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Neck Injuries Are Common After Car Accidents: Learn What to Do if You Suffer from One

The unfortunate truth is that people too often think of neck injuries as minor. You may have heard of whiplash injuries described as less serious than other injuries but the truth is that they can be very serious. Think about it this way: Your neck is one of the most vital parts of the body and it is also one of the most vulnerable. There are arteries, nerves, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones. The spine runs right through the neck and goes directly to the brain at the top of the neck.

The fact of the matter is that a neck injury can affect the entire body. It can impact a person’s range of motion, quality of life, and a person’s ability to make a living. It can cause lifelong pain. If you have been injured in an accident and have suffered any type of neck injury, from whiplash to a spinal cord injury, we encourage you to contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker to find out what your legal options are. Call us at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.

Some of the most common neck injuries

First, let us discuss some of the most common types of neck injuries. The most common are whiplash, herniated disc, neck sprain, and a pinched nerve. These can all be extremely painful and can have lasting effects. The more severe neck injuries that can last for a lifetime include a broken neck, paralysis, damage to the spinal cord, limb impairment, vision loss, stroke, hearing loss, arterial dissection, or Horner’s syndrome.

Look out for these symptoms of a neck injury

It can be hard to spot a neck injury because they often come on gradually. It can also be easy to notice symptoms but to believe that the injury is minor when it is in fact a serious injury. Some of the most common symptoms of a neck injury that should send you running for medical attention include pain in the neck, a reduced range of motion in the arms, neck, or shoulders, pain in the upper part of the body such as the shoulders, lower head, arms, hands, or upper back, headache, a sudden weakness in the arms or hand, and muscle spasms in the neck.

If you have any of the following symptoms then you may have a serious medical emergency on your hands:

  • A sudden tingling and / or weakness on one side of the body
  • Eyelids or facial features that are drooping
  • One pupil that’s a different size than the other
  • Difficulty moving arms, hands, or legs
  • Slurred speech
  • A sudden severe headache
  • Blurry vision
  • Extreme and sudden pin in the neck or near it
  • A feeling of doom

These are some of the signs of stroke or heart attack, which can be caused by a neck injury. If you experience them then we recommend contacting a medical professional immediately.