Serious Back and Neck Injuries After a Dallas-Fort Worth Truck Wreck

A collision with an 18-wheeler can place enormous force on the neck, back, and spine. A driver or passenger may be thrown forward, backward, or sideways while the vehicle is crushed, pushed into traffic, or forced against a concrete barrier.

The result may be far more serious than temporary soreness.

Truck-wreck victims can suffer herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, spinal instability, nerve compression, cervical radiculopathy, sciatica, spinal stenosis, and other injuries that cause persistent pain, weakness, numbness, and reduced mobility. Some people require injections, nerve procedures, spinal fusion, disc replacement, or other surgery.

Back injuries can result from the sudden jolt of a motor-vehicle accident and may include sprains, strains, herniated discs, and fractured vertebrae. These injuries can cause significant pain and limit movement.

If you or someone you love suffered a serious neck or back injury after an 18-wheeler, semi-truck, tractor-trailer, or commercial-vehicle wreck in Dallas-Fort Worth, your claim may involve much more than the cost of the first emergency-room visit.

You may be facing months or years of treatment, time away from work, reduced earning capacity, chronic pain, permanent physical limitations, and uncertainty about whether you will ever return to your previous life.

The Wooley Law Firm represents people seriously injured in wrecks involving:

• 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers

• Semi-trucks

• Flatbed trucks

• Box trucks

• Delivery trucks and vans

• Tanker trucks

• Dump trucks

• Construction vehicles

• Garbage and sanitation trucks

• Buses and other commercial vehicles

Learn more about how we handle these cases on our 18-wheeler and truck accident lawyer page.

Call 214-699-6524 for a free consultation. You do not pay attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.

How Truck Wrecks Cause Back and Neck Injuries

The neck and back contain vertebrae, discs, joints, muscles, ligaments, nerves, and the spinal cord. A high-force collision can damage several of these structures at the same time.

Serious injuries may occur when:

• An 18-wheeler rear-ends a stopped vehicle

• A tractor-trailer strikes the side of a car

• A truck pushes a vehicle into another lane or barrier

• A passenger vehicle rolls over

• A car becomes trapped beneath a trailer

• A jackknifed truck sweeps across traffic

• A wide-turning trailer crushes a nearby vehicle

• The roof or passenger compartment collapses

• A victim is ejected

• Cargo falls from a trailer

• The head or torso strikes the steering wheel, dashboard, door, or window

• A seat belt restrains the body while the head and neck move violently

The body may experience sudden acceleration, deceleration, compression, twisting, and direct impact during the same wreck.

Even a collision that occurs at a relatively low speed may cause serious injuries because of the size and weight of the truck. Read more about why a low-speed 18-wheeler wreck can still cause serious injuries.

Common Back and Neck Injuries After an 18-Wheeler Wreck

Truck-wreck injuries can affect the cervical spine in the neck, the thoracic spine in the upper and middle back, or the lumbar spine in the lower back.

Common injuries include:

• Cervical sprains and strains

• Lumbar sprains and strains

• Herniated or ruptured discs

• Disc protrusions and extrusions

• Annular tears

• Vertebral fractures

• Facet-joint injuries

• Cervical radiculopathy

• Lumbar radiculopathy

• Sciatica

• Spinal stenosis

• Spinal instability

• Ligament injuries

• Nerve damage

• Spinal cord compression

• Chronic pain

A victim may suffer more than one condition. For example, a collision may cause a herniated lumbar disc, nerve compression, muscle spasms, and weakness in the same leg.

Cervical Spine Injuries

The cervical spine consists of the vertebrae in the neck.

A violent truck collision may force the neck beyond its normal range of motion. The victim may experience immediate pain or may notice worsening stiffness, headaches, weakness, or arm symptoms over the following hours or days.

Possible cervical-spine injuries include:

• Muscle strains

• Ligament sprains

• Disc herniations

• Facet-joint injuries

• Vertebral fractures

• Nerve-root compression

• Spinal cord compression

• Instability

• Reduced range of motion

Neck pain may originate from muscles, ligaments, nerves, vertebrae, or spinal discs.

