(562) 698-6446
(562) 698-6446
When someone is involved in a California auto or truck accident, there is a general misconception that neck pain will follow.
The truth is, while there are common injuries associated with traffic collisions — even after seemingly mild fender benders — neck injuries are serious and can cause persistent, long-term pain that can diminish an injury victim’s quality of life.
At Hanning & Sacchetto, our Whittier auto accident attorneys want all accident injury victims to understand the overall effects of neck pain, and how it can signal a much more serious medical condition.
The Musculoskeletal Structure of the Neck Is Complex & Fragile
The musculoskeletal composition of the neck is anatomically complex and includes many working parts that can be easily affected by the impact of a traffic collision.
Since most auto accidents occur without warning, drivers and their passengers are typically caught off guard. When the impact occurs, their necks can take the brunt of the force, including twisting or whiplash motions that lead to serious muscle, disc, and tissue injuries.
- Cervical Vertebra
There are seven bones in the neck, called the cervical vertebra.
Cervical disc injuries often result from neck trauma caused by sudden impact that leads to severe whiplash or serious twisting during a traffic collision.
The neck’s cervical discs are designed to serve as shock absorbers that cushion the impact of a collision. When they are injured during the collision, the neck’s structure can be severely compromised.
Unfortunately, the resulting chronic pain may be permanent because discs do not heal or regenerate.
- Cervical Ligaments
Torn and stretched ligaments are often overlooked as injuries that will heal with time, leading accident injury victims to use hot or cold presses and over the counter pain relievers, which only mask the pain. As this does not address the root cause of discomfort, it is possible that these injuries will become worse over time. Accordingly, it is vital to seek proper medical care to fully assess and treat cervical ligament injures.
Seriously strained ligaments can result in permanent damage and lead to numbness and / or chronic pain that not only interferes with day-to-day activities and the ability to work but could result in an inability to return to normal following an accident.
What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Neck Injuries After a Car Accident?
All California auto accidents are unique and so are the injuries that result from the impact.
Neck injuries are complex and can at times be identified immediately following a traumatic injury or incident. Other times however, due to adrenaline symptoms can manifest hours or even days after the collision occurs.
The most common symptoms of serious neck injuries may include:
- Coordination problems;
- Dizziness;
- Feeling of heaviness in the head and neck area;
- Fever and chills;
- Nausea;
- Neck tenderness;
- Numbness in extremities;
- Sensitivity in the back of the skull;
- Shooting pain in extremities;
- Sudden, painful headaches; and
- Throbbing pain inside the neck.
Do Not Ignore Neck Pain After a California Car Accident
Auto accident injury victims commonly underestimate how serious their neck injuries are, which causes their conditions to become worse and can lead to a lifetime of chronic pain.
Tissue, ligaments, and vertebra damage in the neck requires immediate medical attention to identify the extent of the injuries and the proper approach to care.
Neck injuries can require long-term medical attention, ongoing appointments, and specialized care that is both expensive and time consuming, leaving auto accident injury victims unable to work.
If you have suffered a neck injury during an auto accident, contact our experienced personal injury attorneys Whittier at Hanning & Sacchetto, LLP today by calling (562)698-6446 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim and our approach to pursuing the financial recovery you deserve.
