Hiring a lawyer is the first step towards recovering a better quality of life. At Osborne & Francis, we devote our undivided attention to each client, and all communications are held in the strictest privacy. Contact us by filling out the form or calling us directly at (561) 293-2600.
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Months have passed since your car accident, and you thought the worst was behind you. Then the joint pain started. Your knees ache when you stand up. Your back stiffens in the morning. Your doctor mentions arthritis, and you wonder: Can a car accident cause arthritis?
The answer is yes. Car accidents can trigger post-traumatic arthritis, a condition that develops when trauma damages joints, cartilage, or surrounding structures. What seemed like minor injuries at the time can lead to chronic pain and mobility issues that affect your daily life for years.
Osborne & Francis has decades of experience helping clients pursue compensation for long-term injuries that may not appear for months or even years after a crash. We know how arthritis changes routines and work lives, and we fight to ensure our clients receive fair compensation for these delayed complications.
If you’re dealing with joint pain after a car accident, call (561) 293-2600 or reach out online to schedule a free case review and learn about your legal options.
Trauma from car accidents can damage joints in ways that make arthritis more likely. The force of a collision may tear cartilage, fracture bones, or dislocate joints, disrupting the normal motion of the joint.
Can arthritis be caused by a car accident? Studies published in Arthritis Care & Research and the Journal of Orthopaedic Research confirms that traumatic joint injuries are a leading contributor to post-traumatic arthritis, which accounts for roughly 10–12% of all osteoarthritis cases.
When cartilage tears or joint surfaces become uneven, the body’s repair process often creates scar tissue, bone spurs, or other irregularities. These changes accelerate joint wear, leading to stiffness, pain, and reduced mobility.
The joints that carry the body’s weight—knees, hips, and ankles—face the greatest stress. A sudden stop in a crash can compress them beyond their normal range, leaving microscopic damage that grows into chronic problems months or years later.
The spine is also vulnerable. Whiplash injuries can damage the small facet joints between vertebrae, stretching ligaments and weakening structures that later develop into arthritis. These neck injuries are frequently seen in distracted driving crashes, where the at-fault driver looks away from the road and causes a collision.
Back injuries often arise in rear-end accidents, where the sudden jolt strains spinal joints and discs. This trauma is a common starting point for arthritis in the lumbar or cervical spine.
Damage can take several forms. Herniated discs reduce cushioning between vertebrae, compression fractures change spinal alignment, and torn ligaments weaken joint support. Each of these problems alters how the spine bears weight, creating abnormal pressure that wears down joint surfaces over time.
The lower back, or lumbar spine, carries the greatest load and is the most common site of post-traumatic arthritis. People may notice morning stiffness, pain that worsens with movement, and difficulty with everyday tasks, such as bending or rising from a chair.
Neck injuries can also progress into arthritis in the cervical spine. Symptoms include headaches, radiating pain into the shoulders, and reduced ability to turn or tilt the head comfortably. Crashes involving larger vehicles, such as semi-trucks, can make these injuries even more severe, increasing the likelihood of long-term arthritis.
Together, these issues demonstrate how a single accident can lead to lasting changes in both mobility and quality of
life.
If you’ve developed back or neck arthritis after a car accident, it’s essential to understand your legal options. Osborne & Francis can review your medical history, connect the injury to your crash, and explain what compensation may be available.
Call (561) 293-2600 or contact us online to speak with an experienced car accident attorney.
Determining that arthritis began with a car accident often depends on your medical history. Insurance companies often argue that it’s just part of aging, so linking the injury to the crash is crucial.
Records from the days right after the accident, such as ER visits, X-rays, and doctor notes, establish that the joints were damaged. Later evidence, such as physical therapy notes, follow-up imaging, and reports from specialists, helps show how those early injuries developed into arthritis. Orthopedic experts can also explain how trauma to the knees, spine, or neck increases the chance of arthritis years later.
These disputes aren’t limited to car crashes. Victims of motorcycle collisions often face similar pushback when joint or spinal damage develops into arthritis months later. The stronger and more consistent the medical history, the harder it is for insurers to deny responsibility.
The strength of this medical record often influences the value of an arthritis from a car accident settlement. When the connection between the crash and your current condition is clear, insurers have a harder time pushing back.
But establishing that link is only part of the process. Florida law also sets strict deadlines for filing, and these timelines can complicate cases where arthritis symptoms may take months or years to appear.
As of March 24, 2023, Florida law gives you two years from the date of a car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. For crashes that happened before this change, the older four-year limit may still apply.
Arthritis complicates this timeline because symptoms may not appear right away. In some cases, courts consider when a doctor first linked the arthritis to the crash in deciding if the claim is still valid. This allows victims to pursue compensation even when the diagnosis comes long after the accident.
Even so, moving forward sooner helps preserve the strongest evidence. Medical records, accident reports, and professional evaluations are easier to obtain soon after a crash and can help demonstrate how arthritis developed from those injuries. A car accident lawyer who handles long-term injury claims can guide you through this process and ensure that deadlines are met.
Arthritis that develops after a crash can interfere with work, limit mobility, and disrupt everyday routines. When it begins with joint or spinal injuries from a collision, you may be entitled to compensation that accounts for both current symptoms and future medical care.
At Osborne & Francis, our attorneys review medical records and accident history closely to show how trauma led to arthritis and to push back when insurers try to dismiss delayed symptoms. We have worked with many clients whose pain surfaced months or years later, and we know how to ensure those injuries are fully recognized.
Living with arthritis that began after a crash can feel like an uphill battle, but you don’t have to face it without help. Call Osborne & Francis at (561) 293-2600 or message us online to speak with a lawyer who understands how car accidents cause long-term joint damage and how to pursue the compensation you’ll need going forward.
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“I am so thankful for EVERYONE, the entire staff at Osborne & Francis Law, for mentoring me through the mediation process with my hip replacement failures. I didn't realize how MUCH pressure they relieved me of by helping me deal with the reality of this traumatic time in my life, as it was OVER so quickly with a positive result. My family is grateful to have their mom HAPPY & FOCUSED on the future, rather than worrying over what happened in the past! FAST FORWARD, we are LIVING LIFE to the fullest once again!”
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Dennis and the other Osborne & Francis staff were amazing! Our case was HUGE and required tender loving care. Everyone on our case did their part by putting all the puzzle pieces together. We were given step by step updates and put at ease when our nerves got the best of us. For every inquiry we made we received a timely response...You are appreciated!
Quick and fair resolution to a unique case. On advice of my own attorney, I engaged Joseph Osborne of Osborne & Francis of Boca Raton, FL. Mr. Osborne had considerable experience in cases such as mine and the results showed that. Mr. Osborne and his staff were very helpful, kept me up to date, and listened to my input. The settlement was very fair as far as I am concerned.
"Best personal injury attorney around, I could not be happier! I was seriously injured in a car accident and Osborne and Francis helped me through the entire process. I was blown away by how knowledgeable the staff and attorneys are at this incredible law firm. I would not hesitate to recommend this law firm to friends and family!"
Hiring a lawyer is the first step towards recovering a better quality of life. At Osborne & Francis, we devote our undivided attention to each client, and all communications are held in the strictest privacy. Contact us by filling out the form or calling us directly at (561) 621-1385.
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