Symptoms of a Serious Neck Injury

Possible symptoms include:

• Neck pain

• Stiffness

• Muscle spasms

• Headaches

• Shoulder pain

• Pain between the shoulder blades

• Pain traveling into the arm

• Numbness or tingling

• Hand weakness

• Reduced grip strength

• Difficulty turning the head

• Balance problems

• Loss of coordination

Pain radiating from the neck into the shoulder, arm, or hand may indicate nerve-root irritation or compression.

Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy is commonly called a pinched nerve in the neck.

It occurs when a nerve root leaving the cervical spine becomes compressed or irritated. A sudden injury that causes a herniated cervical disc can produce cervical radiculopathy, particularly in younger patients.

Symptoms may include:

• Sharp or burning neck pain

• Shoulder pain

• Pain traveling down the arm

• Numbness

• Tingling

• Hand weakness

• Reduced grip strength

• Changes in reflexes

Symptoms may become worse with certain neck movements, lifting, driving, or prolonged sitting.

Although some cases improve with conservative treatment, others require injections or surgery when pain, weakness, or neurological symptoms continue.

Herniated Discs After a Truck Accident

Discs are soft structures located between the vertebrae. They help absorb force and allow the spine to move.

A herniated disc occurs when disc material pushes through a weakened or damaged area. The displaced material may place pressure on nearby nerves or the spinal cord.

Truck-wreck victims may be diagnosed with:

• Disc bulges

• Disc protrusions

• Disc extrusions

• Ruptured discs

• Sequestered disc fragments

• Annular tears

A lumbar disc herniation may cause back pain, leg pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. A cervical disc herniation may cause neck pain and symptoms traveling into the shoulders, arms, or hands.

Symptoms of a Herniated Cervical Disc

Symptoms may include:

• Neck pain

• Shoulder-blade pain

• Arm pain

• Hand numbness

• Tingling

• Weakness

• Reduced grip strength

Symptoms of a Herniated Lumbar Disc

Symptoms may include:

• Lower-back pain

• Buttock pain

• Pain traveling down the leg

• Numbness or tingling

• Foot weakness

• Difficulty standing or walking

• Pain when sitting

• Reduced range of motion

A herniated lumbar disc that presses on spinal nerves is a common cause of lower-back pain and sciatica.

Annular Tears

The annulus fibrosus is the tough outer portion of a spinal disc.

A sudden collision may cause or worsen a tear in this outer layer. An annular tear may cause localized pain, inflammation, or allow inner disc material to protrude outward.

Symptoms may include:

• Deep neck or back pain

• Pain with bending or twisting

• Muscle spasms

• Pain while sitting

• Pain during lifting

• Radiating nerve symptoms when disc material affects a nerve

An insurance company may attempt to describe an annular tear as a routine degenerative finding. The medical evidence must be evaluated in the context of the collision, symptoms, prior medical history, imaging, and treating physicians’ opinions.

Lumbar Radiculopathy and Sciatica

Lumbar radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the lower spine becomes compressed or irritated.

Sciatica generally describes pain that travels along the sciatic nerve from the lower back or buttock into the leg. Causes can include a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, or pelvic injury.

Symptoms may include:

• Lower-back pain

• Buttock pain

• Burning leg pain

• Tingling

• Numbness

• Leg weakness

• Foot weakness

• Difficulty walking

• Pain aggravated by sitting

• Pain when coughing or sneezing

Some victims describe the pain as an electrical shock traveling down the leg. Others have numbness or weakness with little back pain.

Vertebral Fractures

The vertebrae are the bones that form the spinal column.

A high-force truck wreck may fracture one or more vertebrae in the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine.

Possible fractures include:

• Compression fractures

• Burst fractures

• Flexion-distraction injuries

• Fracture-dislocations

• Transverse-process fractures

• Spinous-process fractures

A vertebral fracture may be stable or unstable. An unstable fracture may allow movement that threatens the spinal cord or nerve roots.

