Neck injuries are extremely painful and can make even the simplest daily routine nearly impossible. The actual cause of the neck injury could be something serious and require intensive treatment. Meanwhile, you could be left unable to work while significant medical bills start to pile up. The Chicago personal injury attorneys of Hale & Monico can help you claim monetary damages for your neck injury. We work closely with our clients until they get the compensation they deserve.
Common Neck Injuries
We often take for granted how important it is to have normal function of our necks. Simple activities like driving a car, bending down, and lifting objects could all be interrupted by a neck injury. If your job requires constant movement of your neck, an injury could make it impossible to work.
These are some of the most common neck injuries:
- Whiplash. This injury results from sudden, violent movement of the head. Whiplash causes damage to the soft tissues in your neck and can result in pain, stiffness, and headaches.
- Strains and sprains. Sports injuries often cause strains and sprains to the neck. The injury to the neck is sometimes so severe that even minimal activity may aggravate it.
- Herniated discs. The rubbery discs between your spinal bones may rupture and cause irritation to a nearby nerve. Herniated discs can therefore result in pain, numbness, or weakness.
- Spinal cord injuries. Similarly, a severe enough accident can disrupt the vertebral bones that protect your spinal cord. Spinal cord injuries are serious and may result in paralysis or even death.
- Pinched nerve. This is another sports-related injury that happens when the nerve is compressed. Sharp, shooting sensations in the neck and arms are common.
Accidents That May Result In a Neck Injury
Not all injuries, including neck injuries, are readily apparent. But a doctor can give you a thorough examination and recommend a course of treatment to ensure proper healing.
If you’ve been in any kind of accident, it’s critical that you seek immediate medical attention (and follow up doctor appointments if they are necessary). Some of the most common accidents that cause injury to the neck are:
- Automobile accidents (especially rear-end collisions)
- Large truck and bus accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Other premises liability accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Sports injuries
- Workplace accidents
Steps To Take After A Neck Injury in Chicago
It is strongly recommended that you don’t delay seeing a doctor, especially if you’re feeling pain in the neck. Waiting to see a doctor can make it harder to get compensation for your injuries. That’s because any delay makes it easier for an insurance company or personal injury defendant to claim that something else caused your injury. In law, this is known as an intervening cause. An intervening cause, or even the allegation of one, will make it more difficult to pinpoint the defendant’s negligence as the cause of your injury.
To the extent you can, take photos or videos of the accident scene – for example, the crash site. But don’t do so if it risks your health or will cause undue delay in getting medical attention. Also, if there were any witnesses to your accident, talk to them and try to get their contact information. You may need this later when it comes to holding the responsible party liable for your neck injury.
When you’re able to do so, retain a knowledgeable Chicago neck injury attorney. Your lawyer will take action in compiling and preserving the evidence related to your accident. An attorney is also critical in identifying possible defendants who can be ordered to compensate you. Sometimes, for instance, it’s not clear who the responsible property owner is. Our firm has extensive experience with neck injury claims and will make sure the responsible party is held accountable.
Long-Term Issues Involving Neck Injuries
Neck injuries can cause irreversible complications, such as total or partial paralysis. But even less serious neck injuries can result in long-term pain from which the victim may not fully recover.
As mentioned above, even simple activities like driving can be interrupted by a neck injury. If you have a job involving physical labor, you may have to wait until your neck heals before you can go back to work. These and other problems can make it difficult or impossible to earn a living and provide for yourself and your family.
Many neck injury victims will require future treatments, including surgery. These may be necessary to handle painful flare-ups from the original injury or address another condition. Additional treatments often mean significant out of pocket medical costs.
Why You Need Chicago Law Firm Hale & Monico
Because of the potential for long-term consequences arising from your neck injury, it can be difficult to assign an accurate value to your case. Medical bills, for instance, are not necessarily a one-and-done thing. You could need treatment long after the original injury, and those are expenses for which you should not be responsible.
Having an attorney is therefore critical to knowing how much your case is worth. That may require consultation with a medical professional or other expert witnesses who can help assign a monetary value to your injury. Determining a fair amount of compensation is essential. Once you settle a case or you are awarded a court judgment, you won’t get to ask for more money later.
Our attorneys also handle communications with the insurance company. The insurance company is not there to help you and will likely undervalue your claim to minimize their payout. But we hold defendants and their insurers responsible and won’t stop until you receive reasonable compensation for your neck injury.
Contact a Chicago Neck Injury Attorney Today
Neck injuries are disruptive and stressful, which is why you need a dedicated personal injury attorney in your corner. Trust the team at Hale & Monico. Call us today to schedule a consultation and discuss your legal rights.