Neck Injury Attorney
Serving West Virginia and Ohio
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are neck injuries so damaging?
The neck is both a delicate part of the human anatomy, and a crucial part for full functioning. Spinal bones (vertebrae) descend from the skull in a precisely linked fashion, and each vertebra has a hollow center where the spinal cord runs (the most delicate tissue in the body). The first seven of these bones are known as the cervical vertebrae, that is, the neck bones.
From the spinal cord, large pairs of nerves branch out, exiting through small holes in the vertebrae and further branching out into the rest of the body. In between all the vertebrae are cushioning pads which allow the bones to move easily against each other, so we can bend, twist, stretch, and perform all our human movements without pain.
When any of the cervical vertebrae are knocked out of alignment, the nerves running through them can become pinched, which creates pain. When any of the cushioning pads between the vertebrae are knocked out of alignment, the bones are then rubbing against each other, which again creates pain. Nerve damage becomes very likely once the bones and pads are disturbed. When nerves are damaged, the areas of the body to which they run are affected. You might then have no sensation in those areas, or a tingling sensation, or inability to move those areas.
What is a whiplash injury?
It’s the name of a sudden injury often experienced in a vehicle accident. If the vehicle you are in is hit from behind, its speed is suddenly changed. Picture how it happens. Say, for example, it was traveling at 40 mph. Being rear-ended quickly increases its speed to 50 mph. It hits the vehicle in front of it, and then suddenly stops altogether because it’s stuck between the two other vehicles.
What has happened to your neck? First it was traveling forward at 40 mph, and your head was upright. When the vehicle suddenly goes at 50 mph, your head is jerked back for a moment, before it catches up to the new speed. Then your head it jerked forwards as the vehicle suddenly stops moving forward, but your head continues to move. These sudden backward and forward jerking movements exert force on the delicate neck bones, pulling them out of alignment, straining the muscles and ligaments, and putting pressure on the nerves.
How would I know if my neck was fractured?
It would start to swell. You’d feel muscle pain and stiffness. You could have some trouble with breathing. You might feel faintness or other changes in consciousness. A fracture in the neck bones could pinch nerves, impede blood flow to the brain, and strain the muscles which are attached to those bones.
What are the main causes of neck injury?
Accidents, whether on the road, at work, during sports, or on industrial or construction sites. Other causes are age-related deterioration of the cushioning pads between the bones, and ongoing daily conditions such as poor posture, weak abdominal muscles, and being overweight.
If you were in an accident and are suffering neck pain, or if you have a loved one who is suffering from it, please contact us today to learn more about your legal rights. We can assess your situation and gather information about that accident. After serving the residents of West Virginia and Ohio for so many years, Jim Leach and his associates are knowledgeable and practiced in how to fight for your compensation.
We invite you to benefit from our high standards of service. Contact us today for your free case assessment.
Our neck injury attorney represent neck injury victims throughout West Virginia and Southern Ohio including the communities of Belpre, Marietta, Parkersburg, Athens, Jackson, Vienna, Morgantown, Wheeling, Charleston, Huntington, Ravenswood and Ripley.
1.866.janjim1