Neck pain is a common complaint after many car accidents. Some motorists feel immediate, blinding pain, but others might go a day or two before stiffness and discomfort settle in. Accident victims should visit the hospital after any accident. Car accident neck pain might be a sign of any number of serious injuries, and prompt treatment is necessary to prevent your condition from worsening. Once finished at the hospital, contact Dennis & Winningham to speak with a Chattanooga car accident lawyer. Our firm can negotiate on your behalf with the motorist who is responsible for the accident.
Common Neck Injuries in Tennessee Car Accidents
If you experience neck pain following a car accident, you might be suffering from any of the following injuries:
- Whiplash. This is a common car accident injury and one of the primary reasons motorists experience neck pain. Rapid hyperextension and hyperflexion can tear the soft tissues in the neck, including muscles and ligaments. As a result, the motorist feels pain and stiffness, which slowly builds over the ensuing days. Whiplash can have secondary symptoms, including ringing in the ear and blurred vision.
Whiplash requires time to heal on its own. Medication can manage pain and sleeplessness, but there is no magic cure. A person might be sidelined for months with serious whiplash before they feel well enough to return to work.
- Herniated or bulging disc. The discs in between the vertebrae act as cushions, allowing people to bend their neck without pain. But violent accidents can damage the discs.
A disc becomes herniated when the inner filling pushes out through the shell, pinching nerves. This injury can lead to constant pain and numbness in your limbs.
A disc bulges out when it is pushed out of alignment. Likewise, it can press against nerve roots and lead to constant pain.
Any disc injury requires a thoughtful medical approach. Some patients only need conservative treatment to reduce swelling and manage pain. But others might require surgery.
- Vertebral fracture. The vertebrae in the neck are like any other bone; they can fracture if put under sustained stress. A vertebral fracture is especially dangerous, given the bones’ location to the spinal cord. Any bone fragment could lodge itself in the cord or slice into it, resulting in permanent bodily impairment.
A doctor might need to insert a screw or plate to keep bone pieces together and promote healing. Until then, a patient could be immobilized.
- Dislocated vertebrae. Severe accidents can shove one or more vertebrae out of alignment. The result is possibly life-threatening. A doctor will need to stabilize the spine and make sure the bones are aligned so that the spinal cord is not severely damaged.
In some cases, a doctor might “fuse” two or more vertebrae together to limit movement and increase stability. Surgery comes with many risks, including the risk of infection.
- Pinched nerves. A nerve might be pinched or compressed by other soft tissue, like torn ligaments or muscles. The key is to remove the compression to give the nerve time to heal. Otherwise, a nerve could suffer permanent injury and even die.
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis. In extreme cases, a motorist can suffer permanent injury to their spinal cord in a car wreck. Any damage can result in ongoing impairments, including sensory deprivation. If the spinal cord injury is “complete,” then a person is paralyzed from the neck down.
Car accident neck pain is usually a sign that something is wrong. If treated promptly, you can usually avoid damage to the spinal cord. This is one of the many reasons you should not overlook any pain in your neck.
The Legal and Financial Impacts of a Neck Injury
Neck injuries are not minor. In fact, they could severely impact a motorist’s finances, even if they receive prompt treatment. When the neck is injured, many motorists cannot work at all. Instead, they are confined to their homes and will lose months of income in the process.
Anyone hurt in a car accident should review whether they have a legal right to seek compensation. Contact an attorney. We can usually bring a claim if a negligent driver crashes into you. We can request full compensation for the cost of medical treatment, pain management, and more. We also request damages for pain and suffering, along with damage to your car and other property.
We always consider whether your own negligence contributed to an accident. If you fail to drive carefully, then Tennessee law can reduce your compensation.
Speak with a Chattanooga, TN Car Accident Lawyer Today
Tennessee law gives accident victims important rights, including a right to financial compensation from a negligent driver. Contact Dennis & Winningham to schedule a free consultation with an attorney at our office. We can walk you through the claims process while addressing your concerns. Our firm has decades of experience in personal injury law, with a focus on motor vehicle collisions.
Call at 423-719-7564 or submit your information online. We serve those in the 37411 zip code and nearby areas. Call to schedule a free, no-risk consultation with our office.
