Neck Injuries After A Car Accident: Causes & Common Injuries

The violent forces of a crash and traumatic blows that a car occupant can suffer often result in a wide range of neck injuries, including sprains, strains, herniated discs, fractures, and spinal cord damage. However, many car accident victims who suffer neck injuries often have difficulty recovering injury compensation for their medical expenses and lost income arising from their injury.

A qualified New York Car Accident Lawyer will help you pursue compensation for the economic and non-economic damages and will fight to get you the justice you deserve.

After a car accident, big or small, your well-being comes first. Even in seemingly minor collisions, don’t forget to Call the Police After a Minor Car Accident. This straightforward action ensures an official record of the incident and sets the stage for a smoother claims process later on.

Also it is advisable to promptly hire an attorney after a car accident. Their expertise can guide you through your legal rights and legal options, prepare you for the compensation claims process, and advocate for your compensation rights when insurers refuse to compensate you for your injury.

Types of Neck Injuries Suffered in Car Accidents

Car crashes can cause a range of neck problems and collision injuries. Some are minor injuries while others can result in a lifetime of treatment and accident recovery.

Here are a few of the most common neck injuries:

• Whiplash and Soft Tissue Injuries: The most common car accident neck injury, results from the head moving rapidly back and forth, causing soft tissue damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissues supporting the neck and head.
• Slipped Discs or Herniated Discs: High-impact collisions can displace cervical spine discs, compressing spinal cord nerves and leading to pinched nerves. This causes pain, weakness, tingling, and numbness in the neck, shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers.
• Neck Fractures:  Traffic accidents can break the neck, risking complete or incomplete spinal cord injury and paralysis. Fractures in nearby body parts, like the face, collarbone, and upper arm/shoulder, may also impact the neck.
• Lacerations and Cuts: Accident debris can cause minor cuts and bruises on the neck, typically not requiring extensive treatment. However, deep cuts or lacerations may damage neck ligaments and tendons.
• Pinched nerve:  Various neck injuries can lead to pinched nerves, causing severe pain, tingling, and numbness. This is often associated with muscle strain, sprain, or disc damage, as damaged tissues shift and compress surrounding nerves.
• Muscle Spasms: Common car accident neck injury symptoms include spasms and twinges in shoulders, back, and arms. Muscle cramps result from tension or overstretching, causing swelling and inflammation around nerves. Hurt muscles contract and immobilize, leading to rapid tightening and loosening, causing significant pain. Delayed neck pain after an accident often involves spasms due to inflammation buildup over time.
• Other Musculoskeletal Injuries: Car accidents exert intense forces, causing varied and severe back injuries based on factors like speed and collision dynamics. Musculoskeletal structures in the cervical spine, including joints, vertebrae, discs, and soft tissues, can be affected.

Causes of Neck Pain After a Car Accident

Collisions expose the head and neck to sudden movements, particularly when restrained by a seatbelt, often resulting in the neck absorbing the majority of the force, especially in rear-end accidents. Anticipating an accident may lead to muscle tension, increasing the risk of injuries like muscle strain and damage to ligaments, discs, nerves, joints, tendons, or bones in the neck. Neck pain or injury can also arise from flying debris during the accident.

Neck Injury Symptoms After a Car Accident

After a collision, you may experience a range of symptoms, from minor pain or stiffness to excruciating pain or nausea. Furthermore, neck injuries symptoms may not occur immediately. Delayed neck pain from car accidents is common. Symptoms of a neck injury from car accident can include difficulty turning the neck, stiffness, throbbing pain, headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, shooting pain, tenderness, chills, fatigue, muscle spasms, memory issues, sleep difficulties, cognitive and psychological difficulties, and mood changes.

How a Car Accident Hurts Your Neck?

Your neck, a delicate and injury-prone part of your body, lacks substantial protection during auto accidents. While your seat belt secures your body, your head and neck remain largely unrestrained, making them susceptible to various injuries. As the collision occurs, your neck may jerk back and forth, sway to one side, or be struck by airborne debris. These motions can result in injuries to muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and nerves in the cervical spine. Anticipating an accident increases the risk, as tense neck muscles are less flexible, intensifying the strain during impact. Despite its vulnerability, the neck’s exposure during auto accidents underscores the importance of understanding the potential injuries and seeking prompt medical attention for effective recovery.

What Is the Time Limit For a Neck Injury Claim?

Usually, the time limit is two years from the date of your neck injury. You must file and report a car insurance claim or car accident lawsuit within this time. There are a few exceptions to the time limit for car insurance claim settlement. If a government entity is involved in your injuries, you could have as little as six months. The statute of limitations varies by state. If you’re unsure of the time limit for your area, contact a personal injury lawyer now. They can provide valuable guidance on the time constraints for your case, including scenarios where you may be Liable In A Car Accident: Owner Or Driver.

Contact An Accident Lawyer at Gregory Spektor & Associates P.C.

After your accident, contact an experienced lawyer as soon as possible for a legal consultation. A lawyer can help you with all of the above and provide you with necessary legal support and legal advice. They will use what you’ve gathered to build your case. Your lawyer will begin working on your case immediately. They’ll investigate your accident claims and accident injuries. 

They can also calculate the full value of your accident costs. Remember that personal injury claims take time. Your lawyer might need much of the two-year time limit to build your case. This includes pursuing an insurance settlement for neck injury from car accidents. The sooner you reach out, the easier it will be for both of you.