Whiplash and Common Neck Injuries After a Car Accident

A neck injury after a car accident is any damage sustained to the neck area due to the impact or force experienced during the collision. Whiplash is the most common neck injury, but cervical strains, sprains, herniated discs, and cervical vertebrae fractures are also frequently seen. You should seek medical care after a car accident as soon as possible, even if your neck pain is mild.

Neck injuries after a car accident can range from mild soft tissue damage to more severe conditions affecting the cervical spine. Learn about what to expect, the common types of neck injuries, symptoms, and what you can do to get the help you need.

Whether you are dealing with whiplash, strains, or other neck injuries, our Orlando car accident attorneys at Michael T. Gibson, P.A., Auto Justice Attorney, have been helping people with neck injuries in Florida for over 20 years. We treat each and every one of our clients like family. And we take care of family.

How Car Accidents Cause Neck Injuries?

A neck injury in a car accident can result primarily through sudden, forceful movements of the head and neck. When a vehicle abruptly stops or changes direction, the head may jerk forward and backward rapidly, straining the muscles, ligaments, and soft tissues in the neck.

Another way someone may get a neck injury in a car accident is through direct impact or collision. For example, if the vehicle is struck from behind or from the side, the impact can directly jolt the neck, leading to injuries such as fractures, sprains, or strains in the cervical spine.

Types of Neck Injuries After a Car Accident

In the aftermath of a car accident, injuries can manifest even in seemingly minor collisions. Whether it’s a rear-end collision or a side impact, the location of the impact can lead to varying neck injuries.

The different types of neck injuries after a car accident include:

Cervical Misalignment Strain

The force of a collision can unsettle one or more vertebrae, causing them to slip out of their proper alignment or become dislocated. This resultant injury spans a spectrum from mild to severe. As vertebrae shift, they might compress nerves or the spinal cord, generating pain that radiates to the back of the head or shoulders.

Dislodged or Herniated Disc

Within the cervical spine lie intervertebral discs that possess a gel-like composition, serving as shock absorbers to safeguard the vertebrae. During an accident, these discs can experience slippage, rupturing, herniation, or bulging. Slippage may trigger compression of spinal cord nerves. Conversely, bulging or rupture transpires when the gel-like substance protrudes from the disc, crowding the adjacent vertebrae and compressing nerves. Disc-related injuries commonly induce neck or arm pain and potential numbness, both stemming from the injury itself and the pinching or compression of nerves. This type of injury is often observed in side-impact collisions.

Neck Sprain or Strain

Neck strains and sprains might exhibit akin symptoms, yet they differ in their nature. Strains inflict damage upon the facet joint, tendons, muscle-to-bone connections, or the muscles themselves. On the contrary, sprains involve torn ligaments, the supple connections between bones. Outcomes frequently involve pain upon head or upper neck movement, reduced mobility, and even muscle spasms.

Nerve Compression

Numerous neck injuries have the potential to culminate in a pinched nerve. Displaced tissues, bones, discs, or tendons can encroach upon surrounding nerves, leading to intense pain, tingling, and numbness. Pinched nerves often correlate with muscle strains, sprains, or disc damage.

Rigidity in Muscles and Tendons

Neck pain stemming from a vehicular accident commonly results in neck stiffness, colloquially referred to as a “crick in the neck.” The act of moving one’s head or maintaining a static neck position can be discomforting.

Common Car Accident Neck Injury Symptoms

Following a car accident, the symptoms of neck injuries can vary widely. It is imperative to seek immediate medical attention.

If you have a neck injury after a car accident, you may experience any of the following symptoms:

Shooting Neck Pain: 

Sudden, sharp pain shooting through your neck can indicate underlying issues that need immediate assessment.

Dull Neck Pain: 

Persistent, achy pain in your neck might signify hidden injuries that warrant professional examination.

Tingling Sensation in Neck

Experiencing a tingling or pins-and-needles sensation in your neck could point to nerve involvement that necessitates medical evaluation.

Pain during Head Movement: 

If pain emerges when you try to lift your head or turn your neck, it’s essential to have it examined to identify potential sources of injury.

Delayed Neck Pain: 

Sometimes, neck pain might not surface immediately after the accident. If you encounter neck pain hours or even days later, it’s advisable to have it checked out to ensure there’s no underlying damage.

Loss of Mobility or Limited Range of Motion: 

If you find your neck movement restricted or experience difficulty turning your head, it’s a sign that your neck might have suffered trauma that merits professional attention.

