Neck injuries are a common result of car accidents. When you suddenly stop after traveling at a high speed, your back and neck have to withstand the enormous change in momentum. All too often, this is more than your body can withstand, and you suffer long-term neck injuries as a result.
After sustaining a neck injury in an automobile accident, you will have to deal with a car insurance company to get compensation for that injury. The claims process can be frustrating and filled with red tape. But assuming your claim isn’t denied, eventually, the insurance company should make a settlement offer.
Unfortunately, car accident neck settlements tend to be much lower than they should be. If you find yourself on the receiving end of a lowball offer, you may think that if you don’t take it, you will get nothing. That isn’t true. You can hire an experienced car accident attorney to help you get the money you deserve.
If you have suffered a neck injury in a car accident, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Contact Morgan & Morgan immediately to schedule a free case evaluation and learn more about car accident neck settlements.
Identifying a Neck Injury
If you have just been in a car accident, there’s a chance you won’t even realize that you have a serious neck injury. While some neck injuries are obvious, others may take days, weeks, or months to become apparent. But just because a neck injury isn’t immediately obvious, that doesn’t mean it isn’t serious.
The most obvious sign of a neck injury is paralysis below the neck. This means you have likely suffered a catastrophic neck injury. If you have any paralysis, you should avoid moving and prevent others from moving you unless absolutely necessary. Paralysis will require immediate hospitalization.
The other obvious sign of a neck injury is severe neck pain. If you can feel pain and still move, once again, you should remain still. The wrong movement after a neck injury can aggravate the injury more, resulting in paralysis. In this case, you’re likely still looking at a long recovery in the hospital, possibly due to torn muscles or similar damage.
The tricky neck injuries are those that come with little to no pain. Immediately after a car accident, you will probably feel a rush of adrenaline, which can hide minor pain or minimize significant pain. The best option is to limit your movements until medical professionals have had a chance to give you a thorough examination.
Even if doctors don’t find any damage during an initial examination, you should probably return for a follow-up within a week. Often, after the immediate stress has resolved, your injury will become more apparent.
Signs of a Neck Injury
A doctor is the best person to identify whether you have a neck injury. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t look for signs as well. The following symptoms may be apparent immediately after an accident or later on:
- Numbness, usually in extremities like fingers, toes, hands, or feet
- The sound of grinding bones when you move your neck
- Tingling sensation, potentially anywhere in your body
- Cramps or spasms in your neck muscles
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Difficulty moving your neck
- Pain in or near your neck
- Bruising near your neck
- Severe headaches
If you identify any of these signs, you should get evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. Even if your symptoms don’t indicate a serious injury, they could result in long-term disability if not treated early.