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Neck pain after a car accident is common. The neck is easily injured in car wrecks because the head is not restrained by a seat belt, but can snap back and forth. At Moffitt Law, LLC, we have represented motorists with severe car accident neck injuries. These injuries can be worth a considerable amount of compensation to cover medical expenses and other losses.
Speak with a Carrollton, Georgia car accident lawyer if you have any questions about your legal rights. We have years of experience negotiating settlements for people injured in all types of collisions.
Common Car Accident Neck Injuries
Neck pain after a car accident usually means you have suffered one of the following injuries.
Whiplash
Damage to soft tissues in the neck can lead to stiffness and pain when moving your head. Whiplash can heal on its own, but usually requires immobilizing the head, at least temporarily. While getting pain under control, a patient can slowly reintroduce movement and massage.
Whiplash varies in severity. Milder versions of whiplash might only cause discomfort for a few weeks, but serious whiplash can cause ringing in the ears, confusion, and blurred vision for months.
Cervical Disk Injury
The vertebrae in the neck are called cervical vertebrae. They have rubbery discs in between them that provide cushion and allow a healthy person to bend their neck without pain. A serious accident can damage one or more discs, either pushing them out of alignment or puncturing them.
This injury often causes intense neck pain. Treatment might be conservative or require surgery.
Cervical Fracture
Some car accidents are so traumatic that bones will break, including cervical vertebrae. Symptoms include swelling, bruising, pain, and numbness. This is a medical emergency. The risk is that the vertebra might move out of alignment, or pieces of bone could slice into the spinal cord. Go to the hospital immediately to have a doctor stabilize the spine.
Facet Joint Damage
The facet joints connect adjoining vertebrae. Any traumatic accident can damage the joints and lead to intense neck pain, as well as stiffness. Treatment can include injections, pain management, and physical therapy.
Compressed Nerve
A nerve in the neck can become compressed and lead to constant pain or numbness. The key to relieving pain is to relieve the compression, which is often caused by the vertebrae “pinching” a nerve root.
Spinal Cord Injury
Any damage to the spinal cord is devastating. Compression on the cord can impair movement and sensation. Permanent damage might cause a person to become quadriplegic, meaning they are paralyzed in all four limbs.
Spinal cord injuries are usually complete or incomplete. A patient with an incomplete injury can often rehab it and regain some lost movement or sensation. However, a complete injury usually leads to total paralysis.
Can You Receive Compensation for a Neck Injury in a Car Accident?
Yes. If you can prove fault for the crash, then the defendant should pay fair compensation for all losses. The key is fault, however: the other driver might claim you are really to blame for the accident. Although fault can be shared, you will not receive any compensation if you are mostly to blame for the crash. (Georgia Code § 51-12-33(g).)
Compensation should cover:
- Emergency medical treatment, including ambulance transportation, surgery, and hospital stays.
- Rehabilitation and doctor visits. Neck injuries usually require regular appointments with a doctor, physical therapy, and ongoing treatment.
- Income or wage loss. Neck injuries keep many motorists out of work for months while they attempt to recover. For example, whiplash can prevent a person from moving their neck, so they can’t even work a desk job. We can request compensation for any lost income.
- Pain and suffering. Neck injuries cause intense pain, sleeplessness, and a reduced quality of life. The defendant should pay compensation to make up for this suffering. Of course, money is an inadequate substitute for feeling pain-free, but it is what we can demand from a defendant.
Coordinate with an experienced car accident attorney to review what evidence you need to bring a successful claim. Typically, we rely on witnesses to establish how the accident happened.
Speak with a Personal Injury Lawyer in Carrollton, Georgia
Neck pain after a car accident is common. When left untreated, your injury could worsen to the point where you are unable to leave home. Go to the hospital after a car crash, and then call Moffitt Law, LLC. Our legal team can review whether you should file an insurance claim or a lawsuit (or both). Our firm has negotiated several settlements for those hurt in all types of car wrecks in the 30117 zip code. Contact us today!
