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When your neck hurts after a wreck, that’s a sign of injury

Many injuries are possible when you’re involved in a car wreck – and your neck is especially vulnerable. When your vehicle is struck, your head may be flung around or whipped back and forth very abruptly, which can lead to several different injuries.

In the worst case, the cervical spinal cord is damaged, which can lead to paralysis or death. A less serious neck injury is whiplash, but even that injury can lead to long-lasting effects.

Signs of a neck injury

You may not notice the signs of a neck injury right at the time of the crash. Instead, you may wake up to them the next day or begin to notice them a few days later. Some of the more common signs include:

  • Pain
  • Stiffness
  • Lack of range of motion
  • Crackling or grinding when moving

If you notice that you have anything amiss with your neck, you’ll probably need to have imaging scans done for doctors to determine what’s wrong. Treatments for a neck injury depend on the nature of the problem but may include physical therapy, a neck brace, surgery or medication.

Anyone who’s suffered a neck injury in a car crash should ensure that they get the medical care they need. Proper treatment may help you to minimize the long-term impacts of this type of injury. If the crash was caused by the negligence of another driver, you may opt to pursue a claim for compensation. This can help you to recover the cost of the medical treatments, the wages you missed out on earning, and other damage that directly relate to the crash.