of delayed symptom reporting.

Why Insurance Companies Question Back Pain Claims From Car Accidents

Your insurance company may question the severity of your back pain so they can lowball your claim. Recognize their tactics so that you can take the proper steps to secure maximum compensation.

Back Pain Is Not Visible Making it Harder To Prove

Unlike broken bones, which are visible on X-rays, back pain cannot be easily measured or photographed. Soft tissue injuries, muscle strains, and nerve damage can cause significant pain but often leave no visible evidence that satisfies insurance adjusters.

Pain scales rely on your reporting, which insurance companies dismiss as subjective and unreliable. They may argue that you could be exaggerating symptoms for financial gain.

Preexisting Medical History

Insurance companies immediately search your medical records for any previous back problems, no matter how minor. They will claim your current pain comes from age-related changes, old injuries, or degenerative conditions rather than the accident.

Delay Tactics Create Financial Pressure for Injured Victims

Insurance companies often deliberately prolong back pain claims through extensive documentation requests, multiple medical examinations, and repeated negotiations. They know mounting bills and lost wages force desperate people to accept lowball offers.

Initial settlement offers are typically 10 to 20 percent of the actual claim value. They expect most people to take inadequate amounts rather than continue fighting.

How Do I Receive Compensation for Back Pain After a Car Crash?

You will most likely recover compensation after an accident from the at-fault party’s insurance. If they are found to be liable for your injuries and damages, your claim can cover the following:

Medical Expenses: You can recover medical costs related to your back injury, including emergency room visits, doctor’s appointments, diagnostic tests such as MRIs and CT scans, prescription medication, and physical therapy sessions.
Future Treatment Costs: Chronic back injuries often require ongoing medical care. Your settlement should account for future expenses, including regular doctor visits, physical therapy, pain management treatments, and potential surgical procedures.
Lost Wages: Compensation covers the income lost while recovering from your back injury. This includes sick days, vacation time used for medical appointments, and time you could not work due to pain or treatment.
Pain and Suffering: This compensates for the physical discomfort, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life caused by your back injury. Pennsylvania allows recovery for both current and future pain and suffering.

Call Schmidt Kramer if You Need Assistance With Navigating Car Crash Claims

Do you have back pain after a car crash you did not cause? If so, we encourage you to seek legal help from our Harrisburg law firm today. Insurance companies count on victims giving up when pressured with complex medical evidence requirements and aggressive claim denial tactics.

At Schmidt Kramer, our attorneys have been helping injured crash victims for many years and have a proven history of securing favorable outcomes for our clients. When we manage your case, we work tirelessly to counter insurance company tactics and fight for the compensation you need and deserve. Call today for your free, no-risk case review. We take injury cases on contingency, so there are no upfront costs or out-of-pocket fees.

Call our trusted law firm to speak with a Schmidt Kramer attorney today: (717) 727-2550.

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It’s hard to believe it’s been four years already, but I’m still deeply thankful for my experience with Dennis. Now living in Illinois, I’ve had some similar encounters, and people here are often surprised — and even a bit shocked — when they hear my story. They always end up admitting just how good Dennis truly was. It’s something I didn’t fully realize at the time, but the more I share, the more it’s confirmed to me. God bless, and thank you I came back stronger than ever.
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I can't thank Schmidt Kramer, P.C. enough for their dedication and hard work on my case. After my injury, dealing with the insurance company was overwhelming, but their team stepped in and fought tirelessly to ensure I got the benefits I needed for treatment. They kept me informed every step of the way and worked diligently to reach a fair settlement. Their professionalism, expertise, and compassion made all the difference. If you're looking for a personal injury firm that truly cares and delivers results, I highly recommend Schmidt Kramer, P.C.!
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Challenges of Linking Back Pain to a Harrisburg Car Crash

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