REAR-END COLLISION AND COMMON NECK INJURIES
IN MIAMI, THE PERAZZO LAW FIRM SHARES INSIGHT INTO REAR-END COLLISIONS
By the Perazzo Law Firm – Personal Injury Law Offices in Miami-Dade serving all South Florida Residents
Motor vehicle collisions in Miami are one of the most common causes of personal injury. The most common car accidents are rear-end collisions, which are the least deadly type of motor vehicle accidents, but which most often result in serious and long-term bodily injuries. The rear-end collisions typically result in a sudden acceleration and a sudden stop which cause a whipping motion to the accident victim’s head, neck, and back.
Despite being the least deadly, the sudden whipping motion caused by a rear-end impact can result in a concussion, or injury to the shoulder or back which may require years of physical therapy, long term pain medication, and inability to work or enjoy time with your family and friends.
Although bodily harm may not be immediately apparent, the whiplash motion can cause the brain of the car accident victim to strike the inside of the skull, leading to serious brain injury. Furthermore, the sudden acceleration can lead to cervical or thoracic disc bulging or herniation, which may result in a disability requiring lengthy physical therapy and loss of ability to work and earn a living.
Most common causes of rear-end collisions are speeding, distracted drivers, reckless driving, failure to observe the rules, driving while under the influence, tailgating, etc. Weather conditions can play a role making roads more difficult to navigate due to slippery conditions and reduced visibility because of heavy rain or fog. At times, the fault may be the result of negligence of those not operating a motor vehicle. Negligence in construction zones can result in debris on the roadway leading to a motor vehicle accident. Additionally, road defects through negligent construction may result in a car accident.
Most of the time, the driver causing the accident is considered to be at fault. Therefore, you may be able to file a claim to recover money for the damages caused to your car as well as the costs of treatment, lost wages and pain and suffering. Nevertheless, the insurance companies will look for any way to deny your claim and place fault on the injured victim. Some of the way for the insurance company to deny a claim is to suggest the vehicle of the injured driver was not properly maintained or did not observe road safety rules.
When the insurance company chooses to deny your claim, it is important to have an experienced attorney represent you. To prove your case, you may need comprehensive documentation proving all the details of the accident. During litigation, it may be necessary to conduct the accident reconstruction to prove to the jury that the injured victim was not at fault. If you have been injured in a rear end collision, it is vital for you to consult an attorney who will explain, and fight for, your rights. Please be aware that there are time limits to commence a lawsuit to seek compensation. In Florida, the statute of limitations for car accident injuries is four (4) years from the date of the accident. If you do not file a claim within this time, your claim may be forever barred and you may lose your rights to file a lawsuit against the person who caused the accident.
If you seek further information on how to prepare for, or what to do after a rear end motor vehicle collision please do not hesitate to contact the lawyers at The Perazzo Law Firm. At the Perazzo Law Firm, we are experienced rear end collision lawyers with many years of practice. If you have been involved in a rear end collision accident in Miami or anywhere else in Florida, do not hesitate to contact us immediately.
Call Us Now (786) 529-7411
Free Consultation, Jonathan Perazzo, Esq.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON NECK INJURIES RESULTING FROM A CAR ACCIDENT?
In Miami, Jonathan Perazzo, personal injury attorney and founder of the Perazzo Law Firm, explains some of the most common neck injuries caused by car accidents and what that means to neck injury accident victims when dealing with insurance providers upon filing in an insurance claim for compensation.
Car accidents and neck injuries are commonly associated following even the most minor motor vehicle collisions, and even when vehicles are not in motion, the human neck is the most prone to injury as cervically, it is one of the most fragile parts or your spinal cord. Neck injuries, regardless from which side of the vehicle the impact occurred, can cause the neck to violently jerk and cause injuries to cervical discs, for instance. When this happens, car accident and neck injury accident victims may develop headaches, experience dizziness, suffer shoulder pain, and several other conditions associated with neck injuries. Jonathan Perazzo reminds car accident victims that have suffered a neck injury or experiencing any of the neck injury related symptoms mentioned, that many times, neck injuries following a car accident may take some time to manifest themselves. That’s why, the personal injury lawyers at the Perazzo Law firm, recommend seeking immediate attention following a car accident in order to rule out any internal injury to the neck area after the accident.
If you, a friend, or relative has suffered neck injuries following a car accident, bicycle accident, or slip and fall, contact The Perazzo Law Firm ONLINE or CALL (786) LAWS-411 for a FREE initial consultation and ZERO OUT-OF-POCKET FEES to our Clients.
UNDERSTANDING THE CERVICAL SPINE
After a car crash or any accident involving the upper body, the cervical spine becomes the most common area prone to injury. The cervical spine consists of the upper part of the vertebral column between the skull or cranium and the thoracic vertebrae or chest area. The cervical spine consists of seven vertebrae. The most popular are the cervical vertebra C1 and the vertical vertebra C2. They are commonly referred to as the atlas and axis respectively. However, the cervical spine includes three main subareas, so to speak. They are:
- Discs
- Joints
- Ligaments
Following an accident that results in neck injury, any of the above may suffer injury that may have a negative effect on the quality of the accident victim’s life.