Symptoms may include:

• Severe neck or back pain

• Pain with movement

• Muscle spasms

• Weakness

• Numbness

• Tingling

• Difficulty standing or walking

• Loss of bladder or bowel control

• Paralysis in the most severe cases

Spinal injuries can begin with a force that fractures or dislocates the vertebrae. Bone fragments or displaced structures may then press on or damage the spinal cord.

Facet-Joint Injuries

Facet joints connect the vertebrae and help guide movement.

A truck wreck may compress, twist, or inflame these joints.

Facet-joint injuries may cause:

• Localized neck or back pain

• Pain with extension or rotation

• Stiffness

• Muscle spasms

• Headaches

• Pain radiating into nearby areas

Cervical facet pain may travel into the shoulders or upper back. Lumbar facet pain may extend into the buttocks or upper thighs.

Diagnostic injections may sometimes be used to determine whether a facet joint is causing the pain.

Spinal Stenosis and Nerve Compression

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal or the spaces where nerves leave the spine. The narrowing can place pressure on the spinal cord or nerves and cause pain or neurological symptoms.

A truck wreck may cause new compression or aggravate previously asymptomatic narrowing through:

• Disc herniation

• Swelling

• Fractures

• Ligament injury

• Vertebral displacement

Symptoms may include:

• Neck or back pain

• Arm or leg pain

• Numbness

• Weakness

• Balance problems

• Difficulty walking

• Reduced endurance

• Leg heaviness

The fact that imaging shows preexisting narrowing does not automatically mean the collision caused no injury. A wreck may aggravate a condition that previously caused no significant symptoms.

Spinal Cord Compression and Myelopathy

Compression of the spinal cord is more serious than compression of an individual nerve root.

Possible symptoms include:

• Difficulty walking

• Loss of balance

• Hand clumsiness

• Weakness in the arms or legs

• Numbness

• Loss of coordination

• Changes in bladder or bowel function

• Paralysis

Spinal cord compression requires prompt medical evaluation.

Learn more about spinal cord injuries and paralysis after a Dallas-Fort Worth truck wreck.

Emergency Warning Signs After a Truck Wreck

Some neck and back symptoms require immediate emergency care.

Warning signs may include:

• New arm or leg weakness

• Inability to stand or walk

• Loss of bladder or bowel control

• Numbness around the groin or inner thighs

• Severe or worsening neck or back pain

• Loss of coordination

• Difficulty breathing

• Paralysis

• Numbness affecting multiple limbs

• Increasing neurological symptoms

A victim should not attempt to diagnose a potentially serious spinal injury at home.

Call 911 or seek emergency medical care when a spinal fracture, spinal cord injury, or serious neurological condition is suspected.

Cauda Equina Syndrome

The cauda equina is a group of nerves located near the lower end of the spinal cord.

Severe compression of these nerves can cause:

• Saddle-area numbness

• Loss of bladder control

• Loss of bowel control

• Severe leg weakness

• Sexual dysfunction

• Difficulty walking

Cauda equina syndrome is a medical emergency. Delayed treatment may lead to permanent neurological damage.

Why Symptoms May Appear After the Collision

Not every back or neck injury is immediately apparent.

After a truck wreck, adrenaline, shock, and other injuries may distract the victim from spinal pain. Inflammation and muscle spasms may also worsen over time.

Symptoms may appear or increase during the following hours or days, including:

• Stiffness

• Reduced range of motion

• Radiating pain

• Tingling

• Numbness

• Weakness

• Headaches

• Muscle spasms

A person should seek medical evaluation when new or worsening symptoms develop after the wreck.

How Doctors Diagnose Back and Neck Injuries

Evaluation may involve emergency physicians, orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, neurosurgeons, pain-management physicians, and rehabilitation specialists.

