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After a major car accident, you might be wondering, “Can a car accident cause sciatica?” A car accident can cause sciatica if the impact damages the lower spine or puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. Some people feel symptoms right away, while others develop pain days or weeks later. If you’re experiencing sciatica after a crash, a West Palm Beach car accident lawyer at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath can explain your legal options and help protect your rights.
What is sciatica, and what are the symptoms?
When trauma or other incidents cause damage to or pressure on the sciatic nerve, you can develop sciatica. The sciatic nerve is the largest one in your body, traveling from your spinal cord through your leg to your foot. The University of Florida Health suggests you contact a medical professional if you have these common symptoms of sciatica:
- Pain in your lower back, especially when sitting
- Pain, numbness, or weakness in the affected leg
- Tingling or a “pins and needles” sensation in your hips and buttocks
- Sharp, shooting pain in the back of your thigh or calf
Your doctor can determine if you’ve developed sciatica after a car accident, as well as diagnose and treat all your injuries. They can also conduct scans to determine whether you have herniated discs, a common condition associated with sciatica. Your doctor may then recommend various treatment options, such as pain relief, chiropractic care, or even surgery.
What are the long-term health issues associated with sciatica?
Sciatica may resolve on its own, but severe cases can lead to other conditions, such as bulging discs, loss of mobility, or paralysis. Your treatment will focus on ways to reduce nerve damage or pressure and may include non-invasive approaches like physical therapy. If pain relief and gentle therapy don’t work, your doctor may recommend surgery.
Treatment usually focuses on reducing pressure on the nerve and improving movement through physical therapy or other non-invasive options. If this type of treatment doesn’t help, a specialist may discuss additional procedures.
What are my legal options in Florida if sciatica is one of my car accident injuries?
Florida is a no-fault state for auto insurance after accidents, so you must rely on your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance and your healthcare insurance to pay for your bills if you’re hurt. You will present your receipts to your insurer and negotiate a fair settlement. Be aware that many insurance companies dislike paying out claims and may resist covering all your costs.
In the event the cost of your injuries exceeds the coverage amounts of your PIP (usually a minimum of $10,000), you may need to seek compensation from the at-fault driver. You can request a police crash report to determine whether the authorities charged them with a moving violation or assigned fault. The report may also indicate whether they have additional bodily liability coverage, allowing you to request their insurance information.
Although you don’t have to demonstrate who is at fault to receive PIP compensation, showing how the other driver is to blame is critical if you file a personal injury lawsuit.
Call us today to learn more
To find out more about how to handle a car accident claim involving sciatica, contact us at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath. You can arrange a free consultation with a skilled West Palm Beach car accident lawyer by calling (561) 655-1990 today.