The Cervical vertebrae have three unique characteristics that set them apart from the rest of the spinal column vertebrae. They are:
- Triangular vertebral foramen
- Bifid Spinous Process: are in which the spinal process divides into two distally
- Transverse foramina: which comprise the holes within the transverse process that includes the vertebral arteries, veins, and nerves.
When frontal, rear, or side impacts occur, the C1 and C2 vertebrae are very likely to become injured, and this can lead to headaches, dizziness, numbness of the upper or lower extremities, brain injury, depression, and other forms of discomfort, pain or suffering. Sometimes, rear-end collisions may involve injury to the thoracic region, which is made up of discs, nerves, and ligaments. This region, when injured in a motor vehicle accident or slip & fall accident, may cause radiating pain into the lower extremities, as well as pain, discomfort, and limitations to every day activities.
COMMON CERVICAL SPINE INJURIES
Herniated Discs
After a car accident, the discs that make up the cervical spine may suffer permanent injury through a herniated disc. This quite common term refers to the moment when the cushions that absorb movement and handle the friction along the vertebrae are lodged out of place or basically rupture, hence, resulting in discomfort and pain that require physical rehabilitation or surgery to repair.
Jonathan Perazzo urges drivers and passengers to wear their seatbelts whenever inside a vehicle in order to lessen or lower the chances of suffering a herniated disc due to a car accident. Seatbelts are useless when drivers or passengers fail to put them on and restrain themselves to avoid herniated discs.
A herniated disc can cause:
- Pain that radiates from the neck to the shoulders
- Reduce muscle performance in the neck area
- Numbness in the upper and lower extremities
Whiplash is the number one cause of all reported herniated disc injury after a car accident and should be attended by a medical professional. The services or advice of an experienced personal injury lawyer are recommended after a car accident that results in a possible neck injury.
Vertebra Fractures
Our bodies are made up of bones, which are the framework that keep us upright and allow us to move about. The vertebrae perform the same function for the spinal column. When injuries such as fractures to the cervical vertebrae are involved following an accident, the accident victims may experience mild pain which can be successfully treated with minor intervention if any as physical therapy may most often enough to treat minor injuries successfully. However, more severe injuries such as burst fractures can end in paralysis and sometimes be fatal.
Flexion or distraction fractures are common when a frontal car crash occurs that propels the head forward and causes a tear in the vertebra. Though treatable through physical rehabilitation, pain medication be necessary to treat the long term effects of a vertebrae distraction.
WHAT KINDS OF TESTS ARE PERFORMED AFTER A NECK INJURY ACCIDENT?
Following an accident that results in an injury to the neck, seeking the medical advice of a healthcare practitioner is highly recommended. Visiting your family doctor or a public hospital is a good place to start for a medical evaluation.
The medical professional will most likely order one of the following test depending on the degree of damage incurred from the accident:
- A Computed tomography or (CT) scan
- MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging)
- An X-ray
- An Evoked potential testing procedure to measure nerve signal speed to the brain
Jonathan Perazzo reminds neck injury accident victims that these studies are not free and the medical facility conducting these tests will expect to get paid, as will the medical practioner and any other professionals taking part in treating the neck injury accident victim.
HOW ARE NECK INJURIES TREATED?
There are a number of effective ways of treating neck injuries that result from traffic accidents or slip and fall accidents. These include:
- Soft collar for minor injuries
- Professional chiropractic care for minor injuries and more severe postsurgical recovery treatment
- Pain medication to temporary pain
- Corticosteroid injection treatment to treat more intense temporary or long-term pain
- Nerve blocking injection to treat persistent and intense pain
- Surgery for persistent injuries and severe pain
Jonathan Perazzo reminds neck injury accident victims that the pain relief treatments listed above imply professional medical participation which include medical bills that could lead to the tens of thousands depending on the treatment involved. While a soft collar can range from $300-$600, nerve block injections could cost as much as $1-2K per dose, with surgery costing an easy $15,000!
HOW TO MAXIMIZE THE CHANCES OF A SUCCESSFUL PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM
To maximize the chances of a successful insurance claim to cover losses from an accident that results in injuries and damage to the neck, Jonathan Perazzo strongly recommends seeking a medical evaluation by an experienced neck injury medical professional. An experienced personal injury lawyer like Jonathan Perazzo, will be able to help recommend trusted medical facilities that have a good reputation for treating accident victims that suffer neck injuries.
Rule of thumb after an accident that may include neck injuries:
- Seek medical attention
- Notify the medical professional of neck pain
- Request all medical records and bills
- Report the accident to your insurance provider
- Contact a Personal Injury Law Firm in Miami
IF YOU, A FRIEND, OR RELATIVE HAS SUFFERED A NECK INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT, CONTACT THE PERAZZO LAW FIRM ONLINE NOW FOR A FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION. ZERO OUT-OF-POCKET FEES TO OUR PERSONAL INJURY CLIENTS IN MIAMI-DADE AND BROWARD COUNTY.
THE PERAZZO LAW FIRM – DEDICATED TO PUTTING YOUR INTERESTS FIRST!
OFFICES IN MIAMI-DADE
(786) LAWS-411
