Truck and car accidents often cause neck injuries, particularly when these vehicles strike from behind. While neck pain often comes from spending hours at the computer, a workbench, or sleeping in an uncomfortable position, some of the most common neck injuries occur from car accidents.
If that happens to you, a car accident lawyer can recover the compensation you need to pay for your medical costs and other damages.
Common Neck Injuries After Car Accidents
Neck injury victims often cannot prepare or protect themselves from a sudden car accident.
Some of the most common neck injuries resulting from car accidents include:
- Muscle spasms – the violent nature of a car crash causes victims to suffer strain around the neck vertebra. This injury can lead to the feeling of a crick in the neck; it is often difficult to treat and can cause a great deal of pain.
- Whiplash – in a rear-end collision, the impact shoves a person’s head forward and back violently. This sudden motion can often damage the ligaments at the base of the neck.
- Soft tissue damage – car accidents easily damage the muscles, tendons, and ligaments composing the neck area.
- Vocal cord damage – some victims suffer damage to their vocal cords in a car accident. This damage can be mild or lead to paralysis of the vocal cords.
- Nerve damage – neck injuries from a car accident can lead to problems involving mental or emotional health arising from injury to the nerves.
A car accident creates a high potential for a neck injury. Victims should always seek immediate medical attention following an accident to check for physical damage. In the days following an accident, you should report any neck pain to your physician.
Neck injuries risk a high potential for long-term pain and complications. Car accident victims should contact a car accident lawyer to determine how to protect themselves legally.
Insurance Claims and Neck Injuries
While broken bones, cuts and contusions, and other visible injuries are easily identifiable following a car or truck accident, neck injuries are not as readily visible. Many victims must seek treatment from an orthopedic doctor who understands neck pain. The right doctor can help identify the neck region causing the pain—neck pain often radiates, which can make it difficult to pinpoint the source.
When filing an insurance claim for injuries sustained in a car accident, you must present specific items, including:
- Proof of responsibility – along with a Texas crash report, you may need additional documentation showing responsibility for the accident causing your neck injury.
- Proof of injury – depending on the extent of the neck injury, victims may require physical therapy, surgery, or ongoing injections to control pain.
- Proof of losses – financial losses include lost time from work, medical bills, and any financial losses associated with the treatment of a neck injury.
Insurance companies require this documentation when filing a claim. You can provide proof of injury by submitting your medical records. The insurance company will review your records and attempt to prove your neck injury existed before the injury.
Protect yourself from insurance companies by hiring a car accident lawyer. Legal representation is essential for several reasons, but a primary reason is to prevent the insurer from insisting they are not financially responsible for your injury.
Living With Long-Term Neck Pain
The aftereffects of neck injuries can mean long-term pain, stiffness, and mobility issues. These effects can have a devastating impact on a victim’s life and overall physical and emotional well-being.
For some, neck injuries require physical therapy, pain medication, and other lifestyle changes. These changes may include specialized chairs and equipment to maintain stability and facilitate a return to everyday life.
Holding At-Fault Drivers Accountable
For victims of neck injuries caused by car accidents, the at-fault driver’s insurance company is financially responsible for your claim. However, the claims process following a neck injury is complicated because neck injuries are often invisible. Additionally, these injuries often require long-term treatment before you experience significant relief or improvement.
When you work closely with a lawyer, they will help you file your claim. Your medical expenses may continue long after the car accident, particularly if your neck injury is serious. You may require treatment for weeks or months following the accident. Your lawyer will usually not file a compensation claim until your medical condition improves.
You don’t need to suffer financially following an accident that was someone else’s fault. The at-fault driver should cover your overall losses, including wages, medical expenses, and any necessary tests or treatments. If your injury prevents you from returning to your original occupation, and you require rehabilitation therapy to retrain for another job, the at-fault driver should cover these expenses.
A car accident lawyer with experience working with insurance companies can prepare a demand for settlement once they know the extent of your losses. Do not be surprised if the insurer denies your claim or makes a significantly lower counteroffer. An attorney can help you if insurance companies do not offer you the compensation you deserve.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Immediately
If you suffered a neck injury in a roadway accident, contact an experienced lawyer as quickly as possible. Your focus needs to remain on your physical and mental recovery. When you consult a car accident lawyer, they can take the lead, ensuring that you get the highest possible settlement for your injury.
