Neck injuries are the most common injuries from auto accidents. Though an auto accident can affect your entire body, your neck is the most vulnerable. This is mostly due to the anatomy of the neck.
In fact, only the top seven vertebrae of the spin are part of the neck or cervical spine. These bones are small and thin. In addition, to bones, the neck has blood vessels, discs, and soft tissues like muscles, tendons, and nerves.
Consequently, thin bones and limited muscle support makes the neck susceptible to injury. Especially, from sudden movements.
Common Neck Injuries
If you injure your neck in a car accident you could feel the pain in other body parts. This could result from the part of the neck you injured in the accident. Here are the most common injuries to the neck:
- Muscle Spasms – Happen when muscles involuntary contract causing tightness and pain around the vertebrae.
- Lacerations or Abrasions – Also known as open wounds. These can cause infection, damage to tendons, or ligaments.
- Whiplash – Typically, occurs when the head is thrust back-and-forth suddenly.
- Soft Tissue Damage – Involves injuries to the muscles, tendons, or ligaments instead of the cervical spine.
- Vocal Cord Damage – An impact from a car accident could affect your larynx causing one or both of your vocal cords to not open properly.
- Brain Injuries – Caused when a neck injury damages the arteries. An injured artery could restrict the blood flow to your brain resulting in brain injury.
- Paresthesia – Is the pressure on the nerve from a slipped disc. As a result, it gives a prickling, burning, tingling, numb feeling (pins and needles feeling).
Consequently, it is possible to sustain more than one of these injuries in an auto accident. Therefore, it is important to have your injuries checked by a medical professional after an accident.
Long-Term Injury SYMPTOMS
Injuring your neck in a car accident is painful and can affect how you function in your daily life. However, left untreated the injury could escalate to a chronic health condition affecting your mental and emotional health. Here are some symptoms of long-term injuries to your neck.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONTACT A TAMPA AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
After a car accident, you may not know your rights. Don’t struggle through the process alone. Our personal injury team is here to help you with any legal needs you might have regarding your accident.
Let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. Get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.329.3491.
