A broken neck, also known as a cervical fracture, can cause significant pain and could even put your spinal cord at risk of suffering damage. In instances when the injury occurred because of another party’s misconduct, you may be able to recover your losses via a personal injury claim.
Learn about cervical fractures, the legal steps you can take, and how a personal injury lawyer can help.
What Is A Broken Neck?
You can suffer a broken neck if you sustain harm to one or more of the seven bones, called vertebrae, in the neck area. There are two main types of cervical fractures. Stable fractures are minor cracks that do not cause the bones to shift out of place. Unstable fractures, on the other hand, involve bone fragments that shift out of place.
The severity of the injury will impact the symptoms you experience. Some of the most common include:
- Pain and swelling
- Bruising
- Weakness, tingling, or numbness in the arms or legs
- Stiffness
- Limited mobility
Most neck fractures result from severe trauma. Motor vehicle collisions are a common cause of accidents across all age groups, while slip and fall accidents are more common among older adults. These injuries can also occur after diving into shallow water, sports-related impacts, or physical assaults.
Diagnosing And Treating A Broken Neck
Because of the risk a cervical fracture poses to the spinal cord, it’s essential to immediately get medical assistance if you begin to experience symptoms. Your doctor will conduct a thorough examination and immobilize your neck so that your spinal cord suffers no further damage.
Via imaging studies, like CT scans and MRIs, your doctor will look at the bones in the area to understand where and how severe the fracture is. MRI scans are particularly helpful for detecting damage to the surrounding ligaments and the spinal cord itself.
Stable fractures often heal with immobilization. This requires the use of a rigid cervical brace for about 12 weeks. You will not be able to turn your head or move your neck at all, which allows the bone time to heal.
More serious fractures will typically require surgery. You may need to receive an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion to realign the spine, relieve pressure on the nerves, and fuse the damaged bones.
After surgery, you’ll need to undergo physical therapy to improve your range of motion and rebuild strength.
How A Cervical Fracture Can Impact Your Life
Aside from being a painful injury, there are numerous ways that a broken neck can wreak havoc on your life. For one thing, you will start accumulating significant medical bills. That is especially true if you have to go through surgery. Physical therapy sessions can quickly become costly.
At the same time, a cervical fracture may require time off from work. You will not be getting the income you normally would. In the most severe cases, you may not be able to return to work in the same capacity or at all.
This type of injury can impact your quality of life, too. You may no longer be able to do the things you enjoy, and, if you suffered spinal cord damage as a result of the fracture, you could have mobility issues that require you to depend on others for daily tasks. Your mental health can suffer, and you may not be able to provide the support and love your family needs.
Recovering Your Losses After A Broken Neck
If you suffered a broken neck because of another party’s misconduct, you could have the right to start a personal injury claim. These claims provide the chance to recover your losses and hold the other party responsible for what they did.
To be successful in these claims, you must demonstrate that the other party owed you a duty to exercise reasonable care. If they failed to do this and you sustained a broken neck, you may be able to file a claim.
Call Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm For A Free Consultation With A Columbus Personal Injury Lawyer
Beginning a personal injury claim is never simple. You will need to have a clear understanding of state laws and be able to gather pertinent evidence to show why you deserve compensation. The hardest part, however, is negotiating with insurance companies for a settlement. That will require knowing the tactics these companies use.
The most important decision you can make after this type of injury is to hire experienced lawyers. At Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm, we know just how difficult this process is and how much stress you’re under. Contact our team at (706) 940-4030 for a free consultation of a Columbus personal injury attorney.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Columbus, GA
Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm
233 12th St #808, Columbus, GA 31901
(706) 940-4030
