Were you involved in a car accident? If so, you might begin noticing stiffness or soreness in your neck or upper back. These symptoms are often signs of a serious neck injury, which could leave you unable to work and provide for your family. At a minimum, neck injuries can cost thousands of dollars to treat and leave people in debilitating pain.
Car accidents are traumatic events. Even when wearing a seat belt, occupants can be tossed about. For example, a simple rear-end collision in a parking lot could cause a person to jolt forward, snapping their head forwards and backwards or side to side.
Types of Neck Injuries
Some of the more common neck injuries include the following:
- Whiplash. This is an injury that typically happens following a rear-end collision. Ligaments and muscles in the neck stretch too far and cause intense pain and stiffness. Some whiplash responds to rest and massage to reintroduce a range of movement. Very serious whiplash might need surgery.
- Cervical fracture. The vertebrae in the neck can crack or shatter, causing serious injury. Any inflammation can put pressure on the spinal column or nearby nerves.
- Paralysis. This is a definite possibility if you suffered a serious cervical fracture. A patient is often paralyzed below the side of injury, which means a victim could become a quadriplegic.
- Brain injuries. Some injuries to the neck can reduce the flow of blood to the brain, causing damage to brain tissue. These injuries need immediate treatment because brain death is irreversible.
- Lacerations. Pieces of metal or glass could cut the neck, causing unsightly scars and possibly infection.
- Vocal cord injury. The strap from a seat belt could dig into the neck and cause damage to the vocal cords, resulting in a temporary or permanent loss of voice.
Signs You Have a Neck Injury
Some neck injuries are immediately apparent. You might feel intense pain or be paralyzed. If your vocal cords were injured, you might immediately notice you cannot speak.
However, other neck injuries take a couple days to materialize. Following a car accident, pay attention to how you feel. If you notice any stiffness, pain, or dizziness, immediately get to a doctor to be checked out. As mentioned above, some neck injuries can result in permanent impairment if not treated quickly.
At Cimarron Ridge Legal Group, we also encourage patients to follow their doctor’s orders very closely. Now is not the time to self-diagnose a condition. If you aren’t improving, you should see a different doctor for a second opinion.
Compensation for Your Injuries
At our law firm, we have extensive experience with car accident injuries, including neck injuries. Some of these accidents cause tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses—some accidents even cause much more. Now is the time to meet with a seasoned lawyer to review your legal options.
The team at Cimarron Ridge Legal Group has provided aggressive representation to car accident victims in Grand Junction for several decades. We would be happy to discuss your legal options today. Contact us at (970) 230-7656.
