Neck injury after whiplash and head trauma
The cervical spine is part of the backbone located in the neck. Consisting of seven vertebrae and six intervertebral discs, it bears the weight of the head and allows it to move and turn. The discs contain no blood vessels and they receive very little oxygen and nutrition.
As the body ages the discs are liable to deteriorate and become more susceptible to compression and herniation; often as the result of trauma such as whiplash, slips trips and falls. Any blow to the head can cause neck injury.
Pain from a whiplash injury may be caused by tears and haemorrhaging in the anterior and posterior musculature (muscles at the front and back of the neck) supporting the cervical spine. Also, whiplash pain is caused by rupture of the anterior longitudinal ligament, avulsion of the disc from vertebral bodies (where movement of the neck bone has torn part of a disc away), or annular disc injuries (where the disc is compressed into a ring).
There are several "red flag" symptoms for people who suffer cervical neck pain after a neck injury caused by whiplash, slip, trip or fall, these include:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unexplained fever, especially in diabetic patients
- History of cancer
- Chronic steroid use
- Evidence of spinal chord compression; including severe weakness, hand wasting, loss of pain and temperature sensation in upper extremities; gait disturbance; or Babinski's sign (extension upward of the toes when the sole of the foot is stroked firmly on the outer side from the heel to the front)
Any of these symptoms after head or neck trauma may be the sign of a more serious condition and need immediate and thorough investigation by a doctor.
Neck injury and no win no fee compensation claims
If you have suffered whiplash injury or a neck injury as a result of an accident that was not your fault, or you have received a blow to the head after a slip, trip or fall, you may be able to claim 100% compensation with YouClaim.
All our personal injury solicitors on our panel are experts in their fields and proudly governed by the standards laid down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. We guarantee that at no time will you be charged for our services and that you will receive 100% of the compensation awarded to you. If your claim is unsuccessful you will not be charged.
If you would like to talk to one of our friendly helpline advisors, please call 0800 10 757 95. If you would like to choose a more suitable time, we can call you back later.
Alternatively, tell us about your neck injury by filling out an online claim form and we will call you back when we have checked the details. Above all, remember that YouClaim's advice is free and confidential.
