There are several areas of the body that are at high-risk of injury during a car accident, including your neck and shoulders. Injuries to these areas of the body may cause you to develop temporary or permanent disability.

If you suffered an injury in a car accident, contact D’Amico & Pettinicchi for a free, no obligation consultation. Our New Haven car accident lawyers have helped many accident victims who suffered a variety of injuries. We understand the difficulties many people face in these situations. If you have a case and decide to move ahead, we will help you pursue the maximum amount of compensation to which you may be entitled.

Common Neck Injuries

Some of the most common types of neck injuries caused by car accidents include:

• Whiplash – This can occur when your head violently jolts forward and quickly stops. Whiplash causes damage to your neck’s soft tissues, such as muscles, ligaments and nerves. Victims may experience neck pain and stiffness, tingling or numbness in the neck and arms.
• Disc injury – This type of injury causes the nerves in your neck to become irritated, resulting in bursts of pain in your neck and legs. The injury results from part of your spinal structure moving out of place.
• Spinal cord injury – A neck injury can damage the spinal cord if your vertebral bones were disrupted during the accident. Because the spinal cord consists of many sensitive nerves, spinal cord injuries may cause the victim to suffer partial or complete paralysis or even death in extreme situations.
• Vertebral fracture – The impact of a car accident can cause vertebrae to break. A fractured vertebrae is a serious injury that requires immediate medical attention to determine if you suffered spinal cord damage.
• Sprains and strains – Muscle or ligament sprains in the neck may occur during a car accident because of the sudden movement. This can cause pain in the neck, which can be worsened by activity.

Common Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries can occur when your body is propelled into a hard object around you, such as the side of the vehicle or dashboard. Some common examples of shoulder injuries that car accident victims are at risk of acquiring include:

• Rotator cuff tear – The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surrounds the shoulder joint. Muscles and tendons can be torn during a car accident, resulting in a dull ache deep in the shoulder and weakness in the affected arm. Accident victims who suffer a rotator cuff tear may experience limited movement, tenderness and severe pain in the affected area.
• Rotator cuff tendinitis – If the rotator cuff is suddenly injured from a severe impact, such as a car accident, it can cause tendinitis in the affected area. This may result in pain and stiffness when you try to lift your arms over your head.
• Dislocated shoulder – This injury occurs when the ball and socket in the arm become dislocated from each other. This injury may result in muscle spasms, weakness, numbness or tingling near the injury.
• SLAP tear – A superior labrum anterior and posterior tear occurs when there is a tear to the tendon in the bicep that attaches to the cartilage at the end of the arm. These injuries are often associated with instability, decreased range of motion, pain while lifting or moving and a sensation of grinding, or popping sounds in the affected area.

Symptoms of a Delayed Injury

You may not realize that you have suffered a neck or shoulder injury immediately after a car accident. If you experience any of the following symptoms after your accident, seek medical attention:

• Headache or dizziness
• Back pain
• Pain in the shoulders or neck
• Tingling or numbness
• Pain that wakes you up at night

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Attorneys

Neck and shoulder injuries can often have a significant impact on your life. You may need to undergo extensive medical treatment, causing you to incur costly medical bills. You may also suffer lost wages while recovering because you are unable to work and earn an income.

If this is the case, contact D’Amico & Pettinicchi as soon as possible. Our New Haven personal injury lawyers are dedicated to defending the rights of accident victims. We are committed to helping our clients recover the most compensation possible for their claim.

All of our services are provided on a contingency fee basis. When we represent you, you only have to pay us if we recover compensation for you. There is no risk in contacting us to find out if you have a case.