Neck injuries are exceptionally serious and can have permanent consequences. When a neck injury is caused by the negligence of another party, they are responsible for the consequences. At Sherman Law Firm, we have helped hundreds of local Houston residents obtain meaningful compensation for neck injuries arising from negligence. Our extensive experience allows us to vigorously represent you in negotiations and aggressively pursue your claims in court. If you have suffered a neck injury in the greater Houston area, please contact our office today for a free consultation.
Types of Neck Injuries
Given the neck’s importance to the body, it is susceptible to major injury from seemingly minor accidents. Some of the most common causes of an accident are falls, work injuries, and automobile accidents. Neck injuries resulting from these accidents include:
- Strains and Whiplash. A strain is an injury to the muscles in your neck. Whiplash is a strain due to a rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck. A quick jarring force causing the neck to hyperextend, such as being rear-ended in an automobile accident, can cause whiplash. Symptoms often take several days to materialize and include pain, neck stiffness, and headaches.
- Fractures and broken bones. Fracturing or breaking bones in your neck is exceptionally serious and if not treated immediately, can result in life-long consequences. Pain and discomfort in your neck following trauma are common symptoms.
- Spinal cord injuries. The spinal cord is the information highway that connects your brain to the rest of your body. Injuries to the neck always place the spinal cord at risk. If your spinal cord is injured, you may face life-long complications such as paralysis and reduced motor ability.
- Herniated discs. A herniated disc is commonly referred to as a bulged, slipped, or ruptured disc. When a disc herniates, part of the softer inside breaks through its encapsulating tissue and places pressure on the spine. Herniated discs can cause extreme discomfort and long-term issues such as loss of feeling in parts of your body.
- Cervical dislocation. A cervical dislocation is an extremely serious life-threatening injury. In a cervical dislocation injury, the soft tissue holding the spine in place has been injured causing the vertebrate to dislocate. After a cervical dislocation injury, even a slightly minor movement of the head can result in permanent paralysis or death.
It’s impossible to diagnose a neck injury without examination from a trained medical professional. If you have recently suffered a neck injury, you should consult a doctor immediately for an examination regardless of how insignificant symptoms may seem. An aching neck after a car wreck could be whiplash or a fractured vertebra.
Do I have a claim?
Whether you have a claim for a neck injury depends upon the specific facts of your case. To establish liability for your neck injury, you must prove all four of the following elements:
- An individual owed you a duty of care
- That individual breached their duty of care
- That breach of duty of care resulted in your injury
- Your injury resulted in actual damages
If you fail to prove any of the four elements, then the claim will be unsuccessful. The extent of the duty of care owed will depend upon the specific facts of the case. An individual breaches their duty of care when they act in a manner that is below a reasonably expected standard of care. That individual’s breach of duty of care must be the actual cause of your injuries, and it must result in actual damages.
What damages may I claim?
The damages that you can claim for a neck injury are extensive and far reaching. Any loss that you suffer as a direct result of the injury may be claimed as damages. The primary categories of damages include:
- Lost earning capacity. Any permanent loss of earning ability due to your neck injury may be claimed as damages.
- Lost wages. Foregone wages due to the neck injury may be claimed as damages.
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses. Any amounts that you personally pay for medical treatment resulting from your neck injury may be claimed as damages.
- Pain and suffering. If you suffered pain, emotional anguish, humiliation, or other injuries which are non-financial in nature, then you may be able to claim those injuries as damages.
- Property damages. If any of your personal property was damaged as a result of the event causing your neck injury, then you may be able to claim it as damages.
Contact Our Houston Neck Injury Attorney
Sherman Law Firm has a strong reputation for zealous representation, ensuring that you get the outcome you deserve. With experience in negotiating with insurance companies, we settle for more – not less. If you have suffered a neck injury in the greater Houston area, please contact our office today for a free consultation.