Neck Pain After a Car Accident

If you suffered neck pain after a car accident, you should seek medical attention.

StatPearls reports that neck pain after a car accident is extremely common. In fact, it lists blunt force trauma as the leading cause of these conditions, followed by penetrating trauma and strangulation.

It’s important to understand what to do after a collision. It’s even more crucial to know your next steps after suffering a neck injury. Without prompt medical care, these conditions can grow from small inconveniences to lifelong problems.

Symptoms of a Neck Injury After a Collision

A neck injury causes more than pain. Other symptoms include:

• Stiffness
• Numbness
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Tingling sensations
• Muscle spasms
• Anxiety and depression
• A limited range of motion

A neck injury can also indicate a traumatic brain injury, which can cause mood swings, double vision, and other life-altering impairments.

Examples of Neck Injuries After Car Accidents

Whiplash is the most common type of neck-related injury in collisions, per BMC Public Health. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few years to recover from whiplash. Yet, other types of neck-related injuries may include:

• A fractured spine. You’ll know immediately if you suffered this painful injury and should seek immediate medical attention. Without treatment, you risk paralysis.
• Soft tissue damage. A collision can tear ligaments, stretch tendons, and bruise tissue. In addition to pain, these injuries may cause involuntary spasms or numbness.
• A herniated disc. Your spinal column comprises discs that sit between vertebrae. These discs have jelly-like centers. Sometimes, the jelly can break through the disc and put pressure on the surrounding nerves, causing immobility and pain.
• Cuts and lacerations. Glass, metal, and debris can pierce soft tissue. This can cause blood loss, nerve damage, and other serious conditions.

All these conditions require medical attention. A doctor can examine your injury and prescribe a treatment plan that works for you.

Treatment Options For Neck Pain Caused By a Car Accident

After assessing your condition, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following:

• Medications. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons notes that some soft-tissue injuries, like neck sprains, heal gradually over time. To cope with the pain, your doctor may prescribe painkillers, anti-inflammatory medications, and steroid injections.
• Physical therapy. A chiropractor or physical therapist can address your condition through massages and low-stress exercises. They may also apply hot-and-cold therapy to minimize swelling.
• Immobilization devices. Your doctor may recommend a neck brace or bedrest while you heal.
• Surgery. An operation may include replacing discs or removing damaged tissue.

What Collisions Result in Neck Injuries?

Any collision can result in neck injuries. Rear-end crashes, though, commonly cause neck injuries. Other types of neck injury-related collisions include:

• Rollover accidents
• T-bone (or side-impact) collisions
• Head-on collisions
• Sideswipe accidents

Regardless of what collision caused your injuries, you may seek recovery for your losses. Contact our Anderson car accident lawyers to get a free case review and explain your situation. Depending on the details of your case, the medical documents you provide, accident scene photos, witnesses’ contact details, etc., your attorney will present your legal options. Seeking damages for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering can take the form of a claim with the insurance company or a civil lawsuit against the at-fault party. Your attorney will let you know which legal strategies work for you best and what settlement you can expect given your case’s particularities.

What You Should Do After Suffering a Neck Injury in a Crash

Seeking medical attention isn’t your only priority after a car accident. You should also consider your legal options. To protect your right to compensation:

Write Down Your Version of Events

In a journal or Word document, you should note:

• What happened before, during, and after the accident
• The names of your attending doctors
• The type of treatment you received
• Your diagnosis and prognosis
• The time you missed from work
• Your daily pain levels

This information can verify your case’s details after filing a claim.

Follow Through With Medical Care

Seeking medical attention goes beyond your first visit. It involves going to therapy, taking medications, and undergoing necessary procedures. All these things can promote a smooth recovery period. Moreover, it can prevent the insurer from contesting your claim.

Notify Your Insurance Company

You should notify your insurance company about the accident and file your claim as soon as possible. Even though Georgia and South Carolina operate on fault-based systems, your insurer needs to know about any collisions.

Consider Consulting With Our Legal Team

A neck injury needs all your time and attention. Right now, your days are likely filled with rest, doctors’ appointments, and physical therapy. Our team can take on your case and pursue financial recovery for your injury-related expenses, including:

• Past and future healthcare expenses
• Lost income and other job-related losses, such as tips and bonuses
• Pain and suffering
• The cost of replacing or repairing your vehicle
• Mental anguish and therapy

We render legal aid on a contingency-fee basis, so you pay nothing up front or out of pocket for our help. Your lawyer takes their attorney’s fees from the settlement they recover for you.*

Call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers For a Free Case Review

Whether you suffered a neck injury or another collision-related impairment, our law firm can pursue compensation. We can investigate your accident, negotiate a settlement, and fight for what you deserve.

We offer free case reviews to injured claimants in both Georgia and South Carolina. Dial (888) 612-7001 to get started.