Elk Grove Accident Results in Neck Injury
A neck injury was reported after an accident on Interstate 5 near the Elk Grove Boulevard offramp on October 10. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), a collision between a Hyundai Genesis and a Nissan Sentra occurred at approximately 6:21 p.m. Authorities said that the person who reported the accident was at the scene and trying to help the injured party. The Sacramento Fire Department emergency responders were called to the crash site to evaluate a person with a neck injury. It is unclear how the accident happened or whether drugs or alcohol were involved.
Neck Injury in a Car Accident
Neck injury after a car accident ranges from soft tissue injury to disk herniation and vertebral fracture to spinal cord damage. While the severity of the crash is often used as a marker for the seriousness of the neck injury, there are times that even a fender bender can result in life-altering effects. Let’s look at some of the common injuries, their consequences and how they are treated:
- Soft tissue injury: One of the most common types of neck injury involves strain and sprain to the soft tissues of the cervical area. This is often, but not always, the result of a rear-end collision. When a person’s vehicle is hit from behind, their neck and head will usually whip forcefully back and forth. This movement can cause serious damage to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the neck. Many symptoms of whiplash do not appear right away. It may take up to 72 hours or longer. Some common symptoms are neck pain and stiffness, headache, tenderness in the upper back and shoulders, numbness in the upper extremities and fatigue. The important thing to remember is that cervical strain and sprain is not always a minor injury, so seeing a medical professional makes sense. He or she will evaluate your injury, tell you what to watch for in the days ahead, and document the trauma. Treatment usually involves analgesics, ice packs and physical therapy. Relief can occur within a month, but some individuals will have symptoms for months or years.
- Fractured vertebra: Trauma can cause the vertebrae to fracture. There are different types of fractures, and the more serious ones can cause persistent and significant problems. Severe injuries can lead to an unstable spinal column and even cord damage. Immediate evaluation and treatment is necessary.
- Disk herniation: Herniation occurs when the soft cushion or disk between the vertebra shifts and irritates a nerve exiting the spinal cord at the level of the injury. Symptoms of a herniated disk in the neck include sharp or burning pain in the shoulder and arm, numbness and tingling in the arm and hand and muscle weakening in areas innervated by the nerve. Sometimes, the individual will be symptom-free. It is important to alert your medical provider if symptoms are worsening. Conservative treatment such as analgesics, cortisone injections and muscle relaxants may be prescribed. Physical therapy may also help. In some cases, surgery is required if symptoms do not improve within six weeks. This usually consists of removing the part of the disk that is protruding. If the entire disk needs to be removed, a bone graft may be necessary. While bone fusion takes place, stability is enhanced by using a metal plate.
Liability for a Neck Injury
If negligence caused the accident to happen, the at-fault driver is obligated to pay for damages. However, it is up to the injured party to prove that negligence occurred. The insurance company will use its resources to show that their client is without fault. That is why it is important to have an experienced injury lawyer on your side. Many times, when the insurer knows that their client was negligent, they will try to settle as quickly as possible. Since some symptoms are not immediately apparent and an injured person is hoping to settle the case as soon as possible, they often agree to an amount that is too low. Your attorney will not only prove that the driver was negligent, but he or she will also work to obtain the compensation you deserve.
What an Attorney Can Do to Help
At our firm, we dispatch our investigative team to the accident site as soon as possible before evidence is lost or covered up. They scour the area for proof that the other driver was at fault by interviewing witnesses, obtaining video footage of the accident and reviewing the police report for mistakes. We also do an accident reconstruction to see exactly how the crash occurred. Once the information is gathered, we turn it over to our legal team. They will use this data to build a strong case for our client.
Elk Grove Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, an Elk Grove car accident lawyer. After an accident, you need to protect your rights. Call me at (916) 694-0002 or at (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. You can also reach out to me online.
I’ve helped many clients obtain the compensation they deserve in all types of car accidents, brain trauma cases, pedestrian injuries, and wrongful deaths.
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To learn about my practice, please visit the following pages:
Photo Attribution: Depositphotos_11998469_l-2015
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