It is crucial to take your neck pain symptoms seriously. Your symptoms might indicate a significant injury that needs medical attention, and in some cases, surgery may be necessary. Seeking prompt medical evaluation can greatly contribute to your recovery and overall well-being.

Facet Joint Distress

Facet joints confer the ability to freely maneuver the head and neck region, while also stabilizing this area. After a collision, inflammation or irritation may befall these joints, engendering pain.

Fractures and Compression of the Neck

A fractured cervical spine, or a broken neck, constitutes a grave injury necessitating immediate medical intervention. A neck fracture entails the breaking or cracking of one or more of the seven neck bones. Such injuries can extend harm to the spinal cord nerves, potentially leading to spinal cord damage. Paralysis or fatality might ensue from a broken neck.

Incisions and Gashes

Debris generated by a vehicular accident might incise the neck area. Surface-level cuts might induce bruising and bleeding. Conversely, lacerations are deep gashes that may require sutures and can potentially impair neck tendons and ligaments.

Muscular Spasms:

Spasms are commonplace symptoms of neck injuries sustained in car accidents. Twinges might also manifest in the shoulders, back, and arms. Often, these cramps stem from tense or overextended muscles. Consequently, swelling and inflammation may arise, affecting nerves situated around the affected muscle. In an effort to safeguard injured muscles, the body contracts and immobilizes the area. Muscles might alternate between tightening and loosening in rapid succession, instigating significant discomfort. Given that inflammation requires time to develop, neck pain that arises belatedly following a car accident frequently involves spasms.

In some cases, neck pain stemming from a car accident might signify severe underlying damage. The best way to know if you are dealing with a serious neck injury is to have a doctor examine and assess your condition.

When it comes to neck injuries from car accidents, other alerting symptoms include:

• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Numbness throughout your back, chest, or legs
• Stiffness that locks your neck into one position
• Inability to move arms or legs

Experienced doctors and surgeons may run a range of tests, including:

• X-Rays: to help detect fractures and bone injuries, such as bone spurs that may be compressing the spinal cord or nerves in the neck, and contributing to neck pain.
• Computed tomography (CT) Scans: to create 3D images to help visualize the internal structures of your neck, such as soft tissues and nerves.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): to provide detailed images of even the smallest nerves and tissues in your neck.
• Elctromyography (EMG): to measure the electrical activity in your neck muscles and nerves.
• Blood Tests: to check for inflammation and infection that may be associated with neck injuries.

If a serious neck injury is identified, you will likely need to undergo physical therapy or surgery to help restore your range of motion and function. Depending upon the severity of the injury, costs for the needed treatments can be extensive.

IMPORTANT: Insurance companies are known to downplay neck injuries in order to reduce or deny claims. This money is necessary to cover the costs of medical treatment, physical therapy, and lost wages.

If you have sustained a neck injury in an auto collision, it is essential to contact an experienced car accident attorney to both protect your rights and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

Don’t Self-Diagnose Your Neck Injury After a Car Accident

It is important to note that neck injuries are not always immediately apparent following a collision. Even if you feel fine after an accident, it’s always advisable to see a doctor afterwards.

The full extent of a neck injury will not always be apparent in the moments following an accident. For instance, damage to soft tissues, such as ligaments and muscles, or damage to cervical discs might take days or weeks to manifest.

In short, it is best practice to refrain from all attempts at self-diagnosis after a car accident. An experienced healthcare professional should assess and diagnose any neck injury that you may have sustained.

The severity of a neck injury is determined by the type, location, and amount of damage sustained during an accident. Other factors such as age, health condition, and pre-existing conditions can also impact how long your neck pain will last.

Some neck pain from a car accident may not be immediate. When you experience an accident, your body may be in a state of “fight or flight” and overwhelmed with adrenaline, which may temporarily mask the pain.

If your neck pain gets worse or has not gone away after a few weeks, it is best to visit your doctor for a professional assessment. It may be an indication of underlying damage that needs to be addressed and treated promptly.

Neck Injury Treatment After an Accident

After suffering a neck injury in a motor vehicle accident, you will need plenty of time for recovery. The exact treatment you need will change based on the extent of your neck injury, and might include a combination of approaches. Some common treatments include:

Wearing a Neck Brace

When you hear about someone suffering from whiplash, you often picture them in a big white cervical brace. This is no longer the case. Doctors typically tell whiplash patients to let their injury heal without a brace. Yet, if you have suffered any other type of neck injury, you might have to wear a cervical brace for weeks or months to hold your neck in place, let it heal, and prevent you from experiencing additional pain.

