A neck injury may be caused by a car crash, a workplace accident, a slip and fall, a sports accident, or other type of trauma.
The lifetime costs of a spinal injury depend on the severity of the injury, the age of the individual, and other factors. It is important that any insurance claim related to your spinal injury reflect the lifetime costs associated with the injury.
The estimated lifetime health and living expenses for a person who is partially paralyzed and diagnosed with paraplegia at age 25 will be roughly $2.3 million, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. A 25-year-old who is diagnosed with quadriplegia will have estimated lifetime costs of $3.4 million to $4.7 million depending on the level of the injury.
After a serious injury, you will want to explore all the sources of compensation available to help you recover from the injury and regain independence. Neck and spinal cord injuries often require complex medical investigations and legal analysis. It is important to work with a law firm that has the resources and determination to pursue these complex injury cases wherever they lead.
Spinal Cord Injury
The effects of a spinal cord injury depend on the level and nature of the injury. A sharp blow to the neck or head can cause damage to one of the seven cervical vertebrae (referred to as C1 to C7) resulting in partial or complete paralysis. A spinal cord injury may cause loss of sensation and movement below the level of the injury. These types of severe injuries occur as a result of motor vehicle crashes including motorcycle accidents, falls, diving accidents, and sports injuries. Individuals with a neck injury to the C1 to C4 vertebrae will likely require help from others for all of their mobility and care needs. You or your loved one may be diagnosed with paraplegia or quadriplegia, depending on the loss of motor function.
Pinched Nerve in Neck
Car crashes falls, other types of trauma, and stress from repetitive work may cause a pinched nerve in the neck. The compression of a nerve by surrounding tissue causes inflammation and disrupts the nerve’s function. It may cause sharp or aching pain that radiates from the neck into the arms and shoulders. Cervical stenosis or a herniated disk also may cause a pinched nerve.
Cervical Stenosis
Cervical Stenosis involves a narrowing of the space in the center of the seven vertebrae that form the neck, causing pressure on the spinal cord or nerve. It is most common among adults 50 years of age and older. It may be caused by degeneration related to aging. But anyone who sustains an injury to the neck may develop cervical stenosis. A fall or other type of traumatic accident may dislocate the cervical bones or cause burst fractures that push bone shards into the spinal canal. A patient with cervical stenosis caused by some type of trauma may require surgery to get some relief from nerve pain.
Whiplash Injury
Whiplash involves a soft tissue injury to the tendons and ligaments of the neck. A driver or passenger in a car crash may sustain a neck sprain or strain if his or her head is thrown violently backward and forward by the impact of the collision. Whiplash injuries are the most frequently reported injury resulting from car crashes, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Any type of car accident may cause a whiplash injury, but the injury is most common in rear-end collisions.