The diagnostic process may include:

Physical Examination

Doctors may evaluate:

• Range of motion

• Tenderness

• Muscle strength

• Reflexes

• Sensation

• Balance

• Coordination

• Walking ability

• Grip strength

X-Rays

X-rays may identify:

• Fractures

• Dislocations

• Alignment problems

• Instability

• Degenerative changes

CT Scans

CT imaging may provide detailed information about:

• Vertebral fractures

• Bone fragments

• Spinal alignment

• Canal narrowing

• Complex traumatic injuries

MRI Scans

An MRI may show:

• Disc herniations

• Annular tears

• Ligament injuries

• Nerve compression

• Spinal cord compression

• Swelling

• Soft-tissue damage

Electrodiagnostic Testing

Nerve-conduction studies or electromyography may help evaluate nerve damage, weakness, or persistent radiating symptoms.

Doctors use medical history, physical examination, and imaging or other testing to identify the source of back pain and select an appropriate treatment plan.

Treatment for Serious Back and Neck Injuries

Treatment depends on the diagnosis, neurological symptoms, functional limitations, and response to prior care.

Possible treatment includes:

• Medication

• Activity modification

• Physical therapy

• Chiropractic treatment when medically appropriate

• Home exercises

• Steroid injections

• Epidural injections

• Facet injections

• Medial branch blocks

• Radiofrequency ablation

• Nerve treatment

• Bracing

• Surgery

Some injuries improve with conservative care. Others require more aggressive treatment because of ongoing pain, weakness, instability, or nerve compression.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy may help improve:

• Strength

• Flexibility

• Range of motion

• Posture

• Balance

• Endurance

• Movement mechanics

Therapy may also help the victim safely return to work and daily activities.

However, therapy does not automatically eliminate structural damage. Some victims continue experiencing pain or neurological symptoms despite completing conservative treatment.

Spinal Injections and Pain-Management Procedures

When symptoms continue, a physician may recommend injections or other procedures.

These may include:

• Epidural steroid injections

• Facet-joint injections

• Medial branch blocks

• Trigger-point injections

• Radiofrequency ablation

• Selective nerve-root blocks

These procedures may be used to reduce inflammation, identify pain sources, or provide temporary relief.

The need for repeated procedures may be relevant when evaluating future medical expenses.

Spine Surgery After a Truck Wreck

Surgery may be considered when the victim has:

• Persistent severe pain

• Progressive weakness

• Spinal instability

• Significant nerve compression

• Spinal cord compression

• Fractures

• Loss of function

• Failure of conservative treatment

Possible procedures include:

Discectomy

A discectomy removes disc material pressing on a nerve or the spinal cord. A herniated disc can place pressure on the spinal cord or nerves leaving the spine.

Laminectomy or Decompression

These procedures create more space for the spinal cord or nerve roots by removing part of the bone or other structures causing compression.

Spinal Fusion

A fusion joins vertebrae together to stabilize the spine.

The procedure may use:

• Screws

• Rods

• Plates

• Cages

• Bone graft material

Artificial Disc Replacement

In selected cervical cases, damaged disc material may be removed and replaced with an artificial disc. This may serve as an alternative to fusion for some patients.

Fracture Stabilization

Traumatic vertebral fractures may require surgery to restore alignment and stabilize the spine.

Spine surgery can involve extensive recovery, rehabilitation, activity restrictions, and future medical monitoring.

Failed Surgery and Ongoing Pain

Surgery does not guarantee that all symptoms will disappear.

Some patients continue experiencing:

• Back or neck pain

• Nerve pain

• Numbness

• Weakness

• Reduced mobility

• Adjacent-level problems

• Need for additional procedures

A serious injury claim should account for the possibility of future treatment when supported by medical evidence.

Chronic Pain After a Truck Wreck

Back or neck pain may become chronic when it continues for months or longer.

Chronic pain can affect:

• Sleep

• Mood

• Concentration

• Work

• Exercise

• Parenting

• Relationships

• Independence

The victim may need medication, injections, therapy, counseling, or long-term medical management.

Back pain may begin suddenly after an injury and, for some people, become a long-term problem.

How Back and Neck Injuries Affect Work

Spine injuries may prevent a person from returning to the same occupation.

The impact may be especially serious for workers whose jobs require:

• Heavy lifting

• Repeated bending

• Twisting

• Prolonged sitting

• Prolonged standing

• Driving

• Climbing

• Operating machinery

• Construction work

• Warehouse labor

• Patient care

Even office workers may struggle with prolonged sitting, typing, commuting, or maintaining concentration while in pain.

