As experienced Alabama car accident attorneys, we often see a range of injuries that our clients have sustained due to a motor vehicle accident. One of the most common injuries are cervical injuries. Cervical injuries that can occur in a car wreck include whiplash, bulging discs, herniated discs, and even paralysis.

Whiplash is a neck injury often caused by rear-end collisions. When one car rear-ends another, the violent force of the impact can cause the driver’s head to move backward and forward very quickly. This unnatural movement of the head and extension of the neck strains the neck muscles.

Symptoms of whiplash often take up to a day to appear and can include neck pain and stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Other symptoms that some people experience can be difficulty concentrating, memory problems, irritability, and sleep problems. Whiplash is generally treated with over-the-counter medication to relieve pain and ice applied to the neck muscles. If the pain is ongoing and persistent, prescription medication and extensive physical therapy may be required.

While most sufferers of whiplash recover in a few weeks, some may develop chronic pain as a result of the injury. This pain can be debilitating. Because of this, it is important to see a doctor if pain continues.

Whiplash, while one of the most common, is not the only neck injury that can occur during an auto accident, nor is it the most severe. Injuries to the cervical vertebrae, the part of the spinal column in the neck, can be very serious, especially if left untreated. Cervical injuries that severely damage the vertebrae can lead to loss of control of the hands and arms or even paralysis of the entire body below the neck. Depending on the vertebra that has been damaged, the person can have varying degrees of the loss of motor control and feeling. The most severe type is called quadriplegia; this type of paralysis causes the person to lose motor control and feeling in the arms, legs, hands, and trunk. In addition, this type of paralysis can result in the loss of diaphragm function. Because the movement of the diaphragm allows a person to breathe, quadriplegics often need a ventilator to breathe.

Serious cases of whiplash and other cervical injuries can severely impact a person’s ability to work and perform daily tasks. The treatment can also be prolonged and expensive. If you are involved in a car wreck, it is important to call the paramedics and get medical treatment for your injuries. Follow your doctor’s recommendations and make sure that you return to the hospital if you are not healing properly. In addition, it is important that your doctor record that your injuries were sustained in a car accident. If you decide to pursue a claim, these records will need to be used as evidence.

If you or a loved one were injured in a automobile accident that was not your fault, contact a Huntsville car accident attorney at Martinson & Beason, P.C. Our firm represents clients throughout the state of Alabama, from Huntsville to Mobile.

Our attorneys can help you get the compensation you need to pay for the treatment for your injuries and support yourself while you heal.

Email us or call us at (256) 533-1667.