Back still hurts?
It wasn’t just whiplash.
ER X-rays miss most disc and ligament injuries. If your pain has not gone away in 2 weeks, the ER discharge note was wrong. Free MRI-review consultation.
The wreck looked minor. The pain didn’t go away.
You walked away from a rear-end collision. The bumper damage didn’t even look bad. The other driver apologized. Then you woke up the next morning unable to turn your head. You went to the ER, had an X-ray, and were sent home with “cervical strain.”
A week later you still can’t sit at your desk for more than twenty minutes. Three weeks in, you’re telling yourself it will pass. This is the most under-treated, under-compensated injury in personal injury law. Disc herniations, facet joint injuries, ligament tears do not show up on standard X-rays. They show up on MRI scans the ER didn’t order.
What the ER missed (and why)
Standard ER imaging is X-ray of the cervical spine. X-rays show bone — they don’t show:
Disc herniations
The soft cushion between vertebrae bulges or ruptures, putting pressure on nerve roots. Causes radiating pain into arms or legs.
Facet joint injuries
The small joints connecting vertebrae are torn or inflamed. Often misdiagnosed as “muscle spasm.”
Ligament tears
Soft tissue holding the spine in alignment is damaged. Causes long-term instability and accelerated degeneration.
Nerve root compression
Symptoms: numbness, tingling, weakness, sharp pain shooting into limbs. Often dismissed early as “just slept wrong.”
Eggshell plaintiff
A prior asymptomatic disc condition the wreck made symptomatic still caused your current pain. The “pre-existing” defense fails when properly framed.
2-year clock — A.R.S. § 12-542
Spine cases need 12-18 months treatment to evaluate. Calling early — before symptoms peak — preserves every option.
What to do in the first 30 days
Get an MRI ordered.
If pain hasn’t resolved in 2 weeks, push your doctor for an MRI. If they refuse, ask for a spine specialist referral.
Don’t stop treatment for “feeling better” days.
Spine injuries fluctuate. Insurance uses treatment gaps to argue you “got better” — even when you didn’t.
Stay off social media.
Photos of you smiling, traveling, or lifting anything will be used against you.
Call us.
A spine case built without an attorney typically settles for a fraction of properly-documented cases.
Wood Injury Law took over my case after another firm told me to take a low-ball settlement. They got me significantly more once they actually fought it. Worth every minute.
Questions clients ask on the first call
How much does it cost to hire Wood Injury Law?
Nothing upfront. Contingency fee, paid a percentage of recovery. If we don’t recover, you owe nothing in attorney fees.
How long do I have to file in Arizona?
Two years from the date of the wreck under A.R.S. § 12-542. Government cases require 180-day notice under A.R.S. § 12-821.01.
What if I’m partly at fault?
Arizona is a pure comparative negligence state under A.R.S. § 12-2505. You can still recover, reduced by your percentage of fault.
What if the at-fault party had no insurance?
Your own UM/UIM coverage under A.R.S. § 20-259.01 may pay your damages even when the at-fault driver carries no insurance.
What if I had a prior injury?
Arizona follows the eggshell plaintiff doctrine. A wreck that aggravated an existing condition still caused your current injury and is compensable.
How quickly should I call?
Today if you can. Earlier involvement means evidence preservation, no recorded-statement traps, and a clear strategy from day one.