Neck Injuries Caused by Car Accidents - Charlotte Lawyer

Whiplash and other neck injuries caused by car accidents can result in pain and limited mobility, leaving a person's life changed forever. Car accidents are some of the most common causes of neck injuries and whiplash. When a car accident victim’s head is thrown forward and backward quickly, it can cause the tendons, muscles, and ligaments in the neck to become stretched and pulled beyond their normal range of motion.

As a result, victims suffer pain, stiffness, tingling, and sometimes immobility. Whiplash can happen in car accidents that occur at high speeds and low speeds. Additionally, even car accident victims who were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash can suffer whiplash and other neck injuries.

If you have been involved in a car accident, you may not notice the signs and symptoms of neck injuries right away. Sometimes it takes hours or even days after a car accident to understand the full extent of your injuries. After a car accident, victims are often in shock, and their adrenaline can prevent them from feeling their soft tissue injuries. It is always wise to seek a comprehensive medical evaluation after a car accident so you can receive the treatment you need to recover.

Many of us downplay our injuries or put off seeking medical treatment, especially if we think our neck injury is minor. However, if a neck injury is left untreated, it could cause long-term complications and chronic pain down the road. Additionally, if you need to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, have documentation of your medical treatment. If you are experiencing any of the following signs or symptoms of a neck injury, reach out to a medical professional:

• Pain that radiates to the arms, shoulders, and hands
• Neck pain
• Neck stiffness
• Weakness or tingling in the arms, hands, or fingers
• Headaches
• Dizziness

As mentioned above, Whiplash is one of the most common types of neck injuries that occur in car accidents. Whiplash happens when the head and neck jerk forward and then backward suddenly in a car accident. Whiplash causes tearing strain and damage to the nerves, connective tissues, and ligaments in the neck. Most whiplash injuries are caused in rear-end collisions, but whiplash can occur in any type of car accident. Likewise, the severity of whiplash depends on the circumstances of the car accident. Some whiplash cases are resolved within weeks on their own, but other cases cause long-term headaches, chronic pain, and ongoing symptoms that last for extended periods of time.

Car accidents can also result in a herniated or slipped disc. High-impact car accidents, such as head-on collisions, can cause intervertebral discs in the neck to slip out of place from between vertebrae. When this occurs, the injured disc can compress a person's spinal cord nerves. As a result, pinched nerves can cause weakness, tingling, pain, and numbness of the shoulders, neck, arms, hands, and fingers.

Neck fractures are another dangerous type of injury caused by car accidents. Neck fractures can cause severe pain, and typically victims will know that they have fractured their neck following a car accident. If you suspect that your neck has been fractured, do not move until you have received medical assistance. The emergency medical personnel who are treating you should also use extreme caution when transporting you. If they act negligently and move your neck too much, your spinal cord could become severed or damaged to an even greater extent.

Finally, car accidents can cause facet joint injuries to the cervical spine. The facet joint aids a person's head and neck in mobility and stabilization. The impact of a car accident can cause facet joints to become irritated and inflamed. Car accidents can also cause damage to the surrounding tissue, affecting a person's range of motion and movement in the neck.

Have you or your loved one suffered a joint injury in a Charlotte Area car accident? If so, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. If a negligent driver caused the car accident that resulted in your neck injuries, he or she is liable for your injuries and must pay you compensation. Contact the experienced personal injury lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, to schedule your free initial consultation.