The health of each of your body parts, especially your neck, is important to your quality of life. An injury to your neck can make it impossible to do your daily tasks or participate in the activities you once enjoyed. You deserve to be compensated for this disruption in your life.
Hiring an attorney and creating a legal team is the best way to begin your journey to collecting fair compensation for your accident. Do not hesitate to contact a personal injury lawyer if you or a loved one has suffered a neck injury in an accident.
Neck Injury Accident Statistics
Someone across the country suffers from a neck injury every day. Neck injuries can affect the entire body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the following facts reflect the prevalence and impact of neck injuries in a recent year:
- 36.5 percent of adults across the country have suffered some lower limb pain after a neck injury
- 39 percent of U.S. adults had back pain stemming from a neck injury
- 58.9 percent of U.S. adults experienced some kind of pain in their neck, back, upper limbs, or lower limbs
According to statistics published by the National Health Interview Survey, Americans have suffered from:
- 14.3 percent of adults have suffered some kind of neck pain or neck problems
- 54.5 percent of American adults have some sort of musculoskeletal pain disorder
- 28.1 percent of American adults suffer from some “other” kind of musculoskeletal problems
An attorney can help recover from the long-term effects of a neck injury or neck pain. If you have suffered an injury in an accident and now live with a neck injury, contact an attorney immediately to begin asserting your legal rights to compensation.
Are Neck Injuries Hard To Prove?
Neck injuries are some of the most common injuries after an accident. Winning a neck injury can be difficult because it can be challenging to demonstrate the harm that the victim suffered. Accident victims must prove that the accident caused them harm. Working with an attorney can be the best way to overcome neck injury victims’ challenges.
There are some reasons that neck injuries are hard to prove. For example, symptoms might be delayed for days or weeks after the accident. Delayed symptom onset can make it harder to convince insurance companies of the extent of your harm.
Having an attorney working on your behalf can help persuasively present your case to insurance adjusters and opposing parties to ensure your access to full and fair compensation.
How Can a Lawyer Help Me After a Neck Injury?
Having the experience and knowledge of a lawyer can help after an accident. An experienced neck injury lawyer can significantly increase your odds of recovering financially after an accident. Here are some practical ways a lawyer can help with your case.
Calculating Damages
An attorney can accurately assess the full range of damage. Some accident victims do not know the extent of their harm, or they downplay the effects of their injuries. It is essential to discuss all of your losses with an attorney to make sure that you do not leave any money on the table during settlement negotiations.
Litigation
Sometimes, settlement negotiations are not fruitful. Insurance companies want to save money, and they will offer you a lowball settlement to do that. Having an attorney means you will have an advocate who knows the common underhanded tactics used by insurance companies and will help navigate these issues.
Expert Testimony
An attorney can help access necessary evidence, including expert testimony. Depending on the complexity of your case, having an expert testify about the extent of your losses can increase your odds of receiving a full and fair settlement after a neck injury.
Also, neck injuries can be hard to prove. Having a qualified expert talk to a jury about your harm can make it clear that you have suffered significant damages and losses.
Filing Claims
Having an attorney at every step of financial compensation benefits a neck injury victim. You should consult an attorney before filing an insurance claim, even before contacting your insurance company. Legal representation protects you from falling victim to any underhanded tactics insurance adjusters use against accident victims.
Gathering Evidence
Gathering the evidence that you need to prove your claim is important to the success of your neck injury case. Some types of evidence can be more difficult to gather than others. An attorney will use their resources to ensure you can access all the relevant evidence to help prove your case.
Negotiating Settlements
The negotiation phase is an important part of your neck injury case. Insurance adjusters are uninterested in ensuring you get the fair compensation you deserve after an accident. An attorney can help avoid some common underhanded tactics used by insurance companies to avoid paying injury claims like the following:
- Encouraging quick settlements
- Using complicated policy language
- Using a recorded or written statement against you
- Questioning necessary medical treatment
- Disputing liability
- Lengthy investigations
- Claim denials
- Lowball settlement offers
- Delayed communication
These tactics are used to justify not paying you for your injuries. An attorney can help navigate the insurance claims process more effectively. Having an attorney can provide additional protection against these strategies.
Case Evaluation
Your neck injury accident attorney can help by assessing the details of your case to determine if you have a valid claim. Contact an attorney immediately if you have suffered a neck injury after an accident.
Understanding Your Legal Rights
It is important to know your legal rights after a neck injury. An attorney can explain your legal rights and options for seeking compensation for your injury.
Answering Your Pressing Questions
An attorney can answer your pressing legal questions after an accident. You will undoubtedly have many questions after an accident. Your attorney will help give you peace of mind after an accident. Asking your attorney for their opinions on your case can help build a better claim and outcome.
The aftermath of a neck injury is difficult enough to overcome. Pursuing compensation alone makes things more complicated. There is no reason to seek financial recovery alone after an accident. Having a personal injury lawyer can greatly increase your chances of obtaining the monetary award you deserve and provide peace of mind in a challenging time.
Unique Challenges That Neck Injury Victims Face?
