Matadores Accident & Injury Lawyers | September 18, 2026 | Personal Injury

What Are the Symptoms of a Broken Tailbone?

A broken tailbone can make ordinary activities like sitting, standing, walking, or driving painful. The tailbone, medically known as the coccyx, is located at the very bottom of the spine and helps support your weight when you sit. A direct impact from a fall, car accident, or other traumatic event can bruise or fracture it.

If you experience persistent pain around your tailbone after an accident in Bell, California, recognizing the symptoms and seeking appropriate medical care can help determine the extent of your injury.

What Does a Broken Tailbone Feel Like?

Pain is one of the most common signs of a tailbone injury. However, symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the fracture and whether you suffered other injuries at the same time.

Symptoms of a broken or injured tailbone may include:

  • Sharp or aching pain at the base of the spine
  • Tenderness around the tailbone
  • Swelling
  • Bruising or discoloration
  • Increased pain when sitting
  • Pain when moving from a sitting to standing position
  • Discomfort during bowel movements
  • Difficulty sitting for extended periods
  • Lower back pain

Tailbone pain is sometimes referred to as coccydynia. Because bruises and fractures can cause similar symptoms, pain alone may not indicate whether the coccyx is broken. A healthcare provider can examine the injury and determine whether imaging is appropriate.

What Causes a Broken Tailbone?

A tailbone fracture typically occurs when sufficient force is applied directly to the coccyx. Falls are a common cause, particularly when someone slips and lands backward on a hard surface.

Other potential causes include:

Traumatic events such as falls and motor vehicle accidents are common causes of bone fractures.

In an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, identifying how the tailbone injury occurred can also become important if you later pursue a personal injury claim.

How Is a Broken Tailbone Diagnosed?

A healthcare provider may begin by asking how the injury occurred and examining the painful area. Imaging may be necessary depending on the circumstances and severity of the symptoms.

X-rays or CT scans can be used to evaluate suspected coccyx fractures. Other imaging, such as an MRI, may sometimes be used to examine the area and investigate other possible causes of pain.

Medical records from your evaluation can also document your injuries, symptoms, and treatment following an accident.

When Should You Seek Medical Care for Tailbone Pain?

Not every case of tailbone pain indicates a fractured coccyx. A fall or other accident can also bruise the bone or damage surrounding muscles, ligaments, and other tissues.

Consider seeking medical attention if your pain is severe, does not improve, or interferes with your ability to sit or move normally. Cleveland Clinic recommends seeing a healthcare provider when tailbone pain or swelling does not resolve within a few days, particularly after a fall or other injury.

Prompt medical care can help identify the cause of your symptoms and rule out other injuries.

Can You Recover Compensation for a Broken Tailbone in California?

If someone else’s negligence caused your broken tailbone, you may have grounds to pursue a personal injury claim. For example, another driver may be responsible for a collision, or a property owner may be liable under certain circumstances for a dangerous condition that caused a fall.

Depending on your case, compensation may be available for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Future medical care
  • Lost wages
  • Reduced earning capacity
  • Rehabilitation expenses
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Disability or other lasting effects of the injury

California also generally imposes a two-year statute of limitations on actions for personal injuries caused by another person’s wrongful act or negligence. However, different deadlines can apply depending on the circumstances and parties involved.

Contact Matadores Accident & Injury Lawyers After a Tailbone Injury in Bell, CA

A broken tailbone can cause significant pain and interfere with your ability to sit, work, drive, and complete everyday activities. If your injury resulted from an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have the right to pursue compensation for your losses.

Matadores Accident & Injury Lawyers can investigate what happened, identify potentially responsible parties, document your losses, and explain your legal options under California law. Contact the firm today to schedule a consultation with a Bell personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Bell, CA, and Porterville, CA.

We proudly serve Tulare County and its surrounding areas.

Matadores Accident & Injury Lawyers – Bell Office
4316 Gage Ave, Bell, CA 90201
(323) 402-1000
Open 24/7
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 33.9782814,-118.1910158

Matadores Accident & Injury Lawyers – Porterville Office
320 W Putnam Ave, Porterville, CA 93257
(559) 500-1000
Open 24/7
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 36.0696906,-119.0242167