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How Do I Know if My Neck Injury Is Serious?

If you experience neck pain after an accident, don’t ignore it. While some neck injuries may be minor, others can be severe and require immediate medical attention. It’s crucial to pay attention to any warning signs of a severe neck injury and seek medical help promptly to prevent long-term complications and chronic pain.

In addition to seeking medical care, you should reach out to an Augusta personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your legal options. If someone else was responsible for your neck injury, you could file a lawsuit or insurance claim and recover compensation to pay for your treatment, as well as your lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.

Common Symptoms of a Serious Neck Injury

Although many people experience minor neck pain due to work positions, physical strain, or other factors, this discomfort typically subsides with rest or time. However, severe neck injuries are different. These injuries often cause severe pain that does not go away, which could indicate a more serious problem, such as spinal cord damage.

If you experience any of the following symptoms after an accident or injury, seek medical attention immediately: 

• Shooting pain in your arms or legs
• Intense or unrelenting pain
• Weakness in your arms or legs
• Numbness or tingling in your arms or legs
• Loss of bowel or bladder control

How Doctors Diagnose a Neck Injury

When you seek medical care for a neck injury, your healthcare provider will begin by taking your medical history and conducting a physical exam. During the exam, the doctor will check for tenderness, numbness, and muscle weakness, as well as test the range of motion in your neck.

Your doctor may use imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs to determine the cause of your neck pain. These tests can provide detailed images of bones, soft tissues, and nerves, allowing your medical team to identify any problems that might be causing neck pain or discomfort.

If necessary, your doctor may also electromyography or blood tests to determine whether your neck pain might be related to a pinched nerve, inflammation, or infections. By using a combination of these diagnostic tools, your medical team can better understand the underlying cause of your neck pain and develop an effective treatment plan.

Your Legal Options After a Neck Injury

After you receive medical care for a neck injury, it is important to consider your legal options. If someone else caused the accident that led to your neck injury, you may be entitled to financial compensation through an insurance claim or a lawsuit. 

By filing a neck injury claim, you can recover compensation to help pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages associated with your injury. To secure a settlement, however, you will need to prove that the at-fault party’s negligence caused your accident. 

In these situations, you need an Augusta neck injury lawyer on your side. An attorney with experience handling neck injury claims can help you gather evidence, build a compelling case in your favor, and advocate aggressively for your right to financial recovery. After receiving medical care, contact a Georgia neck injury attorney to schedule a free consultation and plan your next steps.