There are some unique challenges that neck injury victims face. Neck injury cases can present specific issues, including:
Long-Term Implications
Neck injury victims might face long-term implications. After a neck injury, you might face chronic pain or long-term disability from your injuries. These consequences can impact your life for the rest of it. Proving future damages in a legal context can be complex.
Insurance Disputes
There might be significant insurance disputes after a neck injury. Insurers might be skeptical of claims related to neck injuries. Insurance companies might give you difficulty collecting your claim, especially if there is insufficient documentation or evidence linking the injury to the accident.
Treatment Variability
Treatment needs might vary depending on the accident victim. Different medical professionals may recommend varying treatment plans, which can affect recovery timelines and outcomes.
Pre-existing Conditions
Insurance companies will comb through your medical records, looking for evidence of pre-existing medical conditions. If you have a history of neck issues preceding the accident, it can be hard to prove that the current injury was caused by the accident rather than prior conditions.
Mixed Injuries
Neck injuries often occur alongside other injuries, complicating treatment and rehabilitation and making it harder to isolate the neck injury for legal claims.
Subjective Pain Assessment
The perception of ‘how painful an injury is’ is highly personal. Subjective pain can make it challenging to quantify injuries objectively for legal and insurance purposes.
Delayed Symptoms
Some injuries, like whiplash or soft tissue damage, for example, might not fully present themselves immediately after the accident. It can complicate legal cases, as the connection to the accident might be questioned.
Complexity of Diagnosis
Properly diagnosing a neck injury can quickly get complex. Symptoms can be vague or vary widely, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact nature and extent of the injury.
Every neck accident case is unique and will present its challenges. An experienced neck injury attorney will help you get what you deserve after a neck injury.
Common Types of Neck Injuries
There are many types of neck injuries. These injuries vary in severity and can take more or less time to heal, depending on their particularities. Here are some common types of neck injuries:
- Fractured vertebrae
- Pinched nerve
- Cervical spondylosis
- Tendonitis
- Cervical strains and sprains
- Herniated discs
- Cervical fractures
- Whiplash
No matter what type of neck injury you have suffered, an experienced accident attorney can help you recover the fair compensation you deserve.
Common Causes of Neck Injuries
A neck injury can happen for any reason after getting into an accident. Here are some of the common reasons that neck injuries happen:
Lack of Brace
Motorcyclists should brace for impact before the accident to avoid injuries. They might face a more significant risk of neck injury, especially if not wearing helmets.
High-Speed Collisions
A high-speed collision can cause severe neck injury. The force of the impact can significantly increase the likelihood of severe neck injury.
Improper Seating Positions
If the driver or passengers are not sitting properly, they may be more vulnerable to neck injuries during the impact of a traffic accident.
Poor Head Restraint
Seatbelts and headrests stabilized the heads and necks of drivers and passengers. Drivers and passengers must sit in proper seating positions to avoid serious neck injuries.
Direct Impact Collisions
A direct blow to the neck from a collision can lead to dislocations, soft tissue injuries, or fractures. Each of these conditions can lead to a major decrease in the victim’s quality of life.
Sudden Movements
A sudden jerk forward or backward during a traffic crash can cause severe neck injury. Sudden movements during a crash typically cause the victim to suffer from whiplash.
Repetitive Strain
Frequent movements or maintaining the same posture for long periods can lead to overuse injuries. Overuse injuries can be common in workplace accidents.
Age-Related Changes and Abuse or Neglect
Neck injuries can happen in cases of nursing home abuse. Without proper care, degenerative conditions, such as arthritis, can weaken the structures of the neck over time.
Regardless of the cause of the accident, an attorney can help you recover if the defendant was negligent. Do not hesitate to contact an attorney experienced in getting neck accident victims the financial recovery they deserve.
How Long Do I Have To Sue After a Neck Injury?
Time is of the essence after a neck injury. Injured plaintiffs are not allowed unlimited time to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the defendant. The statute of limitations limits the time to sue for damages.
The statute of limitations is a deadline to file a suit set by state law. Failure to comply with the applicable statute of limitations can result in dismissal of your claim. An attorney can help comply with all applicable procedural rules, including the statute of limitations.
Contact a Neck Injury Accident Attorney Today
Do not hesitate to contact a neck injury lawyer if you have suffered an injury in an accident. You deserve legal representation that meets your needs and protects your interests after an accident. An attorney can help bring wrongdoers to justice and help get their life back on track.
Furthermore, a neck injury accident attorney understands the impact that such an injury can have on your life. They will work to ensure that you receive proper medical treatment and rehabilitation so that you can recover physically and mentally. They will also provide you with support during this difficult time, advocating for your rights every step of the way.
Don't wait any longer. Call an experienced personal injury attorney today to explore your legal options and secure the compensation you deserve after a neck injury.
James Wayne Holliday
James Wayne Holliday has been practicing law since 1995. He has been named as a “Best Attorney” Lifetime Charter Member in Florida, an honor awarded to less than one percent of the nation’s lawyers.
Mr. Holliday has earned a reputation as a relentless trial lawyer because of his outstanding work ethic and thorough preparation of his cases for trial.
Author's Bio
