A car accident can hurt any part of your body—from your head and neck to your toes. The human body simply is not made to withstand the significant forces exerted during an impact, even if the car accident occurs at low speeds and even if one of the cars was parked at the time. If your neck hurts after you were involved in a car accident, you should see a doctor and then consult a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
Steps to take immediately
If your neck starts hurting after a car accident, the steps you should take immediately depend on when you first notice the pain. Quite often, neck pain after an accident has a delayed onset, which means you might not experience the symptoms until a day or two after the crash. However, if you do develop neck pain immediately after an accident, you should first get out of the path of oncoming traffic and make sure any passengers are okay. Then, you should call for emergency help. Inform the emergency dispatcher of your exact location and mention that you believe you have a neck injury. Even if you do not require an ambulance, you should still get to the hospital as soon as the police clear you to leave the scene.
It is quite common for an accident victim’s neck to feel fine immediately after an accident, but then to begin hurting the next day or the following day. Usually, the delayed onset of neck pain is the result of whiplash. You should seek a medical evaluation as soon as possible and inform the doctor that you were in an accident.
Be sure to tell the doctor of all of your symptoms, even if they seem unrelated, such as dizziness, tinnitus, and headaches. These can also be signs of whiplash. The treatment for whiplash may include ice packs, pain relievers, muscle relaxants, physical therapy, and chiropractic care.
Steps to take soon
Receiving medical aid is the most important thing to do after an accident. However, once you have attended to your medical needs, you should contact Lafayette personal injury lawyers as soon as possible. Schedule an initial case review to learn about your legal rights, explore the merits of your case, and consider all of your legal options.
Be sure to inform your lawyer of all of your injuries, such as your neck pain. Your lawyer will need to know the doctor’s diagnosis and treatment recommendations, especially whether you have been ordered to stay out of work for a period of time. You will likely be asked to sign a release so that your lawyer can access your medical records, as these documents will be important evidence for your case.
You should also follow your doctor’s orders carefully. Otherwise, the other party might try to claim that you might have exacerbated your neck injury by returning to work too soon or otherwise ignoring your doctor’s orders.
Throughout your recovery from your neck injuries, you should keep careful records of all of your symptoms, progress, and losses. For example, keep the receipts for all of your pharmacy co-pays and any other medical expenses. Keep track of your lost wages, make a note of the date when you finally do return to work and write notes about any other way in which your neck injury has affected your daily life (such as by interfering with your ability to take care of the kids, for instance).
Connect with a skilled personal injury lawyer in Louisiana
You can’t always rely on getting a fair and just settlement offer from the insurance company after a car accident or a truck accident. Quite often, it is necessary to seek help from a qualified personal injury attorney, who can advise you as to your legal rights and options for securing sufficient compensation for your injuries and lost wages.
The Bart Bernard Injury Lawyers are proud to serve residents in Lafayette and throughout Louisiana with skilled legal representation and informed guidance. If your neck has begun to hurt after a car accident, or if you have sustained any other injuries or property damage, you can get in touch with our law firm right away to review your options. Our Lafayette car accident lawyer can help you get the money damages you need to begin to put your life back together in the wake of a serious accident. Call today to schedule your case evaluation. You’re Smart. Get Bart.™