Applying Heat and Cold

Alternating heat and cold is often used to help treat a neck injury. Heat alleviates tension in the muscles around the neck, which can help reduce pain. When swelling occurs because of a neck injury, a doctor might have you apply an ice pack to reduce swelling in the injured area. When neck injuries are severe, heating pads and ice packs won’t do much to help with potentially excruciating pain.

Pain Management

When motor vehicle accident victims suffer severe neck injuries, pain management is often a key part of their recovery. In the most extreme cases, pain management might be a lifelong pursuit. Doctors sometimes prescribe highly addictive prescription painkillers when over-the-counter remedies don’t help. Addiction is a common concern, so doctors might instead try other pain management solutions, such as cortisone shots or implanting a pain management device.

Physical Therapy

Returning your neck to normal function after an injury will likely include several visits to a physical therapist. Neck injuries cause stiffness and a loss in a person’s range of motion for head movement. Physical therapy can help victims rebuild their muscles in their neck to restore full range of motion. When a severe neck injury causes a victim to remain hospitalized and bed-ridden for a long time, physical therapy helps restore lost function to the level of recovery expected for a person’s long-term prognosis.

Chiropractic Care

After a severe traffic accident, you want to feel better. Some accident victims find relief of their neck pain by visiting a chiropractor for regular adjustments. Before visiting a chiropractor, talk with your attorney. Some insurance companies view chiropractic care as a form of alternative medicine, so they won’t cover the costs for visits. Your best bet might be to visit an M.D. and physical therapist instead.

Occupational Therapy

Those who suffer severe neck injuries and cervical spinal cord injuries likely have permanent damage that alters their ability to perform daily tasks in the same way they could before the accident and injury. An occupational therapist helps injured accident victims learn new ways to do things in light of their disability. Ultimately, occupational therapy goes beyond simple exercise and teaches victims how to cope with their injury and do as much for themselves as their body and injury will allow.

Mental Health Services

Some people don’t automatically think of visiting a psychologist or counselor after a severe traffic accident. Yet, severe accidents are traumatic events and a neck injury might permanently alter your life. Facing these changes can result in depression, anxiety, anger, frustration, and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Mental recovery from a severe accident is just as important as physical recovery, and psychological therapy can help accident victims work through any emotional distress or mental anguish they might be suffering from as a result of a severe neck injury.

If another party caused your neck injury, you shouldn’t have to suffer the financial impact of your injury on top of the physical and emotional pain you might experience. If you or a loved one suffered a neck injury in a car accident, a skilled auto accident attorney may help you through the claims process, advocate for your interests, and fight to get you the compensation you deserve, so you have the economic means to get the treatment you need.

Call Michael T. Gibson, P.A., Auto Justice Attorney, at (407) 422-4529 to discuss your neck injury claim and discover what compensation you deserve.

What should you do if you suffered a neck injury in a car accident?

Neck injuries after a car accident can occur due to the sudden and forceful movement of the head and neck. The most common cause is whiplash, where the head is abruptly jerked backward and forward, straining the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Always seek medical care immediately after a car accident.

When it comes to neck injuries, it’s important to err on the side of caution. Even if your symptoms are mild and you don’t think that they’re serious, it’s essential that you take care of them right away.

Below are the steps that you should take if you have a neck injury after a car accident:

Step 1. See Your Doctor As Soon As Possible

Always seek medical attention as soon as possible after a car accident, especially if you have any type of neck pain. Neck injuries can be serious and require medical intervention to heal properly.

Even if you don’t think that your neck injury is serious, it’s important to get a checkup as some symptoms may not be immediately apparent.

IMPORTANT: Some neck injuries may not seem severe at first, but they can cause long-term pain and disability if not treated. You do not want to take the risk and wait to seek medical help.

Step 2. Keep Track and Document Everything

Documenting your symptoms is essential if you plan to file a claim for compensation. Make sure that you keep all of your medical records, including doctor visits, medications prescribed, and treatments performed.

In the event that the accident was not your fault, you may be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit. When filing a claim, you will need evidence that the other party was at fault and that their negligence caused your neck injury. The more documentation that you have of your injury, the stronger your case will be.

Step 3. Call a Car Accident Lawyer

When it comes to car accidents and neck pain, you never fully know what you are up against. Medical bills can start to pile up quickly, and the insurance company may be reluctant to provide compensation.

Regardless of the situation, it’s highly recommended that you contact a car accident lawyer who specializes in neck injuries and auto accidents. Any reputable attorney should offer a free consultation to discuss the details of your case and answer any questions that you might have.

