Neck pain following a car accident is a clear sign that a motorist might have suffered a serious injury. Pain is the body’s signal that you have damaged tissues or organs, so a motorist should quickly go to the hospital for a professional diagnosis. Then reach out to Michael J. Lichner, an experienced Joliet, IL car accident lawyer, to discuss possible compensation. Our firm can bring an injury claim for the most common neck injuries.
Common Causes of Car Accident Neck Pain
The neck is made up of muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Seven cervical vertebrae protect the spinal cord as it runs up to the brain. Any traumatic accident can lead to an injury:
- Violent motion. A rear-end collision can cause the head to snap back and forth or wildly side to side. These exaggerated motions cause torn or stretched soft tissue. Violent motion might also push vertebrae out of alignment.
- Direct impacts. A motorist might suffer a direct impact if they slam their neck into the steering wheel, or another passenger’s elbow catches them in the neck.
- Seat belt injuries. The shoulder belt might cut into a person’s neck, causing direct injury in a collision.
- Landing on your neck. In a rollover, any motorist who is not belted in can land on their neck, causing a dramatic injury.
Car accidents are violent events, and it’s normal to feel neck pain following a car accident. Early treatment improves your ability to fully heal.
Neck Injuries Are Serious
Neck injuries often require that people stay home to recover. It is often impossible for most people to work a job when they experience intense neck pain. They are unable to move their head, so they cannot perform most jobs.
Some of the most common injuries are:
Whiplash
Whiplash is a common source of car accident neck pain. This injury involves stretching or tearing soft tissues in the neck and shoulders. The whip-like movement of the head can result in swelling and intense pain.
Doctors aim to address the main symptoms of whiplash, including stiffness and sleeplessness. A doctor might also temporarily immobilize your neck to aid in recovery. However, the modern trend is to reintroduce movement and light massage to keep muscles flexible.
Severe whiplash can result in other symptoms, such as ringing in the ears, confusion, sleep disturbances, and mood swings. The immediate shock of an accident might mask symptoms, but most people with whiplash feel stiffness the next day.
Bulging Discs
There are discs in between the vertebrae that provide cushion. A violent movement can cause the discs to bulge or become herniated. The result is sharp pain that radiates from the neck, which might feel like an “electrical shock.”
Disc injuries often require injections to reduce swelling. However, conservative treatment might not be enough, and some patients require surgery to finally address the pain.
Pinched Nerves
Nerve roots shoot off the spinal cord, but a car accident can compress the nerve, leading to a “pinched nerve.” Common symptoms include muscle weakness, shooting or burning pain, tingling fingertips, or pain that gets worse when you reposition your head.
Most treatments aim to release the compression, which allows the nerve to heal. Pinched nerves often do not require any treatment but rest and pain management; however, extreme cases might require surgery.
Vertebral Fractures
Violent accidents might end up fracturing one or more vertebrae in the neck. This is a serious injury, because doctors must stabilize the vertebrae before they cause more serious damage. Tiny pieces of bone could also slice into the spinal cord, resulting in devastating paralysis or impaired sensation.
Fractures vary in severity, but some common symptoms include bruising, swelling, severe neck pain, and the inability to move the neck. Any numbness or paralysis in the limbs is also an alarming sign. Patients often need to immobilize their necks to aid in healing.
Spinal Cord Injury
This is the most serious injury a person can suffer. The spinal cord carries neurological signals from the head to the rest of the body. Any injury to the cord so high in the neck could potentially result in impairments in all four limbs.
The most common symptoms include any pain or weakness in the limbs. Tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness are all signs of injury. Full paralysis signals that the spinal cord is fully compressed or possibly torn in two.
Recovery is grueling. Patients often need multiple surgeries to stabilize the neck and reduce compression. Physical therapy can help patients with incomplete injuries regain muscle strength and coordination, but some people with serious spinal cord damage will never walk again.
Full Compensation for Neck Injuries in Will County Car Accidents
A neck injury is no laughing matter. Even moderate pain can leave someone without the ability to work for several months. Income loss only adds to the financial stress many motorists experience.
Attorney Lichner is dedicated to securing fair compensation for his car accident clients. If you suffer from a neck injury caused by a collision or rollover, we usually seek:
- Compensation for all past and future medical care.
- Lost income or wages, where your neck pain prevents you from working.
- Pain and suffering, mental distress, and other non-economic damages.
How much can you receive? The amount depends on the unique facts of your case. Someone with mild whiplash will receive less than if they experience vertebrae or spinal cord damage requiring surgery.
Catastrophic spinal cord injuries also warrant compensation for future damages, including ongoing medical care or physical therapy. Consult our legal team for help calculating the full value of a claim.
Work with Our Experienced Will County Car Accident Lawyer
Some insurance companies minimize neck pain, especially whiplash. They might reject any proposed settlement or offer only a few thousand dollars for pain. Do not accept a meager settlement. Call Michael J. Lichner today to discuss any accident in the 60431 zip code or surrounding areas. Michael has helped clients in Will County for years with their car accident needs.