How do I Know If My Neck Injury Is Serious?

To learn whether your neck injury is serious, you should consult a doctor immediately. Even if you think you can “tough it out,” doing so could put your health, well-being, and future in jeopardy.

Seeking medical care is particularly important after a traumatic accident, such as a slip and fall or motor vehicle accident, as symptoms may not present themselves right away.

Common Symptoms That May Indicate a Neck Injury

The neck serves as the beginning of the spinal column and contains about two dozen different vertebrae, as well as muscles, tendons, blood vessels, and nerves. Injury to this area can cause a wide range of health issues, including back and neck pain, headaches, and even paralysis.

Common symptoms of a neck injury include:

• Localized pain or stiffness in your neck
• Headaches
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness
• Back and shoulder pain

Symptoms of a severe neck injury may include:

• Inability to move or paralysis
• Decreased ability to move your head
• Loss of balance/vertigo
• Loss of bowel control
• Pain in the arm, shoulder, or chest area
• Muscle weakness

The neck is an incredibly delicate area, and symptoms may not present right away. You may not immediately know if your neck injury is serious. If you suffered a traumatic injury or car accident, seek medical care, and watch for symptoms such as pain and swelling for several days.

What to Do After You Suffer a Neck Injury (or a Suspected Neck Injury)

If you believe you or another person sustained a severe neck injury after an accident, try not to move if possible. Use rolled towels or pillows to keep the neck and back as stable as possible. In severe cases, moving a patient with a severe neck injury can result in paralysis or even death.

Call emergency personnel because you may not know if your neck injury is serious. They can evaluate the injury and stabilize the neck if required to prevent additional injury.

Mayo Clinic recommends seeking medical care right away if an injury has caused your neck pain symptoms. Pain that persists for several days, spreads down the arms and legs, or pain accompanied by headaches, numbness, tingling, or weakness may all be signs of a serious neck injury.

Compensation After a Neck Injury

Did you sustain a neck injury after a car accident, motorcycle accident, slip and fall, or work-related incident? You could recover the cost of medical bills, lost wages, and other damages you suffered. First, talk to a neck injury attorney about your situation. Offer all details of the incident and present the medical bills associated with your injury. If you have witnesses that can testify in your favor, let your attorney know their contact details. If you have a case, your lawyer will start the proceedings so at the end of it all, you get the settlement you deserve. Now, let’s explore the types of damages you can recover:

• Medical expenses. Your medical bills can include things like the ambulance, emergency room or trauma center, hospital, intensive care unit, surgery, doctors, physical therapy, and prescription drugs.
• Rehabilitation center. Many people have to spend time in a specialized treatment facility after experiencing a neck injury, particularly if they sustained spinal cord damage.
• Long-term care. If an individual developed paralysis from the neck injury, they might need daily assistance with medical treatment and personal care in a nursing home or assisted living center.
• Equipment. A person might need medical equipment to breathe, use a wheelchair, or need an adapted vehicle after a neck injury.
• Lost wages. After a significant neck injury, a person will likely miss time from work while recuperating. If they did not get their full, regular paychecks during that time, they have lost income.
• Lost future wages. A person who suffers a neck injury might not be able to make as much money as before because of lingering impairment. Loss of strength or function and chronic pain can limit an individual’s ability to work for a living.
• Pain and suffering. In addition to the payment of medical bills and other direct financial losses, a person who suffers a neck injury might be able to get compensation for their physical discomfort and mental distress. Compensation for pain and suffering reflects those hardships.
• Other intangible losses. People often experience other losses after a neck injury, like disfigurement from a tracheotomy and loss of enjoyment of life because of being unable to perform certain functions they used to enjoy.

Depending on the facts of your situation, you might have additional grounds for seeking compensation. A personal injury lawyer can assess your case and determine what constitutes a fair settlement amount.

If your close relative passed away from a neck injury, we can pursue additional compensation for the legal beneficiaries.

Time Is Limited to Take Legal Action for a Neck Injury

Florida limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit seeking compensation for your injuries. Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a) only gives you four years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Under Florida Statutes § 95.11(4)(d), the statute of limitations for a wrongful death case is only two years.

Negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurance company does not satisfy the statute of limitations. If your claim has not been settled before the deadline, you will have to file a lawsuit to protect your right to compensation.

Getting Legal Help for Your Neck Injury

We treat our clients with respect. You deserve a law firm that answers your questions and returns your phone calls and emails. We go the extra mile every day. You can devote your energy and attention to getting better because we take care of everything else. We can even help schedule your appointments.

Ready to explore your legal options? Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine for a free case review. There is no obligation.