THE LAW OFFICES OF
BARRY G. DOYLE, P.C.
100 W MONROE ST.,
STE 2100
CHICAGO, IL 60603
PHONE: 312.263.1080
FAX: 312.263.0153
Chicago Injury Lawyer
Serving Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, and Surrounding Areas
A major cause of neck injury is auto accidents, where whiplash injuries can easily occur. Our neck bones are of course part of our spinal column, which houses the spinal cord, and a severe neck injury involving the spinal cord can cause a wide variety of severe problems in the rest of the body.
Hyperextension and hyperflexion injuries are the terms used to describe injuries to the neck which occur when head and neck are rapidly moved outside their normal ranges of motion. This commonly occurs in rear-end car accidents and is sometimes referred to as a whiplash injury.
Soft tissue injury
Soft tissue is the name for muscle, ligaments, and tendons. Ligaments and tendons are the tough bands that connect bones and muscles to each other and to other structures. When our head is jerked back and forth, they are suddenly stretched beyond their usual length, which can tear them.
This type of injury is not visible on the skin, and it does not always become painful immediately. Whiplash injuries are famous for their delayed symptoms.
Spinal disc injury
There are other neck injuries besides whiplash. In between each spinal vertebra is a disc of cartilage, which acts as a pad to prevent the bones from rubbing on each other.
There are two parts to the disc:
- A harder outer ring known as the annulus, and
- A jelly-like inside portion known as the nucleus.
In a whiplash injury, the annulus may split, allowing the nucleus to exit the annulus and injure the nerve roots that come off the spinal cord. In the neck, the symptoms of this may include pain which runs down from the neck into shoulder, arms, hands and fingers.
A neck injury can be barely noticed at first, yet can become enormously painful later on. If you're feeling severe neck pain, and suspect it's related to an accident or fall you sustained, your best option once you've sought medical care is to consult a personal injury attorney.
Contact us today so that we can begin assessing your situation and gathering information to determine whether you might have a valid claim. Call or email Chicago injury lawyer Barry Doyle today for your free legal consultation. No recovery, no fee.
