Personal Injury Types of Injuries We Handle in Chicago, IL Lower Back Pain After an Accident
Lower back injuries are among the most common—and debilitating—consequences of serious accidents. Whether you were hurt in a car crash, slip and fall, or worksite incident, trauma to the lumbar spine can limit mobility, interrupt sleep, derail your career, and reduce your quality of life.
At Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., we help Chicago injury victims pursue full compensation for a wide range of lumbar conditions. If you’re dealing with back pain after an accident, call (312) 236-2900 or contact us online for a free consultation. An experienced injury lawyer will explain your options and protect your rights.
Back injuries, particularly those affecting the lower back, can arise from acute trauma or an accident that aggravates a prior condition. We routinely handle claims involving:
Prompt recognition and documentation help your recovery and your claim. Watch for:
Accurate diagnosis guides treatment and supports your legal claim. Providers may use X-rays, CT, or MRI; in select cases, EMG/NCS testing helps evaluate nerve involvement. These records are pivotal when pursuing compensation from the liable party.
Plans are individualized and may include:
Because lower back injuries can evolve, your claim should account for future care, possible procedures, and flare-ups—not just today’s bills.
More on How to Calculate Future Medical Expenses
Lower back (lumbar) injuries can occur in virtually any type of accident. The spine is highly vulnerable to sudden forces—compression, twisting, or hyperextension—that stretch or tear soft tissue, displace vertebrae, and damage intervertebral discs. Understanding how these accidents cause trauma helps explain why symptoms often persist long after the initial impact.
Car crashes are one of the leading causes of lower back injuries in Chicago. Even at moderate speeds, the rapid flexion-extension motion caused by a rear-end or side-impact collision can strain or tear lumbar muscles and ligaments. Seatbelts—while life-saving—can create concentrated pressure across the lower back and pelvis during impact, leading to lumbar sprains, facet joint inflammation, and disc herniation. Seatback collapse or improper seat positioning can also increase compressive forces, resulting in spinal compression fractures or sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction. Victims often experience delayed onset pain as inflammation builds over days following the crash.
Motorcycle accidents typically involve high-velocity impact and limited protection. When riders are ejected from their bikes, the body absorbs massive forces upon landing. This can cause vertebral compression or burst fractures, SI joint separations, or paraspinal muscle tears. The rotational forces during impact may also twist the spine, producing lumbar disc herniation or ligamentous instability. Because motorcycles lack restraints, victims may be thrown into objects or vehicles, leading to multi-level injuries throughout the spine.
Truck crashes are particularly destructive because of commercial vehicles’ immense momentum and size. The force of impact can transmit throughout the smaller passenger vehicle, subjecting occupants to axial loading—a vertical compression of the spine. This mechanism frequently causes lumbar vertebral fractures, disc extrusion, and nerve impingement. In rear-end truck collisions, whiplash-like motion may extend into the lower spine, aggravating pre-existing degenerative disc disease or producing new lumbar herniations. Even low-speed impacts with large trucks can cause multi-level spinal trauma due to the weight differential.
When pedestrians or cyclists are struck by vehicles, the unprotected body absorbs direct impact to the lower torso or hips, transferring force to the lumbar spine. Falls onto the pavement can cause lumbar contusions, muscle tears, and compression fractures. The body’s instinctive twisting to protect the head or arms often leads to rotational spinal strain and facet joint irritation. In high-speed collisions, the combination of impact and secondary ground contact can result in vertebral fractures or disc displacement. These injuries frequently cause radiating pain and sciatica as the spinal nerves become inflamed or compressed.
Slip-and-fall accidents are deceptively dangerous. When a person falls backward or twists while trying to regain balance, the sudden, uneven movement can strain or tear the lumbar paraspinal muscles and ligaments. A fall on a hard surface can compress vertebrae, causing compression or wedge fractures. Landing awkwardly on one side can misalign the SI joint or lead to lumbar facet joint locking. Even “minor” falls on wet floors, icy sidewalks, or defective stairs may trigger chronic pain conditions such as myofascial pain syndrome or postural imbalance.
Construction site accidents frequently involve falls from heights, collapsing scaffolding, or heavy machinery mishaps. These events often result in burst fractures, spinal cord contusions, or ligamentous tears from blunt trauma or crushing forces. Workers exposed to repetitive lifting or twisting motions face increased risk of herniated discs, lumbar strain, and sacroiliac instability. Falling debris or sudden jerking from equipment may also produce acute flexion-extension injuries. Because construction workers often return to physical labor too soon, these injuries can worsen and lead to long-term disability.