Employment losses may include:

• Missed wages

• Lost overtime

• Reduced hours

• Light-duty assignments

• Lower-paying work

• Lost promotions

• Vocational retraining

• Early retirement

• Permanent inability to work

A claim may include past lost income and loss of future earning capacity.

Physical Impairment Caused by Spine Injuries

Physical impairment concerns the loss of the ability to participate in ordinary life activities.

A serious back or neck injury may prevent a person from:

• Lifting children

• Exercising

• Driving comfortably

• Performing household work

• Sitting through family events

• Traveling

• Sleeping normally

• Playing sports

• Working in the yard

• Participating in former hobbies

• Living without assistance

These losses may not be reflected in the medical bills.

Evidence should show what the victim could do before the wreck and what they can no longer do afterward.

Emotional Effects of Chronic Spine Pain

Persistent pain and physical limitations may lead to:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Irritability

• Sleep problems

• Social withdrawal

• Fear of reinjury

• Loss of confidence

• Frustration

• Post-traumatic stress

Learn more about post-traumatic stress and emotional trauma after a Dallas-Fort Worth truck wreck.

Compensation for Serious Back and Neck Injuries

Depending on the facts and evidence, compensation may be available for:

• Ambulance transportation

• Emergency-room treatment

• Diagnostic imaging

• Specialist care

• Physical therapy

• Pain-management procedures

• Injections

• Surgery

• Rehabilitation

• Medication

• Future medical treatment

• Lost wages

• Loss of earning capacity

• Physical pain and suffering

• Mental anguish

• Physical impairment

• Disfigurement from surgery

• Out-of-pocket expenses

• Property damage

A back or neck injury claim should not be evaluated solely by adding up the medical bills already incurred.

The claim may also involve future injections, surgery, reduced employment capacity, chronic pain, permanent restrictions, and a substantial loss of quality of life.

Read more about potential compensation in our guide to truck accident damages after a Dallas 18-wheeler wreck.

Preexisting Degenerative Changes and Truck-Wreck Injuries

Insurance companies frequently argue that disc problems, arthritis, or spinal stenosis existed before the truck wreck.

Many adults have age-related changes in the spine. The important questions may include:

• Did the victim have symptoms before the wreck?

• Did the collision cause new symptoms?

• Did pain become significantly worse?

• Did the victim require new treatment?

• Did the wreck cause a new herniation or aggravate an existing condition?

• Was the victim able to work and participate in normal activities before the collision?

A preexisting condition does not automatically prevent recovery. A truck wreck may aggravate or make symptomatic a condition that previously caused little or no difficulty.

Medical records, prior imaging, testimony, and treating physicians’ opinions may be important.

How Insurance Companies Defend Back and Neck Injury Claims

Insurance companies often challenge spinal-injury claims.

The trucking company’s insurer may argue that:

• The impact was not severe enough

• The injuries are only soft tissue

• MRI findings are degenerative

• The victim had prior back or neck problems

• Treatment began too late

• There was a gap in treatment

• Injections or surgery are unnecessary

• The victim can return to work

• Symptoms are exaggerated

• Future treatment is speculative

The insurer may also request broad medical records in an effort to find prior complaints.

A careful claim should connect the collision, medical findings, symptoms, treatment, work limitations, and effect on daily life.

Who May Be Responsible for a Truck Wreck Causing Spine Injuries?

Serious truck cases may involve multiple responsible parties.

The Truck Driver

A driver may cause the wreck through:

• Speeding

• Following too closely

• Fatigued driving

• Distracted driving

• Unsafe lane changes

• Failure to check blind spots

• Running a red light

• Driving while impaired

• Making an unsafe wide turn

• Failing to control speed

• Failing to maintain a proper lookout

The Trucking Company

A motor carrier may be responsible for the driver’s conduct and its own unsafe practices.

