Neck Injuries

Neck Injuries

Your neck is the most flexible part of your spine. Not only does it hold your skull up, but it’s what facilitates a full range of motion. A serious neck injury can prevent you from driving, cleaning, working, or exercising. It can impact your daily life, your ability to earn a living wage, and can be expensive to treat.

For that reason, if your injury was caused by an intentional action or by someone’s negligence, it’s important to pursue any compensation you may be entitled to. Contacting a neck injury claims attorney as soon as possible and maximizing your recovery gets you back on track after a devastating injury. As soon as possible after your injury, and certainly before signing any paperwork or giving any statement, contact us at The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel. Whether you’re in Westchester County, White Plains, New York City, the Hudson Valley, or beyond, we offer you a free consultation so you can find out about all your options first, before you decide what to do about your injury.

What Are Common Types of Neck Injuries?

Neck injuries can be particularly painful, disabling and long lasting. Even what is known as a “low speed impact” in a rear end car accident, another type of car accident, motorcycle accident, bike accident or any number of other collisions can cause serious injury to the neck, or what is known as the cervical spine.

The cervical spine is comprised of bony structures called vertebrae, as well as soft discs filled with a jelly like substance that cushion the vertebrae and maintain their position. Frequently as a result of a car accident, construction site accident, or recreational injury, the discs in the neck can be ruptured, or “herniated”, meaning that some of the jelly like substance has protruded through the surface of the disc and can press on a nerve, which will often cause pain, numbness, and tingling from the neck down the arm to the fingers in some cases.

There are 7 vertebrae in the neck, from C1 through C8, each cushioned with a disc, and depending on the nerve associated with that vertebra, there can be pain and or numbness in a specific area of the shoulder, arm or hand. The basic rule is that the lower the disc on the neck that is affected, the further down the arm the symptoms of pain and numbness can be. Less serious injuries are a cervical strain or sprain, or muscle spasm, which causes the normal curvature of the spine to reverse, resulting in pain.

Whiplash is another very common neck injury. It happens when any sudden back and forth motion—usually occurring in a traffic accident, assault, or recreational accident—causes damage to the tendons, bones, ligaments, nerves, or muscle of the neck. Whiplash can range from mild pain to a more severe disorder that limits mobility, causes severe pain, and even leads to muscle weakness and neurological issues.

Diagnosing and Treating Neck Injuries

Herniated discs are generally diagnosed by an MRI or CT Scan. Generally, the treating provider, whether it is a chiropractor, physiatrist, neurologist, orthopedist, or neurosurgeon, will send the patient for an MRI several weeks after the accident if the symptoms of pain and loss of range of motion have not subsided. If there are positive findings such as either a bulging or herniated disc, or sciatica, which is an impingement of a lumbar (lower back) nerve, the provider will recommend various treatments, including: Massage, chiropractic adjustments, electrical stimulation, physical therapy, epidural steroid injections, acupuncture, or traction.

In more severe neck injury cases, such as herniation of multiple discs, or a significant exacerbation of a previous spinal injury, surgery is sometimes recommended. Operative procedures for serious cervical injuries include a laminectomy, in which cervical disc fragments and spurs are removed with the hope that the operation will lessen the pressure on the cervical nerves or spinal canal; a discectomy, in which a portion of the disc that has protruded through and is impinging (pressing) on the nearest nerve is removed with the belief that this will reduce or eliminate pain and numbness; or in the most serious cases, spinal fusion, whereby often two or more levels of vertebrae are fused together utilizing hardware such as rods, plates and screws. This procedure is frequently referred to as “ORIF” or open reduction, internal fixation.

Can I Get Compensation for a Neck Injury?

In the state of New York, you may qualify for compensation for a neck injury in a few ways. If your injury happened in the course of work duties, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, which will cover all reasonable medical treatment for the injury as well as a portion of your lost wages, if you can’t work because of whiplash, a herniated disc, or other condition. In a car accident, car insurance will typically cover at least part of your costs.

It is useful to consider whether your injuries were caused by a willful action or by negligence. If you sustained a neck injury during a mugging, for example, or in a motorcycle accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be able to file a legal claim and may be able to pursue financial recovery for lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, out of pocket expenses, and additional costs you may face.

A serious injury can put a financial strain on your household, especially if you lose time at work due to chronic pain, loss of mobility, or medical treatment. Seeking financial recovery can reduce this burden and ensures you can put your health first.

Whether your neck injury was caused by a car accident, assault or violence, a sports or recreational injury, workplace accident, or any other cause, you may want to find out whether you have a claim. In many cases, it may not be obvious. For example, if you sustained a neck injury because you fell on a slippery floor, your attorney may need to investigate to find out if the property owner was legally responsible and should have known about the hazard.

If you have sustained a neck injury, don’t try to guess whether you have a claim. Contact The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel for a free consultation. We can explain your legal options, answer your questions, and review how much compensation you may be able to seek for your injuries.

Working with Attorneys to Get Fair Compensation

Due to the complexities and variety of cervical spine injuries, it is vital that you retain attorneys with the knowledge, experience, background and dedication to ensure that you will be compensated for all of your injuries and damages, including your physical and emotional injuries, loss of earnings and earnings potential, medical and hospital expenses (past and future) and loss of enjoyment of life.

At The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, since 1986, we have represented clients in state and federal courts in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange and Dutchess Counties. We work with dependent board certified medical consultants—including neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, thoracic surgeons, and other medical professionals—as well as investigators, vocational rehabilitation experts, and other professionals to build your case. Our team can investigate the cause of your injury, find all liable parties, and find evidence about how your neck injury is likely to affect your future.

At The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, we pursue fair compensation for you but we also treat you with care and respect. With our law firm, you always get hands-on personalized attention for your case. We answer your emails and phone calls promptly, and you don’t pay fees until we recover compensation for you.

For a free consultation to discuss your case in detail and how our firm can provide legal assistance, contact us anytime at (914) 428-7386 or online.