Neck Pain After a Car Accident
After a car accident, you may experience various injuries including neck pain. The impact from a crash can expose the head and neck to sudden and rapid movements. This is especially true if your body is restrained by a seatbelt. Your neck ends up taking the majority of the blunt force, often resulting in painful neck injuries. This is often known as whiplash, but can actually be a wide range of neck injuries.
When an accident is about to occur, the body will tense up muscles as part of a natural response to danger. However, this increases the risk of injury, which may include damage to the muscles, ligaments, discs, tendons, or bones in your neck.
After a car accident, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Untreated neck pain can potentially lead to chronic neck pain and further injury.
Symptoms of Neck Injuries
Neck injuries are not always easy to identify. The symptoms may not appear for days or weeks later. Plus, the symptoms may spread beyond your neck. Symptoms to look for include:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Pain or stiffness in the shoulder, arm, or back
- Burning, prickling, or tingling in neck, shoulders, or arms
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Severe neck pain
- Limited range of motion
- Sleep disturbances
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory loss
- Cognitive difficulties
Types of Neck Injuries
A car accident can lead to various types of neck pain, including:
- Neck sprain or strain
- Stiff muscles and tendons
- Slipped or herniated disc in the cervical spine
- Neck fracture or compression
- Pinched nerves
- Facet joint injury
- Cuts and lacerations
Proving Neck Pain
Neck pain is an example of a soft tissue injury that does not typically show up on imaging tests such as X-rays. Because of this, these injuries are often difficult to prove and link to accidents. When filing a claim, your insurance company will try to say that your neck injuries are a pre-existing condition so they can deny your claim.
Because of this, it’s important to get prompt medical treatment. Your doctor will evaluate your injuries and get you a complete and clear diagnosis as proof for your claim. Make sure you get detailed medical records, as this will help you get full and fair compensation.
Also, you will want to contact a lawyer. Seek legal representation from a qualified personal injury attorney. They can help you file your insurance claim with ease. They can evaluate details of your case and help protect your legal rights. They will serve as your advocate as you work on physical recovery.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney Today
A car accident can cause painful neck injuries. If you have been affected, contact a lawyer who can help you prove your case.
Whiplash is often seen as fake, with the insurance companies not taking these injuries seriously. If you have a serious neck injury, you need aggressive legal representation on your side. Seek legal help from a Tampa neck injury attorney from Moore Law. Schedule a free consultation by calling 813-510-5400 or filling out the online form.
Source:
forbes.com/advisor/legal/auto-accident/neck-pain-after-car-accident/