If you have recently been involved in a vehicle accident, there is a good chance that you may experience pain in the neck area afterward. In some cases, neck pain may not show up until hours or even days after a collision occurs. Here, we want to discuss what neck pain after a car collision can mean as well as whether or not you need to seek medical treatment.
Did you know that car accidents are the primary cause of neck injuries across the country each year? Studies show that around 80,000 neck injuries are reported as a result of vehicle accidents each year in the US.
Unfortunately, car accident neck injuries can lead to significant pain and suffering for those involved. Not only will individuals have to undergo immediate medical treatment, but these types of injuries could lead to long-term pain and keep individuals from carrying out their day-to-day or work-related activities. In some cases, individuals sustain a permanent disability as a result of a car accident neck injury.
One reason why neck injuries are so common as a result of vehicle accidents is the fact that it is very hard to prevent these types of injuries, even though cars have become safer and safer over time. In fact, the neck is one of the least protected areas of the body when a vehicle accident occurs. We have to simply think about vehicle accident mechanics to see why this is the case.
When a collision occurs, whether we are talking about a rear-end collision, head-on collision, or side-impact collision, the head and neck are unrestrained when the collision occurs. While a crash is ongoing, the impact can lead to the head and neck being jerked back and forth or side to side rapidly. This type of rapid movement can lead to significant injuries to muscles, ligaments, joints, tendons, and nerves in the neck and spinal cord area.
It is not uncommon for car accident victims to not experience any neck pain in the immediate aftermath of a collision, often leading to these individuals thinking they are fine. However, that is not always the case. It is not uncommon for the symptoms of a neck injury to not appear until hours or even days after a crash occurs.
If you begin to experience neck pain after a vehicle accident, you need to get to the doctor immediately. This could be a sign that your nerves, ligaments, muscles, or tendons have been injured, and a doctor needs to perform various tests to examine the severity of these injuries. Getting to the doctor not only ensures your well-being but also establishes a link between the crash and any injuries you sustained to your neck. This is important because insurance carriers need to see this direct link, or they will be more likely to deny the claim or at least delay paying compensation.
Some of the most common symptoms of a neck injury that you need to be aware of include:
If you begin to experience any of these symptoms after a vehicle accident, it is time to get to the doctor. You need to report these injuries to your insurance carrier immediately.
Call us today to speak with an experienced Denver car accident lawyer.
