People who are involved in a car crash can often suffer serious injuries. One of these is a neck injury, which can be devastating, particularly if the injury is serious.
Some crash victims may think that they’re just suffering from whiplash, but even that soft tissue injury shouldn’t be discounted. Any neck injury should be taken seriously because of the potential risks.
Cervical spine injuries
Some of the most devastating neck injuries that occur during a motor vehicle crash involve the cervical spine. This is the portion of the spine that’s in the neck. Injuries to this area can lead to the victim being paralyzed from the neck down.
Spinal cord injuries have effects that are below the level of the injury, which means that an injury to the cervical spine can lead to more of the body being affected than one that occurs in the lower back. A neck injury could lead to all four limbs being paralyzed. Even if they aren’t fully paralyzed, there’s also a chance of weakness or changes in range of motion occurring.
An injury to the neck can also have other catastrophic consequences. For example, injuries to the higher cervical spine can lead to paralysis of the diaphragm. This could leave the person dependent on a ventilator, similar to what Christopher Reeve, the actor who played Superman, had to deal with after he had an accident while riding a horse.
Victims of car crashes who suffer a neck injury of any sort should ensure they get medical care. They may need lifelong care, which can be costly. They may choose to seek compensation for the financial effects of the crash, but the time to do so is limited.