COMMON CERVICAL SPINE INJURIES
Herniated Discs
After a car accident, the discs that make up the cervical spine may suffer permanent injury through a herniated disc. This quite common term refers to the moment when the cushions that absorb movement and handle the friction along the vertebrae are lodged out of place or basically rupture, hence, resulting in discomfort and pain that require physical rehabilitation or surgery to repair.
Jonathan Perazzo, Miami car accident lawyer, urges drivers and passengers to wear their seatbelts whenever inside a vehicle in order to lessen or lower the chances of suffering a herniated disc due to a car accident. Seatbelts are useless when drivers or passengers fail to put them on and restrain themselves to avoid herniated discs.
A herniated disc can cause:
- Pain that radiates from the neck to the shoulders
- Reduce muscle performance in the neck area
- Numbness in the upper and lower extremities
Whiplash is the number one cause of all reported herniated disc injury after a car accident and should be attended by a medical professional. The services or advice of an experienced personal injury lawyer are recommended after a car accident that results in a possible neck injury.
Vertebra Fractures
Our bodies are made up of bones, which are the framework that keep us upright and allow us to move about. The vertebrae perform the same function for the spinal column. When injuries such as fractures to the cervical vertebrae are involved following an accident, the accident victims may experience mild pain which can be successfully treated with minor intervention if any as physical therapy may most often enough to treat minor injuries successfully. However, more severe injuries such as burst fractures can end in paralysis and sometimes be fatal.
Flexion or distraction fractures are common when a frontal car crash occurs that propels the head forward and causes a tear in the vertebra. Though treatable through physical rehabilitation, pain medication be necessary to treat the long term effects of a vertebrae distraction.
WHAT KINDS OF TESTS ARE PERFORMED AFTER A NECK INJURY ACCIDENT?
Following an accident that results in an injury to the neck, seeking the medical advice of a healthcare practitioner is highly recommended. Visiting your family doctor or a public hospital is a good place to start for a medical evaluation. The medical professional will most likely order one of the following test depending on the degree of damage incurred from the accident:
- A Computed tomography or (CT) scan
- MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging)
- An X-ray
- An Evoked potential testing procedure to measure nerve signal speed to the brain
Jonathan Perazzo reminds neck injury accident victims that these studies are not free and the medical facility conducting these tests will expect to get paid, as will the medical practitioner and any other professionals taking part in treating the neck injury accident victim.
HOW ARE NECK INJURIES TREATED?
There are a number of effective ways of treating neck injuries that result from traffic accidents or slip and fall accidents. These include:
- Soft collar for minor injuries
- Professional chiropractic care for minor injuries and more severe postsurgical recovery treatment
- Pain medication to temporary pain
- Corticosteroid injection treatment to treat more intense temporary or long-term pain
- Nerve blocking injection to treat persistent and intense pain
- Surgery for persistent injuries and severe pain
Jonathan Perazzo reminds neck injury accident victims that the pain relief treatments listed above imply professional medical participation which include medical bills that could lead to the tens of thousands depending on the treatment involved. While a soft collar can range from $300-$600, nerve block injections could cost as much as $1-2K per dose, with surgery costing an easy $15,000!
HOW TO MAXIMIZE THE CHANCES OF A SUCCESSFUL PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM
To maximize the chances of a successful insurance claim to cover losses from an accident that results in injuries and damage to the neck, Jonathan Perazzo strongly recommends seeking a medical evaluation by an experienced neck injury medical professional. An experienced personal injury lawyer like Jonathan Perazzo, will be able to help recommend trusted medical facilities that have a good reputation for treating accident victims that suffer neck injuries.
Rule of thumb after an accident that may include neck injuries:
- Seek medical attention
- Notify the medical professional of neck pain
- Request all medical records and bills
- Report the accident to your insurance provider
- Contact a Personal Injury Law Firm in Miami
IF YOU, A FRIEND, OR RELATIVE HAS SUFFERED A NECK INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT, CONTACT THE PERAZZO LAW FIRM ONLINE NOW FOR A FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION. ZERO OUT-OF-POCKET FEES TO OUR PERSONAL INJURY CLIENTS IN MIAMI-DADE AND BROWARD COUNTY.
THE PERAZZO LAW FIRM – DEDICATED TO PUTTING YOUR INTERESTS FIRST!
OFFICES IN MIAMI-DADE
(786) LAWS-411