Neck Injuries From Car Accident – Car Accident Attorney in Detroit & Southfield Michigan

Car accidents, even minor ones, can cause tremendous harm, and neck injuries are common. The force of an impact, even at slow speeds, can suddenly jolt a driver’s or passenger’s neck and cause it to snap in one or more directions. The neck is particularly vulnerable because it lacks the muscle support that other parts of the body have.

If you or a loved one has suffered neck injuries in a car accident in the Detroit area, you could be entitled to compensation for your losses. The car accident attorneys at Sommers Schwartz will help you pursue your legal options.

Common Types of Neck Injuries

Whiplash — The most frequent neck injury, whiplash occurs when the neck is suddenly snapped in a back-and-forth motion, damaging surrounding bones, ligaments, muscles, and nerves. Whiplash can cause stiffness of the neck and pain that worsens with movement. Headaches that start from the base of the skull are common, as is numbness, tingling, or pain in the arms, shoulders, and upper back. Injuries that appear to be whiplash can actually turn out to be herniated discs.

Strains and Sprains — In a car crash, the soft tissues of the neck can be sprained or strained. This can cause pain, stiffness, muscle spasms, and limited mobility.

Herniated Discs — Sandwiched between each of the cervical vertebrae is a soft, spongy disc that provides cushioning. These discs are prone to shifting when subjected to a sudden impact, which can compress nerves, cause pain, and produce neurological symptoms such as weakness, numbness, tingling, a pins-and-needles sensation, or loss of feeling in one or both arms.

Pinched Nerves — When a herniated disc or another injury pinches a nerve following a motor vehicle accident, there can be intense pain, weakness, or numbness in the neck, shoulders, or arms.

Neck injuries can affect every part of life after an accident. Depending on the type and severity of the injury, immobilization of the neck may be required, as well as prescription pain medications, injections, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and other treatment. Despite medical care, the daily pain caused by an injured neck can be debilitating.

The Car Accident Attorneys at Sommers Schwartz Can Help

When you or a loved one suffers a neck injury in a car accident, you can count on the attorneys at Sommers Schwartz to help you investigate the cause. If another person’s negligence is to blame and your injury meets the statutory threshold of “death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement,” you may be entitled to compensation.

Damages in motor vehicle lawsuits can include compensation for pain and suffering, wage loss above the three-year limit and monthly maximum limit, and medical bills and expenses in excess of your personal injury protection (PIP) policy limits, assuming you purchased less than lifetime/catastrophic coverage.

To meet the “serious impairment of body function” statutory threshold, a neck or other injury suffered in the accident must satisfy the following test:
1. The injury must be objectively manifested, meaning someone other than the injured person can observe actual symptoms or conditions.
2. It is an impairment of an important body function, that is, a body function of great value, significance, or consequence to the injured person.
3. It affects the injured person’s general ability to lead a normal life for some period of time after the accident.

Request a free consultation to let the lawyers at Sommers Schwartz help you determine if your neck injury meets the threshold to bring a lawsuit against the driver that hit you. The call and initial consultation are free. We work on a contingency fee-based structure, meaning you pay nothing until we produce results. Please contact Sommers Schwartz today.