Can I File a Claim If I Sustained a Neck Injury Due to the Negligence of Another?

Neck injuries are some of the most common injuries that people incur in preventable accidents. They can happen within the blink of an eye – with any sudden movement that causes a sharp, abrupt change in direction of your neck. Whether your neck injury was caused by a negligent driver in a car accident, or someone’s lack of care during work hours, it is important to contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Rutter Mills to assist you in filing a lawsuit to claim damages after your neck injury. For everything you must know about filing a claim when a negligent party has inflicted harm upon you, see the guide below. 

Kinds of Neck Injuries You May Experience in an Accident

Whether you find yourself in a car crash, a work mishap, or anything in between, there are a myriad of neck injuries that you may be subject to. It’s important to know that these wounds are not exclusively to sprains or tweaked nerves. At times, they can become quite severe. Still, they all require merit a visit to the doctor as soon as possible. The types of neck injuries you might suffer from as the result of an accident include:

• Ruptured or torn discs, specifically in the cervical vertebrae. 
• Herniated discs. In these cases, the spinal cord or adjacent nerves can be severed, possibly leading to irreversible damages. 
• Muscle strains and sprains. In addition to possible nerve damages, your ligaments and muscle tissue can be overextended, leaving your with a stiff neck. These effects may stretch throughout your shoulders, upper back, and arms. 
• Cervical fracture or dislocation. These are extremely serious and require immediate medical attention. These are further examples of neck injuries that can result in permanent or extended paralysis. In worst-case scenarios, your life may be on the line. 

Each of these neck injuries serves as the foundation of a legitimate personal injury claim. It is best that you exercise your right to such legal action, especially if someone else was responsible for causing them. You should not be expected to cover the costs of your medical treatment, since these injuries were not the consequence of your own actions, but someone else’s. 

Filings a Claim for Your Neck Injury

The very first thing you must do after the incident is seek medical attention. You may not be able to discern the full extent of your wounds at the scene, so it is best that you rely on a licensed physician to provide this insight. Their documentation of your physical condition is essential to building your case. 

The average settlement amount for a neck injury can fall anywhere between $5,000 to $50,000 – far exceeding that in the case of paralysis. It’s tough to secure such figures on your own, so you must contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Along with the records you attain from your doctor, your lawyer’s investigation into the incident will ensure that you can secure the funds to cover:

• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages

You must take action as soon as you are injured, to avoid expiring the statute of limitations and enhance your lawsuit’s probability of success. If your neck has recently been injured in an accident, get in touch with a lawyer right away.