What To Do If You Have Neck Pain After a Car Accident

Neck injuries like whiplash, pinched nerves and sprains are among the most common and debilitating injuries that result from car accidents. However, neck injuries often go undiagnosed or ignored because symptoms may not manifest immediately after the accident.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to address your neck pain after a car accident and access the compensation you are entitled to by law.

What Neck Injuries Are Caused by Car Crashes?

The neck injuries sustained in a car accident are often devastating. Some of the most impactful and excruciatingly painful types of that injuries include:

• Nerve damage – Nerve damage can occur when the impact of a car crash causes your neck or head to jolt around forcefully.
• Muscle strains – Muscle strains occur when the force of the car accident twists or pulls your muscles, causing them to stretch or tear.
• Whiplash – Whiplash can occur in seemingly minor car accidents when the muscles and tendons in your neck and spine are forcefully shoved out of alignment, which can reduce mobility and cause severe pain.
• Herniated discs – Herniated discs happen when the bones in your spine are compressed or put under pressure following the force of an accident.

Other neck injuries you might experience in a car accident include spinal fractures, neck bruising, facet joint injuries, and muscle tearing.

Neck Injury Symptoms

Neck injuries can produce a wide array of symptoms, including chronic pain, numbness, tingling, decreased neck sensations, difficulty breathing, and swelling or bruising in the neck. Many neck injury victims deal with lingering and chronic pain for months or even years after the accident.

What Risks Are Associated with Neck Injuries?

Neck injuries are a typical result of car accidents. Even the most minor fender bender can lead to a serious whiplash injury that could impact your life for months or years.

Neck injuries can range from mild to severe, and it’s essential to address a potential problem immediately instead of letting it develop into something worse.

When neck injuries are left untreated, they can become painful or debilitating. It is not unusual for those with neck injuries to suffer from long-term pain, headaches, or even paralysis. For this reason, obtaining a medical evaluation is critical immediately after your car crash.

How to Handle a Neck Injury After a Car Crash

If you’ve been in an accident, you should:

Consult a Medical Professional

Don’t wait for your condition to progress before you see a doctor. Broken bones may be easy to identify, but you could have soft tissue damage to your neck that only a professional can diagnose and treat. You may need prescription medication, physical therapy, or a corrective device.

Do not forget to keep thorough documentation of your injuries, including your diagnosis, all treatment options, your recovery, and the expenses that accompany your crippling neck injuries, like the prescription medication costs, copays, and ongoing medical treatment.

Talk to a Lawyer Right Away

You might be entitled to compensation if you suffered a neck injury because of another driver’s negligence. If you minimize your injury or delay consulting medical and legal professionals, you may miss your opportunity to recover damages for your injury.

You’ll have up to two years in Illinois before the statute of limitations expires. But don’t wait. The sooner you get started on your claim, the more likely you will access your compensation.

Seek Compensation For Your Damages

After suffering a debilitating neck injury, you have the right to be repaid for every loss you have endured, including non-economic damages. You have the right to pursue claims for:

• Current and future medical bills
• Loss of income
• Diminished quality of life
• Pain and suffering
• Vehicle repairs
• Reduced earning potential
• Skin scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of household services

Proving A Car Accident Caused Your Neck Injuries

A lawyer is best equipped to introduce the necessary evidence to show your motor vehicle crash is responsible for causing your neck injuries. They do this by carefully investigating the collision and documenting the harm you suffered to your neck following the crash.

Some of the evidence that could support your case includes:

• Copies of your medical records
• Statements from your healthcare providers
• Copies of your official diagnosis
• Copies of your prescription medications
• Copies of your ongoing medical treatment, including physical or occupational therapies and mental health counseling

Because neck injuries can cause excruciatingly painful symptoms, expert testimony from medical professionals and witness statements from your friends and family can show how significantly your injuries have affected your life.

Your family may be able to introduce evidence that shows how substantially your neck injuries have affected you emotionally and physically. At the same time, expert testimony can attest to the severity of the financial impact of your injuries.

Get Help from a Chicago Car Accident Attorney

A healthy neck and spine are imperative to maintaining optimal functionality and productivity. A neck injury could seriously impact your day-to-day life, so it’s essential not to take a potential problem lightly.

When you call attorney Jared Staver today, he can put you in touch with a doctor immediately. Our car accident attorneys serve clients throughout the Chicago area, including Aurora, Elgin, Hinsdale, Joliet, Naperville, and Waukegan.

Contact a dedicated lawyer today if your neck has been injured in a car accident. Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. is ready to fight for you. Call us today at (312) 236-2900.