Irvine Neck Injury Lawyer

Neck injuries can be extremely debilitating, whether they are caused by years’ worth of repetitive motions or the sudden trauma of a collision, fall, or accident. The neck is vital because it is where the spine and the brain communicate, and where blood vessels that supply the brain with oxygen are located. As a result, any injury to that area is significant since it may impact these core functions, making it imperative to seek medical attention as soon as possible if you have suffered an injury of this kind. A skilled catastrophic injury attorney could provide quality legal advice.

Duration of Neck Injuries

The resulting pain from neck injuries can be short-lived and severe, or when the injuries are more serious, permanent and acute. For this reason, if you are suffering from a neck injury because of someone else’s negligence, an Irvine neck injury lawyer is available to make you aware of your legal rights and can help get you the compensation you deserve.

Soft Tissue Injury

Soft tissue connects, surrounds, and supports the body’s organs, including muscles, ligaments, and nerves. Soft tissue injuries are generally caused by the neck being moved beyond the neck’s normal range of motion and result in small tears in muscles and ligaments. Recovery from these types of injuries can actually take longer than recovery from broken bones.

Whiplash is a non-medical term that it is commonly used to describe a neck muscle strain or neck ligament sprain, which are soft-tissue neck injuries. It can occur whenever the neck is suddenly forced beyond its normal movement and is common among car accident victims.

Is There a Cure for Whiplash?

The ordinary symptoms of whiplash include stiffness and pain in varying degrees, but may also include muscle spasms, headaches, and difficulty moving the head. While there is no established cure for whiplash, in many mild to moderate cases, recovery does not exceed a few months, during which time treatment may include medication, physical therapy, and resting the muscles.

Cervical Fractures

There are seven vertebrae in the neck, which are the bones that close around the spinal column, and these bones protect the spinal cord, allow the neck to turn, and support the head. These vertebrae make up the cervical spine and are identified as C1 through C7.

A cervical fracture is a break in one or more of those bones and even when the fracture is minor, the injury is substantial enough to be categorized as trauma.

What Are the Types of Cervical Fractures?

There are four common types of cervical fractures: odontoid fracture, hangman’s fracture, break, Jefferson fracture, and teardrop fracture. While minor fractures may be treated with immobilization for as many as eight weeks, it is not uncommon, following this kind of fracture, for surgical procedures to be necessary to stabilize the spine.

An odontoid fracture is a break to the C2 vertebrae. Following this fracture, an individual would be unable to move their head without restriction.

A hangman’s fracture is a different type of break in the C2 vertebrae that would also limit a person’s ability to twist or turn their head.

A break constitutes a Jefferson fracture when there are three or four fractures in the C1 vertebrae. This type of break could lead to damage to the spinal cord.

The teardrop fracture is a break in at least one of the lower cervical vertebrae; this fracture can affect ligaments and discs in the area, which makes recovery a painful process.

Contact an Irvine Neck Injury Attorney

Injuries to the neck are serious and might necessitate a lawsuit for compensation. Place a call to an Irvine neck injury lawyer for help.