The Serious Nature of Neck Injuries

The Serious Nature of Neck Injuries A neck injury can lead to serious impairments, injuries and in some cases, death. This is because the neck contains part of the spinal cord,[^1] the bundle of nerves responsible for facilitating voluntary and involuntary signals from the brain to other parts of the body. This system is known as the nervous system. Injuries to the nervous system can result in paralysis, paresis, and other life-altering conditions. Neck injuries[^2] are not always spinal cord injuries, though. In many cases, an individual can suffer from a herniated disc in his or her neck, stiffness, soreness, and tearing of the muscles or ligaments in the neck. The neck has to be strong to support the head, which weighs 10 pounds on average. An individual can sustain a neck injury through a variety of accidents. If you have been involved in a car accident, a slip or fall, a bicycle or motorcycle accident, or any other situation where your neck has been injured, seek medical care for your injury as soon as possible to receive a diagnosis and begin appropriate treatment. Always be sure to do this before taking any other action for your neck injury – your health and safety should be your top concern at all times. Then, once you have received adequate medical care, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your case and whether you have grounds for a personal injury claim. If so, you could be entitled to receive monetary compensation for your economic damages caused by your injury.

What Kinds of Economic Damages Can I Recover?

Through a personal injury claim, you can potentially recover compensation for any expenses associated with your injury. For example:

• Your medical bills;
• Any disability aids you need following the injury, such as a cane or motorized scooter;
• Your lost wages and career opportunities as a result of having to take time off from work;
• Emotional and mental suffering after the accident, such as the cost of psychological counseling sessions or antidepressants.

You are not guaranteed to receive compensation for all of these damages. In fact, you are not guaranteed any settlement at all. Proving that you have suffered financially from your accident and that the accident was caused by another party's negligence or reckless behavior is your responsibility as a claimant. You can prove these by providing the insurance provider with as much evidence for your claim as possible. This evidence can include the following:

• Photographs of the accident;
• Documentation of your interaction with doctors and other medical staff, your diagnosis, and your treatment;
• Oral or written testimonies from witnesses who were present at the scene of the accident;
• The official police report, if one exists.

Examples of Neck Injuries

• Cervical dislocation. This happens when one or more bones in the neck are pushed out of their correct positions, causing spinal instability. A cervical dislocation can require surgery to correct.
• Whiplash is the type of injury that occurs when the neck is overextended. Generally, this type of injury happens when the victim is involved in a car or sports accident. Whiplash can create a sprain, a strain, or nerve damage.
• Herniated disc. When the soft disc between two vertebrae moves out of its correct position, it is known as a herniated disc. Herniated discs can cause intense pain or numbness. These can be treated with medication or physical therapy, but sometime require surgery to correct.
• When a bone in the neck is fractures, the victim can suffer from pain, numbness, and further injuries.

Work with a Florida Personal Injury attorney today

When you are suffering from a neck injury after an accident, it is important that you work with an experienced personal injury attorney to explore your options for filing and pursuing a personal injury claim. Contact Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA today at 727-222-6922 to schedule your initial legal consultation with one of the knowledgeable attorneys at our firm. Be sure to do this in a timely manner because, in Florida, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims[^3] is four years from the date of the accident. This means that once four years pass, you can no longer file a claim to seek monetary compensation. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA 1663 1st Ave S. St. Petersburg, FL 33712 (727) 472-3909 https://www.dolmanlaw.com/legal-services/back-neck-injury-attorneys/ References: ^{[1] Spinal Cord Injury [2]  5 Common Causes of Neck Pain [3]} https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0000-0099/0095/Sections/0095.11.html