Neck Injuries

Average Neck Injury Settlement Amounts

Head, neck, and back injuries unfortunately occur all too frequently in car accidents throughout New York. These injuries can range from mild sprains to broken bones, causing lifelong impairment or even death. If you have suffered a neck injury in a rear-end accident, you may be unsure of your options. Fortunately, our personal injury attorneys in NYC have extensive experience in handling lawsuits related to whiplash and other neck injuries across the nation. If someone else’s negligence has caused you pain, allow us to assist you in fighting for the compensation you deserve. Contact Rosenberg & Rodriguez now for a free consultation.

Understanding Mechanism Of Neck Injuries

The mechanism of injury refers to the medical explanation of what occurs to your body during a traumatic event that leads to an injury. In simpler terms, it explains how you got hurt. It is crucial to have a clear understanding of the mechanism of injury in your neck injury claim as it helps the jury comprehend the necessity for compensation. Failing to do so may negatively impact the amount of money you receive in a neck injury settlement.

If an attorney lacks sufficient knowledge in medicine, their ability to convincingly argue the extent of their client’s injuries is compromised. This diminishes the chances of winning the case and obtaining a substantial neck injury settlement. The severity of your injury correlates directly with its adverse effects on you and your prospects in court. The following are the three most common types of neck injuries that can result from a car accident:

• Fractures of the cervical vertebrae, along with damage or rupture to the connecting ligaments and soft tissue.
• Injury to the spinal cord or discs resulting from shearing and bending between the cervical vertebrae, physical stretching of the spinal cord, or direct impingement by fractured vertebrae.
• Harm to the soft tissues surrounding the trachea, larynx, and esophagus, as well as major arteries and veins in the head and brain.

Hyperextension

Suffering a neck injury due to hyperextension can result in soft tissue damage. While not fatal, it can lead to long-term disability and should be included in your settlement request. If you can establish a connection between this injury and a specific type of impact, such as a head-on collision, it can strengthen your medical claim.

While more common hyperextension injuries may only cause displacement of the vertebrae or spine, in rare cases, they can lead to complete dislocation. Fortunately, this can be easily proven with an x-ray or a similar insurance institute image, which will support your claim for whiplash compensation if you have been involved in a car accident.

Compression-Flexion

When the head is bent forward and experiences an impact, it often leads to fractures of the vertebrae, including wedge and burst fractures, as well as dislocations of the spine. In most car accidents involving a rear-end or t-bone collision, the neck undergoes a rapid forward and backward snapping motion – either towards or away from the headrest. Due to this violent movement, neck injuries resulting from accidents are usually a combination of flexion-extension injuries.

Compression-Extension

When the head is in a neutral or bent position and there’s a sudden impact on the face, such as during a fall or collision, this can lead to fractures of the spinal processes, causing damage to the load-bearing surfaces of the spine and potentially resulting in spine dislocations. These injuries can have significant consequences on the overall structure and function of the spine, affecting mobility and potentially requiring medical intervention for proper healing and rehabilitation. It is crucial to be aware of the potential risks and take appropriate precautions to minimize the chances of such injuries occurring.

Tension-Extension

Tension-extension occurs when the body abruptly propels forward, causing the head to accelerate through the neck. This phenomenon is particularly relevant to passengers occupying rear-facing seats that either lack a headrest or possess an inadequately designed one. In such cases, the absence or suboptimal construction of a headrest exacerbates the risk of tension-extension injuries in the event of sudden deceleration or impact.