Common Causes of Neck Pain after a Car Accident in Clearwater

Trusted Content

Legally reviewed by:

Erik Abrahamson, J.D. February 14, 2014
neck pain after car accident

Suffering some form of neck stiffness or neck pain after a car accident is quite common.

While these symptoms often dissipate on their own shortly after an accident, neck pain and stiffness can also be a symptom of a severe injury that needs to be taken seriously.

What is whiplash?

Whiplash is a generic term that is often applied to a variety of injuries that result in neck pain or stiffness. These injuries are typically caused by the type of sudden, severe jerk of the head that can take place in a car accident.

Neck Strains and Sprains

Strains and sprains of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the neck are some of the most common causes of neck pain after a car accident. In minor cases, discomfort may dissipate shortly after an accident without any further complication.

Pinched Nerves

In some cases, a neck injury can affect one or more of the nerves that radiate from the spine out to other parts of the body. When these nerves are irritated or damaged, injury victims may experience pain, numbness, or muscle weakness in the affected area.

Herniated Discs

Neck trauma can also cause one of the discs cushioning the vertebrae of the spine to become dislodged and/or rupture. Depending on the location of the injury, a herniated disc can place pressure on a nerve that results in numbness, weakness, or pain along the path of the nerve, as discussed above. In other cases, injury victims may only experience pain or numbness in the shoulders or chest.

Severe neck injuries can result in considerable medical expenses and loss of income, and some injuries can lead to permanent disability or otherwise impact a victim’s quality of life.

Call our injury law team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-538-4878!

Have you or a family member been injured in a car accident in the Clearwater area? You may need the help of an experienced Clearwater car accident lawyer. Call Abrahamson & Uiterwyk now at 1-800-538-4878 to speak with a member of our injury law team.