Potential company negligence may include:

• Hiring an unqualified driver

• Inadequate training

• Negligent supervision

• Retaining an unsafe driver

• Pressuring drivers to meet unsafe schedules

• Failing to inspect or maintain the truck

• Ignoring prior safety violations

• Unsafe dispatch practices

• Failure to enforce fatigue policies

The Cargo Loader or Shipper

Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can cause a truck to roll over, jackknife, or lose control.

Learn more about flatbed truck accidents, cargo securement, and liability.

A Maintenance or Repair Company

A maintenance provider may share responsibility when negligent work contributes to:

• Brake failure

• Tire separation

• Steering failure

• Wheel detachment

• Trailer separation

• Mechanical breakdown

A Truck or Parts Manufacturer

A defective truck or trailer component may cause or worsen the collision.

Evidence That Should Be Preserved

The trucking company and its insurer may begin investigating immediately.

Important evidence may include:

• Engine control module data

• Electronic logging-device records

• GPS and telematics data

• Dash-camera footage

• Driver-facing camera footage

• Dispatch communications

• Cellphone records

• Driver qualification files

• Training records

• Hours-of-service logs

• Drug and alcohol testing records

• Maintenance records

• Inspection reports

• Cargo-loading records

• Bills of lading

• Weight tickets

• Photographs and videos

• Surveillance footage

• Witness statements

• Police body-camera footage

• 911 recordings

• Physical vehicle evidence

Electronic information may be overwritten or lost unless prompt steps are taken to preserve it.

Learn more about the evidence that matters after a Texas 18-wheeler wreck and 18-wheeler black-box data after a Dallas-Fort Worth truck crash.

Medical Evidence Needed for a Back or Neck Injury Claim

Relevant evidence may include:

• Ambulance records

• Emergency-room records

• Primary-care records

• Orthopedic evaluations

• Neurosurgical records

• MRI and CT imaging

• Physical-therapy records

• Pain-management records

• Injection records

• Operative reports

• Work restrictions

• Functional-capacity evaluations

• Future-treatment recommendations

• Employment records

The evidence should explain:

• The diagnosis

• The connection to the wreck

• The treatment required

• Whether symptoms are permanent

• Whether surgery may be needed

• How the injury affects work

• How the injury affects daily life

What to Do After a Back or Neck Injury

Seek Prompt Medical Evaluation

Tell medical providers about all neck, back, arm, hand, leg, and foot symptoms.

Report Neurological Changes

Immediately report:

• Weakness

• Numbness

• Tingling

• Balance problems

• Walking difficulties

• Loss of bladder or bowel control

Follow Treatment Recommendations

Attend therapy, imaging, specialist appointments, and other recommended treatment.

Avoid Minimizing Your Symptoms

Your doctors can only document and treat the problems you report.

Keep Records

Preserve:

• Medical bills

• Imaging reports

• Work restrictions

• Pay records

• Prescription receipts

• Travel expenses

• Insurance correspondence

Document Daily Limitations

Record how the injury affects:

• Sleep

• Driving

• Work

• Exercise

• Household tasks

• Parenting

• Hobbies

• Social activities

Avoid a Premature Settlement

Do not resolve the claim before understanding the prognosis, future care, work limitations, and available insurance coverage.

Contact a Truck Wreck Lawyer Promptly

Early legal involvement can help preserve truck data, identify responsible parties, and document the full effect of the spinal injuries.

How The Wooley Law Firm Handles Serious Spine-Injury Claims

Depending on the facts, The Wooley Law Firm may:

• Investigate the collision

• Obtain the crash report

• Send evidence-preservation demands

• Secure electronic truck data

• Identify the driver and motor carrier

• Review driver qualification records

• Examine hours-of-service evidence

• Obtain maintenance and inspection records

• Locate witnesses

• Obtain available video footage

• Analyze medical and imaging records

• Document future treatment needs

• Calculate lost wages

• Evaluate reduced earning capacity

• Investigate available insurance coverage

• Consult qualified experts

• File suit when necessary

• Prepare the case for trial

The goal is to determine why the wreck happened, identify every responsible party, and demonstrate how the back or neck injury changed the victim’s health, employment, independence, and daily life.

