Neck and Shoulder Pain After an Accident

Many car accident victims complain of neck and shoulder pain after their collisions. However, this type of pain is frequently brushed off and ignored as nothing serious or life-threatening. Unfortunately, ignoring these symptoms can mean risking severe injuries and lifelong disabilities as the injury progresses.

If you experience neck and shoulder pain, it is a sign that you need medical assistance right away. After you receive medical assistance and are on the path to recovery, consider speaking with our Huntsville car accident lawyers to learn about your legal options.

How common is neck and shoulder pain after a car accident?

Neck and shoulder pain are two of the most common complaints after a car accident. It does not matter if the accident is a high-speed head-on collision or a low-speed fender-bender; pain in the neck and shoulders is very likely to occur. It is important to inform your doctor of the symptoms you are experiencing and where exactly the pain is located. They will conduct various tests to locate and identify the source of pain and create a treatment plan to help you begin healing.

What are the typical causes of neck and shoulder pain after a collision?

When you notify your doctor about your neck and shoulder pain, they will typically perform a physical examination, and order X-rays, MRI scans, and CT scans to determine the exact cause of your pain. This is important because there are many different causes of neck and shoulder pain, which can influence the type of treatment that you need. Here are some of the typical causes of neck and shoulder pain:

• Whiplash: Whiplash is a neck injury that arises when your neck jerks back and forth very quickly and suddenly. When this happens, the muscles and tendons within the neck may become stretched or torn, causing pain and other complications that last for several weeks or months following the accident. Stretched and damaged tendons within the neck may also cause ongoing complications that wax and wane over your life-time.
• Shoulder fracture: A shoulder fracture is a break in one of the bones in your shoulder joint. Shoulder fractures can be minor and only require a sling for a few weeks, or they can be serious and require multiple surgeries and loss of mobility in the shoulder and arm. The effects of this type of injury depend on which bone is broken and how severe the break is.
• Neck fracture: A neck fracture occurs when an individual experiences a break in one of the bones within their neck. The neck is made up of seven small bones, which help hold the head up throughout the day. Therefore, any type of break in one of these bones can impact the support that your neck provides and damage the spinal cord.
• Rotator cuff tear: A rotator cuff tear happens when there is some type of injury or damage to a person’s rotator cuff, which is your muscles and tendons located in the shoulder. When you experience a rotator cuff tear, you may have trouble lifting, moving, or reaching with your arms.
• Shoulder dislocation: A shoulder dislocation is when one of the bones in the shoulder moves out of its normal area or position. This usually happens when a collision causes the shoulder bone to pop out of its socket. When a person experiences a dislocated shoulder, it is typically considered an emergency, as the shoulder bones need to be put back in place as quickly as possible. If it is left out of the socket, pain, swelling, and immobility may occur.
• Neck sprains and strains: Neck sprains and strains occur when the neck becomes bent or twisted in abnormal or irregular ways, which is common in a car accident. This causes the muscles, ligaments, and tissues within the neck to become stretched or torn, resulting in pain, discomfort, numbness, and stiffness.
• SLAP tear: A SLAP tear occurs when a person tears the cartilage in the inner portion of their shoulder joint. These types of injuries can impact your ability to move your arm and shoulder, cause severe pain, and lead to permanent disability.
• Pinched nerve: Pinched nerves usually occur when the tissues, muscles, tendons, and bones within the neck and shoulders move out of place and place too much pressure on the surrounding nerves. Pinched nerves may also be caused by a disc herniation of the cervical spine. When this happens, the nerves become compressed, resulting in pain, tingling, and numbness.

What if the pain does not appear right away?

While some people experience shoulder and neck pain right away, others may not notice any pain for a few days. This may be an adrenaline rush from the accident, resulting in your pain being overlooked, ignored, or unnoticed for the first couple of days. However, even if you believe that you are completely fine and do not have any obvious signs of shoulder and neck pain, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. If your neck and shoulder pain goes untreated, it could lead to permanent disability and other long-term consequences.

Can you recover compensation for neck and shoulder pain after a crash?

Yes, you can recover compensation for neck and shoulder pain after a crash as long as you can prove that it was caused by another party’s negligence. Your pain is considered a non-economic loss, which means that it can be difficult to put a monetary value on it. However, a car accident lawyer can assess your situation and determine how much your claim is worth. Some of the ways your neck and shoulder pain may affect you and cause other losses include:

• Inability to work, which causes you to lose out on much-needed income
• Needing to go to the hospital or doctor’s office resulting in medical expenses
• Developing depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, leading to counseling and psychiatric fees
• No longer being able to enjoy the activities you once enjoyed
• Feeling withdrawn, isolating yourself, and losing out on a social life
• Experiencing a diminished quality of life
• Needing to take medications for treatment of neck inflammation and pain

At Martin & Helms, our Huntsville car accident attorneys are aware of the challenges that accident victims with neck and shoulder pain may face. For example, you may need multiple surgeries, years of physical therapy, and medications to help you alleviate your pain and gain a sense of normalcy. On top of that, you may be out of work for several months and behind on your monthly bills and payments. However, you can rest assured knowing that we listen to your side of the story, conduct our own investigation, help you collect valuable evidence, and work tirelessly to secure the fairest compensation possible for your case. All you have to do is call our office or submit our contact form, and we can get started today. Our offices are located in Huntsville and Decatur, and we proudly serve clients in Athens and Madison as well.