Neck and back injuries are probably the most common type of injury one can suffer in a car accident. Neck injuries can range from mild severities such as whiplash or neck strain to a more serious injury such as disk injury, cervical radiculopathy, or ligament instability.

Whiplash has a bad conetation and has been viewed as made up by many people. As a personal injury attorney, I’ve seen the deliberating effects of this injury. Whiplash is an injury to the neck which is caused by a sudden and abrupt jerking motion of the head. It is the result of forward motion and backward motion. The symptoms of whiplash are:

-Neck pain

-Stiffness

-Headaches

-Shoulder pain

-Pain between the shoulder blades

-Numbness in the arm

-Blurred vision

-Sleep disturbances

There are many other symptoms that could indicate whiplash and it needs to be noted that sometimes the symptoms may not be present for 24 hours or even longer.

Disc problems arise when there is a rupturing of the tissue that separates the vertebral bones of the spinal column. This can be caused by the trauma of a car accident. Symptoms can be but are not limited to:

-Aching and stiffness along your spine

-Sharp pains in the neck

-Chronic pains in the middle or lower back after periods of sitting or standing

-Back pain from the lower back that radiates as far as the toes

-Inability to stand straight without having lower back spasms

As with all accidents it’s imperative to get checked out by a medical professional. Immediate medical attention is vital to the recovery from any neck injury. This is why I suggest that anyone who has been in a car accident be examined by a doctor within 24 hours. This way you can make sure you are not hurt, and if you are, get on the road to recovery.

 

Mike Schafer is an accident attorney in Louisville, Kentucky. For additional information go to mikeschaferlaw.com

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