You can contact our office by either clicking this link or calling 407-422-4529.

Step 4. File a Personal Injury Claim

Once you have met with a car accident attorney and gathered the necessary evidence, they will work with you to file a personal injury claim.

In most cases, the other party’s insurance company will be liable for damages caused by their client’s negligence. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help ensure that you receive fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Compensation You Can Recover From Neck Injury after Car Accident in Florida

Damages are awarded in a lawsuit with the intention of making you “whole” again. Depending on your particular case, you may be entitled to receive compensation for:

• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Property loss and damage
• Emotional distress and trauma
• Punitive damages

The amount of compensation you are eligible to receive will depend upon the unique circumstances of your case.

How Insurance Companies Will Defend Neck Injury Claims in Florida

Insurance companies make billions of dollars in profit by taking more in premiums then then they pay out in claims. Thus, it is common to see big insurance companies defending car accident-related neck injury claims. There are a number of tactics used by the insurance company to defend these claims.

Delay a Claim

First, the insurance company will often delay a claim by asking the injury victim to produce records of their entire medical history, or asking them to sign a release allowing them to obtain all of their past medical records. The Insurance Company does this in attempt to look for a prior injury or condition that could have caused the injury other than the accident at issue. If they find a prior neck injury, they will usually vigorously argue that the accident is not the cause of the injury.

Challenge That the Neck Injury was a Previous Condition

Next, I have seen insurance carriers take the position that anyone over the age of ten has a natural degeneration occurring in their neck and spine. They will then hire a few select experts in the field of radiology to re-read and interpret the accident victim’s MRI scans. These experts are paid millions of dollars by insurance companies annually, and almost always, they will opine that a neck injury is pre-existing or not related to the accident.

Attempt to Pay a Lower Neck Injury Settlement Despite the Cost of Medical Bills

And lastly, even if the insurance company concedes the neck injury is accident-related, they will then argue that the victim could have obtained their treatment at a cheaper cost, and thus, they attempt to pay you less than the true cost of your medical bills.

Unmasking Insurance Strategies: Navigating Auto Accident Claims

At our firm, we have seen and dealt with all of these insurance company tactics. From presuit negotiations, all the way through trial, we have seen these methods used by insurance companies across the country, and we know how to fight back. We have cross examined and deposed most of the leading experts that testify for insurance companies, and often, we know what they are going to say before they say it.

Unfortunately, Florida law provides a great degree of latitude in denying and defending auto accident claims. It is therefore imperative that you hire a lawyer experienced with these tricks and tactics.

We recommend obtaining counsel early in these cases.

This helps in making sure the insurance companies do not overreach in their requests to you, and in making sure that all evidence in support of claim is presented in the proper manner.

You can contact our office by either clicking this link or calling 407-422-4529.

FAQs: Neck Injury After a Car Accident

Do you have a legal claim?

If you were injured in an accident that was caused by another’s negligence or reckless behavior, you have the right to pursue a legal claim.

It is important to act quickly. The further from the date of the accident, the more difficult it may be to prove your claim and receive compensation for damages.

Should you file a lawsuit following a neck injury in a car accident?

The decision to file a lawsuit is ultimately up to you. It is important to consider the potential costs and risks associated with filing a lawsuit before making this decision.

Speaking with an attorney is advisable before deciding whether or not to file a lawsuit. A good lawyer won’t push you to do something you’re not comfortable with. They will help you understand the risks involved, as well as the potential outcomes of pursuing a lawsuit.

When speaking with different lawyers, be sure to ask questions about the costs associated with filing a lawsuit, as well as their experience and success rate.

How do you file a neck injury claim after a car accident in Florida?

Technically, the law does not require you to have an attorney to file a neck injury claim after being involved in an accident. However, research from the Insurance Research Council indicates that victims represented by an experienced lawyer typically receive greater compensation than those who do not.

Insurance companies are a for-profit business, and they are often willing to settle a case for less than its actual value. When you hire a lawyer to handle your neck injury claim, you are evening the playing field.

A lawyer will have the resources and knowledge to accurately assess the value of your claim, build a persuasive case, negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, and protect your legal rights.

You can contact our office by either clicking this link or calling 407-422-4529.

Can you get compensation for soft tissue neck damage after a Florida car accident ?

You may receive compensation for soft tissue neck damage in a car accident. However, compensation can vary depending on factors such as the severity of the injury, medical expenses, lost wages, and the impact on your daily life.