Accident resulting in a back injury?

Could anyone tell me if it's possible to sustain an (apparently) fairly serious back injury from a side-on collision driving at about 15mph? The other vehicle involved hit my colleagues driver side door. I feel this person may well be faking injury and just wondered if anyone who works with PI Claims, Medical profession, Motor Industry or anyone who's suffered a similar injury could help.

There could have possibly been an underlying pathology which triggered a series of events leading to back pain from the slight trauma.

Personally I think they are bull$hitting if it was a gentle lateral impact - but no one, regardless of technology and medical profession, would be able to 100% prove it. So it would be put down to muscular pain and prescribe physio over a length of time. The solicitors know it, the doctors know it, physios, radiographers and the patient know it...

The only way they would be caught is if they had a few different medical assessments and they said different things, such as the back hurting at T12/L1 (the vertebra levels) by pointing to it, and then later forgetting this and stating that the pain was in a different location. Even then though, this is possible in some genuine cases.

That's why there so any adverts on the radio and TV for personal injury claims competing for business - they aren't bothered whether you have a genuine injury - as long as someone can be blamed who can pay!

I think it's possible.
I got a serious hip injury from a side on collision at a combined speed of about 40 mph which didn't become apparent for a week. I now have permanent bursitis in that joint which will eventually mean it needs replacing.

Yes probably.... I had a serious road accident when a car hit ours from behind and we were stationary. It fractured my spine at the bottom and I have not been able to walk without aid since. I got very low compensation because I already had a back problem and I cry every day as a result of that accident. The amount I got was laughable....to be honest with you? I would rather he killed me!!!!!

It is PERFECTLY possible - your suspicions may or may not be warranted.

You can actually put your back out from a single sneeze or a cough - as I have just found out - 8 weeks of work because I coughed to hard at night due to that damn bug that was going around a while ago.

ADDED: To the NONCE that puts a thumbs down - go and ask a GP if it is possible to put you back out from a sneeze or cough - you will be surprised at how common it is.

Plonker -

Possible but unlikey.

15 miles an hour? There would hardly have been a bump at that speed, and certainly not enough impact to cause a 'serious' back injury.
Not a lot you can do, though, if s/he's got a doctor willing to sign them off...

yes they can especially if prone to fractures also depends how body twisted on impact medical people will normally be able to tell if faking

It is possible to sustain back injury from anything - even relatively minor activities.

The person involved will have to satisfy the insurance company that the injury was caused directly from the collision and private Drs will look at the case and injuries to determine if indeed the collision was the cause.

No insurance Co wants to pay out for injury's, but lots of people do it on due to the compensation era we are in.

So, why are you worried about it?
He may have a back injury, you don`t know, only a doctor can say that.

yes it is possible......but before insurance companies schell out a lot of money they want to see x rays ,mris ...ect visual proof,they will hire P I s tp follow the person and catch them doing stuff if they are faking it.