Neck Injuries After Car Accident
Common Neck Injuries Following a Car Accident and How to Recognize Them
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. A car accident can be a traumatic experience. You may not realize how injured you are when such an event occurs. Many times people will have neck injuries. It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of such an injury, so you can get the proper care. You should especially monitor children as they may be injured and you may not realize it.
Four common neck injuries:
There are many injuries that can occur to discs, including herniated cervical discs, protruding cervical discs, bulging discs and ruptured discs. All of these are very serious and must receive quick treatment.
Spinal cord injuries are one of the most serious. These types of injuries can impact your ability to use the affected motor areas such as arms or legs.
- Soft tissue neck injuries.
A cervical sprain (also known as “whiplash”) is one of the more common injuries that can occur in a minor car accident. This happens when your head is jolted forward during an impact.
- Neck strains and sprains.
Other neck strains and sprains can occur due to a car accident. Ligaments in your neck may be stretched or even torn.
Symptoms of a neck injury:
– Pain or problems with movement.
If you experience pain or problems with your muscles after an accident, it’s important to seek medical attention. Whether the pain is concentrated within a muscle or a headache, these can both be indications that you sustained an injury. With neck injuries you can also have referred pain where you hurt in the shoulder but the medical issue is really in the neck. If you experience any numbness, limping, difficulty using a muscle or issues with balance, these can also be symptoms of a traumatic injury.
– Tiredness or trouble sleeping.
If you’re more tired than usual or have problems sleeping, you may be having repercussions from your auto accident.
– Nausea.
If you experience a feeling of being sick to your stomach, actually throwing up or problems remembering certain things, these can also be indications of a neck or head injury.
How injuries are diagnosed:
– See a doctor.
After a car accident if you experience any of the above symptoms, it’s important to get a medical opinion as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the worse things may get, depending on the severity of your injury.
– Get certain tests done.
When you go to see your doctor, different tests may be ordered to confirm your injury. These include x-rays, CT/Computerized Tomography scans, MRIs, EMGs, Myelography or SPECT.
Pediatric Neck Injuries
Many serious pediatric neck injuries, especially fractures, occur after sporting or recreational activities. The most common are diving injuries, but snowmobiling, parachuting, skydiving, and horse accidents are also common. These accidents seem to be more common in the winter with high numbers of fractures sustained in additional activities such as tobogganing, snow skiing, and ice hockey. Car accidents less commonly, but can also lead to serious neck injuries in kids. If your child has symptoms be sure to have them cleared by your doctor before returning to sports and other activities.
Even if the severity of your car accident may not seem a big deal at the time, it’s important to watch for any of the issues above for you and anyone else that was in the car with you, such as your child. You may still need to seek medical attention.
Sacramento Car Accident & Personal Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, and I’m a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. Have you, or a loved one, been injured in a car wreck? If so, please give me a call at (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly advice. Elsewhere, call toll free: (800) 404-5400. You may reach out to me now through my online contact page, and I will get back to promptly.
My practice is limited to personal injury and wrongful death cases.
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I am a California injury lawyer included in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Members in this group have obtained 1 million and multimillion dollar case settlements and/or verdicts on behalf of their clients.
Some of my Past Verdicts and Settlements are available here.
Image Attribution: [By Jmarchn] https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lateral_neck_X-ray_of_whiplash.jpg
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