Car accidents are a common cause of neck and back injuries. In fact, according to a report published in Transportation Safety and Environment, crashes are the primary cause of trauma-related neck injuries in the United States. This research reported that more than 80,000 collision-related neck injuries occur annually.
The forces experienced in the crash are what cause a neck injury in a car accident. The seat belt restrains the body while the head has little to stabilize it. As a result, it could whip back and forth, move forcefully side-to-side, or hit the window, steering wheel, or other hard surfaces. This can cause bone fractures or soft tissue injuries to the neck and upper back.
- Types of Neck Injuries Victims Can Suffer in Car Accidents
- Filing a Claim to Recover Compensation for Treatment of Your Neck Injury
- How Our Long Island Car Accident Lawyer Will Help You
- New York Law Has Strict Deadlines to Take Legal Action Against the At-Fault Driver
- Call Our Law Firm Today for a Free Consultation About Your Car Accident
Types of Neck Injuries Victims Can Suffer in Car Accidents
Many people experience neck and upper back pain and stiffness following a Long Island car accident. Other, more concerning symptoms could also occur. Many injuries to this area of the body lead to similar concerns despite having varied causes. This could include ligament and tendon strains, pulled muscles, fractured vertebrae, and more.
Some of the neck injuries that occur in car crashes include:
Whiplash and Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries of the neck, sometimes called whiplash, are the most common car accident neck injury. This comes from the head moving quickly back and forth beyond its normal range of motion in a collision. These are injuries to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues that support the neck and head.
Neck Fractures
It is possible to break your neck in a traffic accident. The neck’s vertebrae protect the spinal cord, so you could also experience a complete or incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Paralysis is a possible outcome of a neck fracture injury
Broken bones in other nearby parts of the body also feel like they affect the neck in some people. This could include facial, collarbone, and upper arm/shoulder fractures.
Painful Disc Problems
Many people develop disc injuries and ongoing, chronic pain following a car accident. A disc will slip, bulge, herniate, or rupture, causing back or neck pain, depending on where the injury occurs.
Other Musculoskeletal Injuries
Car accidents involve intense forces from unpredictable angles. Depending on the accident, speed of each vehicle, and other factors, almost any type or severity of back injury can occur. This could involve any or all the musculoskeletal structures of the cervical spine, including joints, vertebrae, discs, and soft tissues.
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Filing a Claim to Recover Compensation for Treatment of Your Neck Injury
If another driver caused your accident and neck injuries, you likely have a case against them. You have a right to file an insurance claim or lawsuit to seek damages based on your costs and losses.
You could recover the following types of damages:
- Medical treatment costs
- Follow-up and future care needs
- Lost wages and reduced earning ability for long-term injuries
- Related expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Other intangible damages
Wrongful Death Damages
In some cases, car accident injuries turn deadly. If you lost a loved one in a Long Island car crash, our team extends our condolences. We consider it a special privilege to fight for the compensation you need and the justice your departed loved one deserves.
Recovering compensation for a fatal neck injury requires that you prove the other driver was responsible and that you demonstrate your family’s losses. We will handle every detail of this. Doing so may include collecting and analyzing some or all of the following:
- Medical bills
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of future income
- Loss of services
- Non-economic losses
How Our Long Island Car Accident Lawyer Will Help You
If another driver caused your collision and neck injuries, a car accident attorney will manage your case and take the necessary steps to secure a financial recovery. They will:
- Identify liable parties
- Gather evidence
- Value your damages
- File your claim or lawsuit
- Represent you throughout this process
- Fighting relentlessly to win the best possible outcome for you
The experienced and dedicated personal injury lawyers of our firm offer complimentary consultations and represent clients based on contingency fees. Learn more about your case and rights for free.
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New York Law Has Strict Deadlines to Take Legal Action Against the At-Fault Driver
The deadlines for suing the at-fault motorist are set by New York law. In general, they include:
- New York Civil Practice Laws & Rules § 214 for personal injuries
- Estates, Powers & Trusts § 5-4.1 for wrongful deaths
However, there are other reasons for getting to work on these cases as soon as possible. It allows your attorney to build the strongest case possible for you. Some evidence does not last or may otherwise become unavailable, (e.g., surveillance and dashcam video, eyewitness accounts,) so it is very important to collect and analyze it quickly.
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Call Our Law Firm Today for a Free Consultation About Your Car Accident
Friedman & Simon, L.L.P., is here for you if you or a loved one suffered a neck injury in a car accident. Learn more about our recent results and discuss similar cases we handled with our team today. We will also answer your questions and assess the strength of your claim. Meet with us today on Long Island or elsewhere in the New York metropolitan area.
Call (516) 932-0400 for your free, confidential case consultation with our team.
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