Workplace incidents involving repetitive motions, poor ergonomics, or single traumatic events can cause or aggravate lower back injuries. Warehouse and healthcare workers, for instance, face constant strain from heavy lifting, bending, and pushing/pulling. Over time, this can result in chronic lumbar strain, disc bulging, and degenerative disc disease. Sudden incidents—like slipping on a wet floor, being struck by equipment, or lifting beyond capacity—can trigger acute muscle tears or disc herniations. Illinois workers may qualify for both workers’ compensation and a third-party injury claim if negligence by another contractor or vendor contributed to the injury.
Regardless of the cause, lower back injuries can have cascading effects—nerve irritation, chronic pain, and reduced range of motion. A Chicago catastrophic injury lawyer familiar with lumbar spine trauma can identify how your accident occurred, link it to your medical findings, and pursue maximum compensation for both immediate and long-term consequences.
Insurers often blame your pain on “degeneration.” Illinois law allows recovery when a negligent act aggravates a pre-existing condition or accelerates symptoms. We connect the dots with pre- and post-accident records, physician opinions, and functional changes at work/home to show how the incident worsened your baseline—and why you deserve compensation for that worsening.
The burden of proof in personal injury is a preponderance of evidence. We assemble a clear, evidence-based timeline and causation narrative using:
When someone else’s negligence causes your injury, you may recover economic and non-economic damages, including:
More on the Value of Your Injury Claim
To prove the accident you were involved in caused your lower back injuries, your attorney will need valuable supporting evidence. The burden of proof in personal injury claims is based on a preponderance of evidence, which means you need compelling evidence.
Some examples of such evidence could include:
A serious back injury can impact every aspect of your life. While you focus on healing, let Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. take care of the legal process. Our experienced team will:
We won’t settle for less than you deserve. If a negligent party caused your injury, we’ll hold them accountable.
If you’re suffering from back pain after an accident, don’t wait to take legal action. You may be entitled to compensation, and time is critical when it comes to building your claim. Call Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. at (312) 236-2900 or complete our online contact form to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. We proudly serve injury victims in Chicago and throughout Illinois. Let us help you move forward with strength and support.
Document everything early—ER/urgent-care visit, primary-care follow-up, and PT evaluations. Even at low speeds, lumbar soft-tissue and SI injuries are common. Pair consistent symptoms with imaging when indicated (MRI), therapy progress notes, and a pain/ADL journal. Your attorney can add biomechanical analysis and physician opinions to link the mechanism of injury to your specific diagnosis.
Imaging doesn’t always capture soft-tissue or facet/SI dysfunction. Courts and insurers accept clinical diagnoses supported by exam findings, therapy outcomes, and physician notes. Keep appointments, follow restrictions, and record functional limits—these build credibility and value for your claim.
Yes. Illinois law allows recovery for the aggravation or acceleration of a pre-existing condition. We compare pre-accident baseline records to post-accident changes (new symptoms, increased frequency/intensity, new treatment like injections) to prove the event worsened your condition and increased your care needs.
No—appropriately prescribed conservative and interventional care can help your case by showing you followed medical advice. Ensure any care like that from a chiropractor is coordinated, documented, and medically indicated. We’ll organize records so insurers see a coherent treatment course, not “overtreatment.”
Follow your doctor’s restrictions—light duty or phased returns reduce flare-ups and protect healing. Returning too soon risks setbacks that extend disability and undermine your claim. Your wage loss and future earning capacity should reflect medical restrictions, not employer pressure.
You may have a workers’ comp claim and a third-party negligence claim (e.g., against a subcontractor or driver). Third-party cases can recover broader damages (pain and suffering) than workers’ comp alone. We coordinate both claims and address lien issues to maximize your net recovery.
If you’re suffering from lower back pain after an accident, time matters. Evidence fades and insurers move fast. Let Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. step in to preserve proof, coordinate care, and pursue the compensation you need for medical costs, lost income, and long-term consequences.
Call (312) 236-2900 or use our online contact form for a free, no-obligation consultation. We proudly serve injury victims in Chicago and throughout Illinois.
When you’re fighting for maximum compensation, we know what it takes to get it.
We’re ready to fight for you. We’re ready to be your ally. And we’re ready to start right now. Don’t waste time, contact our law offices today.
FREE CASE EVALUATION – (312) 236-2900Serious injuries don’t happen on a 9-to-5 schedule, which is why we are always available to help if you have been hurt. Our team is available around the clock to provide the support you need.
