Florida Neck Injury Lawyer

The most common form of neck injury suffered in a car accident is known as “whiplash.” It occurs when a person’s head is suddenly stretched backward and is then snapped forward. The motion is similar to the movement of a cracking whip. The victim’s neck muscles and ligaments are pushed beyond their normal range of motion, the Mayo Clinic explains. Whiplash neck injuries are almost synonymous with rear-end-collision car accidents.

If you have suffered a neck injury in a car accident, a fall or another type of accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses and your pain and suffering. Florida neck injury lawyer Philip DeBerard helps victims injured in slip-and-fall accidents, car crashes and other accidents across South Florida and the Treasure Coast, including in Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Fort Pierce, Jupiter, Palm Beach and Vero Beach.

For a free consultation, call Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, today at our toll-free number or use our online contact form. We can provide a free initial consultation about your case.

Car Crashes and Neck Injury

Because the neck is so flexible and supports the head, it is extremely vulnerable to injury, says the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Motor vehicle accidents, diving accidents, contact sports and falls can cause neck injuries.

The most common neck injuries involve damage to muscles and ligaments (soft tissues). Severe neck injuries that include fracture or dislocation of the neck may damage the spinal cord and cause paralysis, the AAOS says.

Rear-end car collisions are especially known to cause neck injuries. A 2019 journal article in Transportation Safety and Environment noted that 90 percent of rear-end crash injuries in the US are those to the neck.

The AAOS explains that the sudden impact of a rear-end car crash can cause “hyperextension,” a backward motion of the neck beyond normal limits, or “hyperflexion,” a forward motion of the neck beyond normal limits. This jerking back-and-forth motion causes whiplash, an injury to neck muscles, neck ligaments and spinal discs.

The CDC adds that older adults need longer recovery times compared to younger car occupants in rear-end collisions. Female car occupants also experience higher neck injury risk and longer recovery times.

While a whiplash neck injury usually happens in a car wreck, any sharp, jerking action applied to the neck and head – such as in contact sports or from being punched or shaken – can result in whiplash. Child abuse symptoms known as “shaken baby syndrome,” include whiplash neck injuries, the PubMed Health website says. Roller coasters and other amusement park rides that shake or jerk the rider can cause neck injuries.

Other causes of neck pain include:

• Muscle strain
• Worn joints
• Nerve compression (i.e., herniated disks)
• Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, meningitis or cancer.

Less common causes of neck pain include tumors, infections or congenital abnormalities of the vertebrae, the AAOS says.

The severity of neck injuries varies. Mild neck trauma can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications and is likely to clear up in a few weeks. Most whiplash injuries clear up in two or three months, the Mayo Clinic says.

But severe whiplash may cause pain that lasts several months to a couple of years and can cause problems with memory, concentration and sleep. Some whiplash patients’ neck pain persists despite prescription pain relievers, muscle relaxers or stronger medication, like lidocaine (Xylocaine) injections. Severe neck injuries are often treated with physical therapy and/or wearing cervical collars or using other assistive devices during recovery.

Contact a Florida Neck Injury Lawyer Today  

A Florida neck injury victim who was hurt in a car accident, fall or another incident that was not their fault has a right to seek compensation for their injuries and other losses. Personal injury lawsuits can be successful in Florida if the injured party shows that a property owner had an obligation for the injured person’s safety or a car driver acted with negligence or recklessness.

Since 1975, Florida neck injury lawyer Philip DeBerard has investigated the circumstances of thousands of rear-end car accidents, slip-and-fall accidents and similar incidents on behalf of clients in South Florida and the Treasure Coast. Our firm knows how to determine what happened in an accident that caused serious injury, and we know what should happen next to promote the best interests of our clients.

If you or a loved one has suffered a neck injury, such as whiplash in a rear-end car collision, you may have a right to compensation for your injuries and losses. To learn more, call Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, today at our toll-free at number or fill out our online contact form. We assist clients in locations throughout the state of Florida and have offices in Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Okeechobee, Palm Beach Gardens and West Palm Beach. Every case starts with a free consultation.