I Have Neck Pain After My Car Accident

Individuals can experience a wide range of injuries as a result of a vehicle accident, regardless of the severity of the incident. In many cases, crash victims experience neck pain not only immediately after the accident, but sometimes in the days and weeks that follow the incident. Here, we want to discuss what you should do if you begin to experience neck pain after a car accident in North Carolina. You may be able to recover compensation, but it is crucial for you to take certain steps in these situations.

What Causes Neck Pain After a Car Accident?

Upper back and neck pain often does not become apparent right after a car accident occurs. In some cases, this type of pain appears in the days and weeks that follow the incident, which can make it challenging when it comes to medical care and recovering compensation.

One of the most common types of injuries that occurs in a vehicle accident is whiplash. This happens when the body experiences a sudden deceleration resulting from a collision, which can essentially whip the upper back and neck forwards and backward rapidly (hence the name whiplash). This type of motion can stretch the muscles, ligaments, joints, nerves, and vertebral discs.

Whiplash is really a range of types of injuries that can occur all at once in the neck area. Not only can this affect the soft tissues in that area of the body, but also the bones of the spinal column. Additionally, any type of injury to the area below the neck, such as the upper back or shoulders, can lead to neck pain. It is not uncommon for pain to radiate outward from the main area of the injury and lead to symptoms in other areas of the body.

The main symptoms of a neck injury after a car accident occurs include:

Inability to turn the neck or head from side to side
Extreme stiffness in the neck or upper back area
Throbbing pain
Headaches
Nausea and dizziness
Pain radiating throughout the body
Fatigue
Muscle spasms
Irritability or changes in mood
Difficulty falling asleep
Numbness or tingling in the arms and fingers
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Blurred vision

Can You Recover Compensation for These Injuries?

Yes, it is entirely possible to recover compensation if you experience neck pain after an accident that was caused by the negligent actions of another driver. First, remember to always seek medical care following a car accident, even if you do not feel much pain at first. By seeking medical care as soon as possible, you will be establishing a strong link between the accident and your injuries, something that the insurance carriers will look at.

We encourage you to contact an experienced North Carolina auto accident lawyer who has experience handling challenging claims. Your lawyer will investigate the crash and gather any evidence that can help prove liability. Importantly, an attorney will handle any communication with the insurance carriers. You may be able to recover a range of types of compensation for car accident neck pain, including:

Coverage of all medical bills related to the incident
Last income if you are unable to work
Property damage expenses
Loss of quality of life damages
Physical and emotional pain and suffering damages

Your Raleigh car accident lawyer will work with trusted medical and economic experts to adequately calculate the total amount of compensation you should receive from the other party.