Neck Injuries

Neck Injuries After an Accident in California

Traumatic accidents often lead to painful and debilitating neck injuries. Beyond simply causing pain, neck injuries can also limit mobility and prevent you from going back to work or taking care of your other obligations.

It’s important to take neck injuries seriously and take swift action to seek out the medical and legal care you deserve. If your injuries have been caused by someone else, we’re here to help. Set up your free case evaluation with Russell & Lazarus by calling our Orange County office at 949-682-3780.

Types of Neck Injuries

Since the neck is such a small but complex area of the body, identifying the cause of your pain can be difficult and any neck pain after an accident requires medical care. If you’ve suffered neck or upper back pain after an accident, it could be one of the following:

• Whiplash. One of the most common injuries in car accidents is whiplash, which occurs when the head moves forward at a high speed and then suddenly hits a barrier (in this case, an airbag or steering wheel) and snaps back
• Sprained muscle. Injured muscles can limit spinal movement and cause intense neck pain.
• Ligament sprain. This type of sprain impacts neck movement and pain. Full recovery from this injury can take as long as three months.
• Neck fracture. One of the most serious injuries is a neck fracture. It can lead to paralysis or even death. This is a condition that requires immediate care and can require lifelong care or treatment.
• Herniated disc. The discs in between the vertebra near the top of the spine can bulge or tear, leading to neck damage. If you feel like your neck and upper back hurt after a car accident, it could be this.
• Cervical dislocation. Cervical dislocation happens when the neck bones moves from their normal positions and separate from each other.
• Spinal cord damage. Anything that happens to the neck can also damage the spinal cord. A fracture, for example, could send bone bits into the spinal cord, damaging nerves.

Symptoms of Neck Injuries

Depending on the details of your Riverside accident, you may experience neck pain and other symptoms immediately or they may develop over time. Victims may feel fine or only experience minor pain after a car accident, only to have symptoms develop as the initial adrenaline rush wears off and their pain becomes apparent. Symptoms you may experience include:

• Pain. For most victims, pain is the trigger that leads them to seek medical care. Be sure to identify and note what type of pain you experience. Is it sharp neck pain after a car accident, that feels like a stabbing sensation? Is it dull pain that is constantly present? Does it feel like tingling or numbness? Identifying your pain type and level can help your doctor.
• Headache. The jarring motion of car accidents often cause serious enough neck damage to cause headaches. Just like you measure pain, be aware of the characteristics of your headaches.
• Limited mobility. The neck controls head movement and much of the upper back and shoulders. Limited mobility in these areas is a common symptom.
• Tinnitus. Ringing in the ears may occur after a neck injury.
• Poor balance. Neck and spinal cord injuries can limit nerve communication, causing issues with different brain functions. Be aware of any balance issues or dizziness you experience.
• Numbness in extremities. If the nerves that control certain extremities are damaged, you may experience numbness or tingling in your arms and legs.
• Fatigue. Extreme levels of tiredness are common after neck injuries.

Common Causes of Neck Injuries

Neck injuries are linked to a number of behaviors and accidents. Neck injury triggers include:

• Vehicle accidents
• Falls
• Pedestrian or bike accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Workplace accidents
• Repetitive motions

Figuring Out Your Next Step

If your injury occurred because of someone else’s action or inaction, you’re likely worried about the financial losses you’re about to experience and wondering if you have options. Filing a personal injury claim with the help of a Long Beach personal injury lawyer can help you fight for compensation.

The process of a personal injury claim may vary, depending on how cooperative the other party’s insurance company is and how much it takes to secure a fair settlement. Generally, these claims follow this process:

• You hire a Newport car accident lawyer and provide evidence regarding your injury and accident.
• They investigate the accident, calculate the damages you’re likely to sustain because of the accident, and come up with a fair settlement number.
• Your attorney sends a demand letter to the other party’s insurance company.
• Your attorney and the other party’s legal team negotiate to try to reach a fair and agreeable settlement amount.
• If an agreement is reached, the claim is closed and the agreed-upon amount is paid out. If no agreement can be reached, your attorney prepares to take the case to trial.
• Either your case plays out in court or the other side offers a settlement amount before or during trial.

There are lots of elements involved in a Riverside personal injury case, which is why it’s important to reach out to a top injury lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. It’s not enough that you are injured and have sustained some financial damage. You must also be able to prove that the other party is directly responsible for your injuries. This is where your choice of attorney is crucial. There are attorneys who will grab whatever evidence you have available, compile a demand letter, and let the chips fall where they may. There are attorneys who will take the evidence you have, find and analyze other evidence, delve into the details of your accident, and use this broader base of knowledge to build a stronger case on your behalf.

The team at Russell & Lazarus takes the second approach. We know that more in-depth investigation leads to stronger cases and better results for our clients. Our focus is on quality, not quantity. If you work with our top injury lawyers, you can feel confident that you’ll get all of the attention, research, and communication that your case deserves.

If your claim is successful, you may receive several types of compensation. Compensation often covers medical bills, future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other expenses.

Find Out How Russell & Lazarus Can Help With Your Injury Claim

If you’ve suffered a neck injury and you’re not sure what to do next, let us help. Treating neck injuries is often a substantial investment of both time and money, so you deserve compensation if someone else is responsible for your injuries. Russell & Lazarus offers a free consultation for every new client, during which we’ll discuss your case and give our recommendations. The sooner you hire a personal injury lawyer to handle your case, the sooner they can begin fighting for the money you deserve. Set up your evaluation now by getting in touch with us online or calling our team at 800-268-9228.