A neck injury can be some of the most debilitating and painful injuries that a person can experience. In many cases, the extent of a neck injury is not apparent immediately after the accident that caused the damage. Sometimes the shock and influx of adrenaline hide the extent of the pain caused by the injury. In other cases, the scope of the damage becomes more apparent as the injured person tries to engage in day-to-day activities. There are several different types of neck injuries with varying levels of severity.
How Our Nashville Neck Injury Attorney Can Help
If you’ve suffered from a neck injury as a result of an accident, we are here to help. If another person’s negligent behavior caused your neck injury, you might be entitled to compensation under Tennessee law. Founding partner Brian Cummings is a skilled personal injury lawyer who fights for his clients’ rights to compensation. He focuses 100 percent of his legal practice on litigation. Whether you settle out of court or proceed to the courtroom for trial, he assertively fights for his clients to receive the highest possible compensation.
Common Neck Injury Causes
The neck is particularly vulnerable in accidents because it can quickly snap back and forth when exposed to force. The neck contains the thoracic spine, which are twelve vertebrae that hold the head upright and connect our head to the rest of our bodies. Accidents involving force often cause neck injuries, such as:
- Lifting heavy objects
- Repetitive activities that strain the neck
- Objects falling onto the neck
- High impact sports accidents, particularly in hockey and football
- Car accidents, particularly rear-impact collisions
- Slip and fall accidents
- Horseback riding injuries
- Truck accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Bicycle or motorcycle accidents
- Violent injuries resulting from a gunshot wound or stabbing incident
- Injuries resulting from a violent blow to the head or neck
Specific Types of Neck Injuries
The neck is made up of a complex web of bones, muscles, nerves, ligaments, and tendons. Our spine acts as the primary support for our entire skeletal system. Any injury to the spine, including the cervical spine in the neck, can cause severe complications throughout the rest of the body. Trauma to the cervical spine in the neck can decrease blood flow to the rest of the body and the brain, cause paralysis, and cause muscle-related sprain and pain.
Whiplash is a Common Neck Injury Caused by Motor Vehicle Accidents
Whiplash happens when someone’s head moves around violently. Often, the force involved in motor vehicle accidents will cause the head to whip back and forth. The quick, violent movement of the neck can cause many different types of neck injuries, such as:
- Tingling
- Dizziness
- Numbness
- Weakness in your neck and limbs
- Soft tissue damage
- Muscle damage
- Ligament and nerve damage
- Pain and stiffness
- Headaches
Fracture of the Neck
The flexion and extension of the head and neck that often occurs in motor vehicle accidents can often cause one of the vertebrae of the neck to fracture. A break or crack in one of the seven cervical vertebrae found in the neck can lead to severe consequences. A broken neck is critical because the neck area connects the brain and body via the central nervous system. A fracture to one or more of the vertebrae in the neck could result in nerve and spinal cord damage.
Spinal cord damage often leads to temporary or permanent paralysis of the body from the neck down. Broken or fractured necks can also take a significant time to heal. Even when the broken vertebrae heal, an injured person may still suffer from inflammation and nerve damage.
A person’s ability to earn a living could become negatively impacted by a neck fracture as well. Those with minor compression fractures typically wear a cervical neck brace for six to eight weeks to allow the bone to heal. More complex fractures could require surgical repair or spinal fusion. The recovery time for these injuries is significant and could result in lost wages.
Neck Injury Treatment Is Often Expensive and Time-Consuming
In many cases, treatment for whiplash is long and complicated. To diagnose neck injuries, many medical professionals use x-rays, computerized tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging tests (MRI). Doctors will examine the neck in the following ways to determine the extent of a neck injury:
- The range of motion in the neck and shoulders
- Whether the patient suffers from neck tenderness
- The degree of motion in the neck and any pain increase as a result of movement
- The strength of the neck muscles
- Any loss of reflexes, sensation, or strength of the neck
The type of treatment for a neck injury in Nashville depends on the severity of the damage. Doctors focus on pain management, restoring the injured neck to a normal range of motion, and getting people back to their day-to-day activities. In many cases, doctors recommend physical therapy that focuses on moving and stretching the neck to increase functionality. Physical therapists will recommend exercises that will strengthen your neck muscles and hopefully decrease neck pain. Unfortunately, many neck injuries are long-lasting, even with treatment. Sadly, some neck injuries are permanent.
Contact Our Nashville Neck Injury Attorney
Successful Nashville personal injury plaintiffs are entitled to several different forms of compensation, such as:
- Compensation for past and future medical bills
- Compensation for past and future lost wages
- Home health care costs and specialized medical equipment costs
- Damage for the physical neck injury as well as psychological injuries
- Pain and suffering resulting from the neck injury
If death resulted from a back or neck injury, family members of the deceased might be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Recovering financial compensation for the death of a loved one will ease the burden of medical and memorial expenses associated with the loss of their loved one.
If you’ve suffered from a neck injury, the skilled Nashville personal injury attorneys at Cummings Law are here to help. We will evaluate the facts of your case. If someone else’s negligent or intentional behavior caused your neck injury, we will fight for your right to compensation under Tennessee law. While you prioritize healing from your injury, we will focus on your legal case, giving you peace of mind as you recover. If you need an experienced Nashville trial lawyer, contact Cummings Law to set up your free consultation.
