Being involved in any motor vehicle accident in Oklahoma can lead to severe problems with your body. If you have symptoms indicating an issue with your neck, it’s usually best to get it checked out by a medical professional to ensure that you have nothing wrong.
Neck injuries occurring after a car wreck
Typically, the severity of the injury to your neck is due to the type of accident that occurs. While each case is unique, common injuries that can happen after being in a car wreck include the following:
- Whiplash – Throwing your head forward and backward quickly puts a tremendous force on your neck. When this movement occurs backward, it’s called hyperextension. Having your neck flown quickly forward can create hyperflexion.
- Burn or sting – Having your head whip to the side can cause pain to run down your shoulder into your arm. Damage to your brachial plexus causes the pain to feel like a burning or stinging sensation.
Symptoms to watch out for indicating your neck may be injured
After getting in a motor vehicle accident, you may have minor neck pain that’s annoying. Usually, this type of pain will get better. However, if you have any of the following symptoms, you may have a more serious neck injury:
- Tingling, weakness or numbness in your legs or arms
- Shooting pain in your legs or arms
- Pain that is severe or doesn’t diminish
- Problems controlling your bowels or bladder
Having your neck whipped hard in a motor vehicle accident will probably require you to get medical assistance as soon as possible. Receiving an x-ray, CT scan or MRI can help indicate any minor or major injuries in your neck. After getting treated medically, you can deal with the impact of the accident on your life and pursue a legal claim if necessary.