Dallas-Fort Worth Back and Neck Injury Lawyer

The Wooley Law Firm represents seriously injured people throughout:

• Dallas

• Fort Worth

• Arlington

• Irving

• Garland

• Mesquite

• Richardson

• Plano

• Frisco

• McKinney

• Allen

• Denton

• Lewisville

• Carrollton

• Grand Prairie

• Grapevine

• Mansfield

• Keller

• Southlake

• North Texas

We also handle serious truck and commercial-vehicle injury cases throughout Texas.

If you or a loved one suffered herniated discs, radiculopathy, spinal fractures, nerve damage, or another serious back or neck injury after an 18-wheeler wreck, call 214-699-6524.

You can also learn more by visiting our Dallas truck accident lawyer page.

Your consultation is free and confidential. You do not pay attorney’s fees unless we obtain a recovery for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Back and Neck Injuries

Can an 18-wheeler wreck cause a herniated disc?

Yes. A sudden collision may damage a disc and cause disc material to place pressure on nearby nerves or the spinal cord.

What is the difference between a bulging and herniated disc?

Both conditions involve displacement of disc material. A herniated disc generally involves a more focal area where inner material pushes through a weakened or torn outer layer. The medical significance depends on the location, nerve compression, symptoms, and other findings.

Can a herniated disc cause arm or leg pain?

Yes. A cervical disc injury may cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the shoulder, arm, or hand. A lumbar disc injury may cause symptoms in the buttock, leg, or foot.

What is radiculopathy?

Radiculopathy occurs when a spinal nerve root becomes compressed or irritated. It may cause radiating pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or changes in reflexes.

Can back or neck symptoms begin days after the wreck?

Yes. Inflammation, swelling, and muscle spasms may develop or worsen after the initial collision. New neurological symptoms should be reported promptly.

What if my MRI shows degenerative changes?

Degenerative findings do not automatically mean the wreck caused no injury. The collision may have caused a new condition or aggravated a previously asymptomatic condition.

Will I need surgery?

Many spinal injuries are treated without surgery. Surgery may be considered when there is severe pain, instability, progressive weakness, spinal cord compression, or failure of conservative treatment.

Can I recover compensation for future injections or surgery?

Future medical treatment may be included when supported by appropriate medical evidence showing that the treatment is reasonably necessary because of the wreck.

Can I recover compensation if I cannot return to my former job?

A victim may be able to pursue lost wages and loss of earning capacity when a back or neck injury reduces the ability to perform previous work.

What if I had prior back pain?

A prior condition does not automatically prevent recovery. The question may be whether the truck wreck caused a new injury or aggravated the prior condition.

How long do I have to file a truck-accident claim in Texas?

Texas law imposes deadlines on personal-injury claims. Different or shorter notice requirements may apply when a government-owned truck or public entity is involved.

Important truck data and video may disappear well before the filing deadline, so the investigation should begin promptly.

How much does it cost to hire The Wooley Law Firm?

The Wooley Law Firm handles personal-injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. You pay no upfront attorney’s fee and owe no attorney’s fee unless the firm obtains a recovery for you.

Speak With a Dallas-Fort Worth Truck Wreck Lawyer

A serious back or neck injury can affect every part of a person’s life.

You may be facing chronic pain, radiating nerve symptoms, injections, spinal surgery, missed work, and permanent physical limitations. Meanwhile, the trucking company and its insurer may already be collecting evidence and preparing to minimize your claim.

You deserve someone protecting your interests.

Call The Wooley Law Firm at 214-699-6524 for a free consultation about a back or neck injury caused by a Dallas-Fort Worth truck wreck.

You do not pay attorney’s fees unless we win.

Disclaimer:

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Serious spinal injuries, fractures, spinal cord compression, weakness, paralysis, and loss of bladder or bowel control may be medical emergencies. Call 911 or seek immediate medical care for severe or worsening symptoms after a collision. Reading this article or contacting The Wooley Law Firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Legal deadlines may apply, so you should consult a qualified Texas attorney regarding your specific circumstances.