Whiplash and other neck injuries are a common result of being in a car accident. After a car accident in Detroit and Michigan, you have the right to claim benefits no matter how severe your injury is. Compensation from a personal injury claim can help cover a number of damages and burdens, such as expensive medical bills, loss of wages, and pain and suffering.
Whiplash Statistics from Car Accidents
Nearly 3 million people are injured in car crashes annually in the United States. In Michigan alone, there were 44,417 injuries reported in the past year due to car accidents. There are several ways an individual can sustain a neck injury, but of those suffering from whiplash, car crashes tend to be the number one cause.
Research shows that of those involved in severe car accidents, one in 300 sustained severe neck injuries. When occupants are ejected from the vehicle, the rate goes up to one in 14. Individuals between the ages of 16 and 25 were the most susceptible, and of the neck injuries sustained, many included damage to the spinal cord or cervical spine. Nearly 20% of all car accident fatalities are due to cervical neck injuries.
Michigan Whiplash and Neck Injury Law Firm
If you have suffered a neck injury in a car crash in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Saginaw, or anywhere else in Michigan, the Lee Steinberg Law Firm can help you seek appropriate and full financial compensation. Accident victims have the right to have their medical bills, lost wages, and other benefits paid for by the car insurance company. In addition, you can seek compensation for pain and suffering and emotional distress against the driver who was responsible for the accident.
What is Neck Injury From Whiplash?
Whiplash, also known as a neck strain or sprain, occurs when your head moves in a forceful and sudden back-and-forth motion. It results from the soft tissues in your neck extending beyond their typical range of motion. More than 50% of those who suffer from whiplash tend to develop chronic pain.
While rear-end accidents tend to be the number one cause of this type of neck injury, whiplash can also result from other things such as sports injuries, physical abuse, slip and falls, or other trauma. It is sometimes considered a mild injury but has been known to cause long-term issues.
Neck Injuries That Can Result From a Car Accident
The muscles and ligaments in our necks are so sensitive that even collisions that occur at slow speeds can lead to a neck injury. While whiplash tends to be one of the most common types of neck injuries that result from car crashes, any number of neck injuries can occur, including:
- Whiplash
- Cervical spondylolisthesis
- Slipped or herniated discs
- Pinched nerves
- Facet joint injuries
- Neck fractures
- Neck compression
- Cuts and lacerations
If you sustained one of the above injuries in a car accident, it’s important to get in contact with an experienced Michigan whiplash lawyer that can help protect your rights. The Lee Steinberg Law Firm has experience handling many neck injury cases and is dedicated to helping you get the compensation you deserve.
Signs and Symptoms of Whiplash and Neck Injuries
The signs and symptoms of a neck injury can vary depending on the type of injury and where it is located. Some may only produce minor pain and stiffness, while others can be excruciating and cause nausea. While symptoms can appear immediately following the accident, It is common for neck injury pain to develop over time. It may take days or even weeks before you begin to notice anything.
Common symptoms of whiplash and other neck injuries can include:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Limited range of motion
- Muscle spasm in your neck
- Pain that worsens with movement
- Throbbing pain
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Tenderness in the neck, shoulder, or upper back
- Tingling or numbness in the arms
- Fatigue
- Shooting pain
Additional symptoms can include:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Memory problems
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Irritability and mood changes
- Depression
If you sustain a neck injury following a car accident in Detroit and Michigan, you should always seek immediate medical attention, even if you are worried about being able to afford the bill. In almost all situations, an auto insurance company will be responsible for paying medical expenses related to the crash.
And if you wait too long to seek care, it can affect your ability to receive compensation for the injury. When you call the authorities and seek emergency medical services right away, there will be evidence and a report filed to show that your injuries resulted from the accident.
Additionally, working with the team at The Lee Steinberg Law firm can ensure you get the benefits you need to cover any medical costs. We understand how much of a burden the financial responsibilities can be following an accident. Let our team of experienced Michigan neck injury and whiplash lawyers help you get the compensation you need to recover with peace of mind. Set up a free consultation to discuss your case!
Types of Detroit Accidents That Lead to Neck Injuries and Whiplash
Though rear-end collisions tend to be the leading cause of whiplash injuries, this and other neck injuries can occur due to various other types of accidents. Such accidents may include:
- Rear-end collisions
- Side impact collisions
- Passenger vehicle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Boating accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Cycling accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
Seeking Compensation For Neck Injuries After a Car Accident in Detroit
After an accident, you should always call the authorities first and seek immediate medical attention so there is a record on file of what happened. From there, you will need to contact your insurance provider to file a claim. Most injured victims have a right to compensation for any damages as a result of the accident.
Unfortunately, it is quite common for insurers of the guilty party to try to reduce the claim amount or not take responsibility. In these situations, working with an experienced Detroit and Michigan personal injury lawyer can ensure that you receive the full amount of benefits that you deserve. Compensation doesn’t just cover the cost of medical bills for injury victims but can cover any damages, including:
- Outstanding medical expenses
- Property damage
- Future medical costs for anything that develops down the road as a result of the initial injury
- Out-of-pocket costs, such as co-pays and deductibles
- Pain and suffering. This can include emotional trauma, anxiety and distress that develops as a result of the accident.
- Lost wages due to the inability to work while recovering
- Loss of future income if the injury leaves you permanently disabled and unable to work
Michigan No-Fault Law
The Michigan No-Fault Law was enacted to help those involved in motor vehicle accidents. The law has been in effect since 1973 and allows a person injured in a car accident to receive certain benefits, no matter who is at fault. This ensures that even those fully or partially responsible for causing a car accident can receive needed benefits.
The Michigan no-fault benefits, also known as personal injury protection (PIP) benefits, are specific items that auto insurance companies must pay an injured person following a motor vehicle accident. There are numerous benefits, but the most important one is compensation to help cover the cost of medical bills. Under the law, any medical bills not covered by health insurance are to be reimbursed by the car insurance company up to the PIP coverage limit.
Other benefits are similar to those listed above and can include:
- Coverage of lost wages
- Prescriptions
- Other out-of-pocket expenses, such as deductibles and copays
- Coverage of household replacement services for loved ones who must complete work on behalf of the injured person
- Attendant care coverage for loved ones who are needed to help assist the injured person
Pain and Suffering Case Due to Whiplash Injury
Those injured in a Michigan car accident or big truck accident can also obtain compensation for their pain and suffering through a third-party claim. However, you can only file a third-party claim if the other driver was at least 50% at fault for causing the accident and the injured person sustained what’s called a “threshold” injury.
The three categories for a threshold injury in Michigan are:
- Death
- Permanent serious disfigurement
- Serious impairment of body function—most Michigan car accident or truck accident cases involve the last category.
Proving a threshold injury is not easy and usually requires the professional help of an attorney. The Michigan auto accident attorneys at The Lee Steinberg Law Firm are experts on the Michigan No-Fault Law and are dedicated to helping you obtain the benefits and money you deserve.
The Lee Steinberg Law Firm Can Help
For over 40 years, The Lee Steinberg Law Firm has helped injured victims all over metro Detroit, Flint, Saginaw, Grand Rapids, and throughout Detroit and Michigan to win their cases to collect the compensation they need and deserve. We care about the health and well-being of our clients. Recovering from a neck injury can take time and can result in many financial burdens. Let us help you get the monetary compensation that you need to recover in peace.
Please call Lee Free and the Michigan car accident lawyers at 1-800-LEE-FREE (1-800-533-3733) or fill out the Free Case Evaluation Form so we can answer any questions you may have about whiplash and other neck injuries. You pay nothing until we settle your Michigan personal injury case.
