When a personal injury accident, like a car accident, truck accident, work accident, or even just a slip and fall, results in a neck injury, the victims can be facing some of the most debilitating injuries that exist. The associated pain, loss of movement, and other effects that accompany neck injuries can linger for months or even years.

If you’re experiencing a neck injury from an accident, you’re probably already dealing with multiple health issues, monetary problems, and more. Luckily, you don’t have to face the future alone. Our team of experienced neck injury attorneys at our personal injury law firm, Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys, have helped neck injury victims across the state of Louisiana fight for their rights and just compensation.

Common Neck Injuries

Neck injuries can range in severity from a sprain to fractured spine. Common neck injuries include the following:

• Sprain or Strain: These injuries are slightly different. A sprain occurs when ligaments are torn, whereas a strain refers to a torn muscle or tendon. Either of these injuries can result from sudden jolt during physical activity or a car accident.
• Stiff Muscles and Tendons: If you’ve ever had a crick in your neck, you’ve experienced this neck injury. Stiffness in the muscles and tendons of the neck or back can be caused by awkward movements or by keeping the neck in the same position for a long time.
• Herniated Disc: When a spinal disc is torn and the soft, jelly-like interior leaks or bulges out, it’s called a herniated disc. These injuries are most commonly a result of wear and tear, but they can also be caused by a sudden injury like a fall.
• Pinched Nerve: When bone, tendons, or other tissue pushes against a nerve, you’ll experience pain. Pinched nerves can happen due to muscle sprains or strains, and a few other causes.
• Fractured Vertebrae: Similar to a fractured cervical spine injury, a fractured vertebra can cause loss of movement and sensation in the body below the fracture. These injuries are extremely serious and require immediate medical attention.
• Vertebrae Dislocation: When one vertebra slips out of alignment and rests on another, it can lead to pinched nerves and other debilitating pain.
• Whiplash: These neck injuries occur when the head suddenly moves backward and forward. The main symptom is pain in the neck and shoulders, which can range from mild to severe.

Symptoms of Neck Injuries

Neck and back injury symptoms can vary widely depending on the type and severity of your injury. However, common symptoms include

• Difficulty turning the head or back, and stiffness
• Headaches and pain
• Muscle spasms in the neck, shoulders, and back
• Weakness in the legs, arms, hands, or fingers

What Accidents Can Cause Neck Injuries?

Some of the more common causes of spinal injuries include traffic accidents, slips and falls, and offshore accidents, but there are many others. If you’ve experienced a neck or back injury—even if you’re not sure you have a case—call Gordon McKernan today to speak with a knowledgeable neck injury attorney in Louisiana about your legal options.

Traffic Accidents

The Mayo Clinic reports that nearly half of all neck injuries each year are caused by car accidents, truck accidents, and other motor vehicle crashes. Common injuries resulting from traffic crashes include whiplash, spinal fractures, spinal compressions, and more.

Slips and Falls

Slips and falls are another major cause of neck injuries, and back injuries too, especially in people over 65. Slipping on a wet floor, falling from a ladder, or being knocked down can all result in a spinal injury.

Offshore or Maritime Accidents

Offshore accidents can include falls as well as other water-related injuries. Because it can be difficult to judge distance and depth in water, neck and back injuries can be fairly common in maritime settings.

What to Do After a Neck Injury

If you’ve received a neck injury, it’s paramount that you get to a doctor as soon as possible to diagnose the extent of the damage and to receive treatment. If you think you or someone you love has injured their neck, call an ambulance. While you wait for paramedics to arrive, do the following:

• Don’t move the injured person. You could make their injury worse or paralyze them.
• Keep the person as still as possible to minimize the risk of further injury.
• Place heavy towels on both sides of the neck or hold the head still to prevent them from moving.
• Provide basic first aid, like stopping bleeding and making the victim as comfortable as possible without moving their head or neck.

A study conducted by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center found that the average spinal cord injury victim spends 11 days in the hospital and requires 35 days of rehabilitation. In addition, victims of neck injuries tend to experience greatly shortened lifespans after obtaining their injuries.

Experienced Neck Injury Attorneys in Louisiana

The treatments and other associated costs of a neck injury can be extremely high, and if you’re unable to work, you might be unsure how you’ll pay for them. Your insurance company isn’t concerned about your well-being, but their own profits—so don’t expect them to give you anything but the minimum.

To be properly compensated, you need to account for current and future medical bills, lost wages, and all the pain and suffering you’ve experienced. You need a dedicated advocate on your side as you fight for this compensation. Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys are those advocates.

We are neck injury lawyers who are absolutely dedicated to our clients’ well-being, and only want to see you heal. That’s why we offer the G Guarantee: until we win or settle your case, you won’t be charged a dime. Call us today for a free consultation at 888.501.7888.