85 percent of all neck injuries happen in rear-end collisions. This inspired Dr. Dellanno to investigate the effectiveness of head restraints and discovered that they did very little to prevent hyperflexion hyperextension cervical injury (whiplash).
Measurement of the distance from the head was up to 6 inches, so at the point of impact the head is thrust back with enough force to tear ligaments and even rupture discs. He further stated that the head restraint should be no further than one inch from the head, which significantly changes the force upon the ligaments and discs.
He also recommended that they are designed for head injuries, as well as neck injuries.
Did you know?
Impact testing on crash dummies at Wayne State University Biomechanical Laboratory in Detroit showed tests of a device designed like this revealed a 50% reduction in the neck injuries during a rear-end collision.
Secondary pain or delayed onset pain
Many people do not feel the effects immediately following the impact of a rear-end collision. Pain from neck injuries can manifest up to 2 weeks later especially if you are suffering from low back pain as well, so it is important to tell your health care provider as much information as possible on the first visit and if things change, that is entirely possible and still related to the impact.
Neck injuries can occur before you start to feel any negative impacts from even the smallest of collisions. Making sure the headrest in a vehicle has proper positioning can help prevent certain neck injuries resulting from any collision or car wreck.
Delayed onset pain is the term for pain that shows up as a late reaction to an injury. Chemical responses in our bodies control the amount of adrenaline instinctively when we are in danger.
This response triggers the release of endorphins, which usually will block or turn off other receptors to vital systems in our body. Some of those receptors are pain receptors, causing a delay in pain during incidents such as car wrecks.
That’s how neck injuries can occur and you not feel the effects until much later on. This is not something to be taken lightly, as injuries that develop after an accident are a common occurrence.
These late or delayed onset pains can be short term or long term and grow little by little or abruptly. Then again, outside element or changes could also affect delayed onset pain.
Fortunately, even though it may take quite a few years, long term delayed onset pain may resolve itself within that time. However, delayed onset muscle soreness is a similar concept, if not considerable, as the same condition.
Areas of the neck affected by an auto accident
Your neck is a vulnerable and complex structure made up of seven small bones, called the cervical backbone, abiding in the spinal column. Between the bones, intervertebral discs separate each bone, and joints connect the bones and allow you to pivot your head.
Your musculoskeletal system supports your neck and cranium while guarding the spinal cord. The neck is part of your backbone, or spinal column, called the cervical chine. It’s broken down into two parts, the subaxial chine and the craniocervical junction(CCJ).
Since the cervical discs are basically shock absorbers, most of your neck injuries occur at the discs. Still, your neck also contains numerous small apkins. Strained, torn, or stretched cervical ligaments can beget ongoing neck pain after a wreck. The neck also contains joints called angles. They’re responsible for the neck’s range of stir and constantly become injured in auto accidents because of the whiplash medium.
Did you know?
Neck injuries can come as delayed onset pain, and occur later on after a car wreck. That is why having a dependable and experience personal injury attorney can be a vital factor in getting compensated for your injuries.
What causes neck injuries from car accidents?
Impact from a car wreck can cause tremendous amounts of stress on the neck. Your neck may abruptly move forwards and backwards in a jerking motion during a car wreck.
With your body restrained by a seat belt, your neck takes the mass of the force. Also, a collision may beget your neck to move from side to side strongly.
Debris from outside of the car could also prove to be a hazard. Pieces of debris may come from the outside of the car, potentially hitting the driver or passengers.
However, the term sudden stop causing your neck to move backwards and forwards is whiplash. This type of injury is the result of impact, causing a sudden stop and jarring of the neck.
Unfortunately, this usually causes damage to bones, discs in your neck and spine, muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues. Some of these injuries may include slipped or herniated discs, cervical spondylolisthesis, neck sprain or strain, muscle and tendon stiffness, pinched nerves, muscle spasms, facet joint injury, neck fractures or compression, and lacerations or cuts.
Luckily, some injuries are treatable at home with ice, massage, bracing, stretching, and pain relievers, like Tylenol, for example. There are other methods that do not include surgery, such as physical therapy, radio-frequency ablation, epidural steroid injections, spinal cord stimulator, and stem cell therapy.
The severity of these injuries is usually based on the severity of the accident, facial position of the driver, and the sitting position of the driver. Injuries that are more severe may require more adequate medical treatment.
If an injury is very severe, it may require further surgery in order to make a full recovery. Kyphoplasty, fusion surgery, robotic spine surgery, and microdiscectomy are all surgeries dealing with neck injuries involving severe damage to vertebrae, discs, and nerves in your spine.
You need an experienced personal injury lawyer
The right lawyer can help you navigate this complex process by assisting you with avoiding making any statements or signing any releases that would give up your rights. The right lawyer can stop the insurance company from delaying or denying your claim.
Only your injury attorney is interested in protecting your rights in the event of an accident. Share all the information upfront with your experienced personal injury lawyer.
Provide as little details as possible while still complying with the insurance adjuster’s request if an insurance adjuster contacts you after an accident. The right lawyer will serve as your go-between with the insurance company.
Therefore, you have a reduced likelihood of making any comments that could, if misinterpreted, invalidate your claim. If the insurance adjuster continues to reach out to you, tell them you have a lawyer and contact the attorney instead.
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