Neck Injuries from Car Accident
Neck injuries are the most common type of car accident injury. Even a seemingly minor accident can cause damage to the neck and spine.
This legal professional has shown exceptional competence and dedication in their field. I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking legal representation that is committed to unwavering advocacy and support throughout the entirety of their case.
I would describe this lawyer as highly educated, sharp, and top of his game. Explains the car accident process and treatment options well. The lawyer said if they don’t pay you, we will have the jury take it from the insurance company. Great lawyer. Dynamic person.
Very good car accident lawyer. Gets the job done.
This lawyer is as good as you will find in st. Louis. Call this lawyer if you are in an auto accident. 100% recommended
Interviewed all the TV car accident lawyers and decided to call this law firm that had great reviews. So happy I did. What a difference!
Response from the owner: TV car accident lawyers are just mass production. This is not a good fit for litigated cases. Paralegals instead of lawyers. Monthly quotas for settlements. Car accident victims end up in a cattle call with the lawyers on TV.
Love my car accident lawyer. This law firm is a step above.
Response from the owner: Our lawyers train and track the best approaches on cases. Whether litigation in cases or the practicalities of certain treatment, the growth of our lawyers over time is paramount. Always staying ahead of and setting practice trends. Thank you.
This auto accident law firm is incredible!! Very accomplished lawyers!
Response from the owner: Being labeled “an incredible lawyer” is quite the compliment. We are only incredible if this client is. Thanks.
Serious family member have a car accident injury? Look no further. This litigator is for real. Always two steps ahead of the other lawyer.
Response from the owner: This is a sad reality for car accident lawyers. The #1 passenger in an auto accident is a relative. Helping a family make it through this and putting the family back together is one of the most rewarding things I do as an automobile accident attorney.
This lawyer handles really big accident cases in St Louis. He is a lawyer, accountant and has his masters in tax so he gets the injury cases for individuals that can never go back to work or individuals own a business and cannot run it due to injury. He specializes in valuations of massive loss. Thank goodness a firm like this exists.
Response from the owner: Thank you. When accident are severe and you lose the ability to work or to continue a business, having an accounting and tax background is key. Valuing large losses are second nature for us.
You are a great lawyer! Thank you.
Response from the owner: That is a great compliment. Thanks.
Asked a trauma surgeon who operates on car accident victims who are the best injury lawyers that have taken his deposition. He said “by far” it was Mr Hoffmann. Interviewed several attorneys and this was a correct assessment. In a league of his own!
Response from the owner: Our attorney have deposed nearly all the trauma surgeons at every Level 1 Trauma Center in Saint Louis. These doctors save lives after a car accident. Whether controlling bleeding or reestablishing blood flow or bone structures, they are life savers.
Few lawyers in St. Louis can handle the biggest injury cases! This is one of them!
Response from the owner: Our law firm has made great efforts in terms of training to handle life changing injury cases. Whether in depth knowledge of the medical, loss of income and earning capacity, or lifetime medical care plans, our clients feel confident and know their case is in good hands. Thank you for the compliment.
Cannot say enough about this lawyer. Call if in an accident. This attorney handles the biggest car accidents in St Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks Ash! Our biggest source of cases is our clients. Our second biggest referral source is defense lawyers telling their relatives to call us. Few lawyers can handle the largest cases. Our law firm welcomes and has trained for this. We don’t do mass production settlement like the lawyers on TV. Our clients can never go back to work. Their cases need massive focus and effort and often long fought litigation.
So glad I called attorney Hoffmann. This time I got it right! So glad I hired the Hoffmann Law Firm - professional, reliable and available.
Response from the owner: Thanks Taylor. Our lawyers answer the phone day, night, weekends and even during lunch. Being professional means training to beat the best defense lawyers. Client rely on us to get results and we do.
Great lawyer. Cares about his clients, knows his stuff and goes the extra mile. I recommend this lawyer for car wreck injury claim. Every other lawyer on TV would not even help with my property claim. This attorney did.
Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words. Every case starts with a great client. You are correct the car accident lawyers on TV are mass production settlement mills. When injury clients fire them, we get their files and the cases are not worked up at all. Appreciate your confidence in us!
Major car accident injury in St Louis area for a family member. Four different lawyers we know said the same thing - call Chris Hoffmann. On another level.
Response from the owner: This is such a great compliment. Most of our cases come from prior client or lawyers that also do car accidents cases but the particular case is too large or too difficult. Being a lawyer and an accountant, we specialize in cases with total lost of income, earning capacity and/or often the inability to continue a family business. Evaluations such as these are second nature for our lawyers. Thanks.
Best in St Louis for auto accident cases. Nobody else is even close.
Response from the owner: So kind of you to leave this review. Whether our lawyers are going after big insurance or their lawyers, skill and experience are essential and win the day for our auto accident clients. Thanks!
This attorney is very smart, very experienced, returns phone calls and knows the answers when asked. One call and I knew this was a great law firm for auto accidents.
Response from the owner: Our law firm appreciates this. This is a comment we get from so many people who call…”none of the lawyers we called told me all the things that you did.” Whether we take a car accident case or not, helping people is a good thing.
5 Star Lawyer for sure! Best you will find in Saint Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks for the 5 Star Rating. Reviews like this are great. Injury victims quickly figure out the TV advertisers are not good. We work hard at being the best we can be and it reflects in our representation of car accident victims.
Watch this lawyer in action. Was way better than all the others. Get this lawyer for an automobile accident for sure.
Response from the owner: Thanks for the recommendation. Besides doing cases, our attorneys train for this. Hard work, case knowledge and technique is key to success in car accident litigation.
Very pleased with The Hoffmann Law Firm. Lawyers are attentive, friendly and go the distance to force the settlement you want. The TV lawyers recommend low offers. This law firm gets the maximum.
Response from the owner: We get calls from car accident victims that had to fire the TV lawyers that they hired. They give the same two reasons: 1) they never spoke to a lawyer at the Big TV law firms, only a paralegal, and 2) the paralegal recommended they accept a low offer. At our law firm, you only talk to the lawyer and if an offer is low we tell you to sue. Thanks!
You will love this car accident lawyer.
Response from the owner: You are the best! Thanks for the review. Our attorneys work hard but it all starts with a great client.
Several lawyers said to call this lawyer because he is the best. You will appreciate this law firm. Helped with the injury and property claims. Attentive and knowledgeable. Great reputation in St Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks Lexi. Our #1 source of cases is other lawyers referring us cases that are too big for them to handle.
Would use this accident law firm. Best in Saint Louis. Highly rated and it shows. After one phone call, you just know this attorney is better. 5 Stars!!
Response from the owner: Thanks for recommending our lawyers in St Louis. There is a major difference in lawyers as you well know.
Great law firm thanks Leah for the referral
Response from the owner: Appreciate you recommending our law firm. Car accident litigation is all we do and specializing allows us to focus.
Car accident lawyers on tv are not good . Get this attorney ! He is a pro !!
Response from the owner: Thanks Nathan. TV lawyers market for car accidents, use paralegals instead of lawyers and give their employees settlement quotas hence forcing cheap settlements. At our law firm, you get a lawyer who keeps pushing forward for more.
A+ attorney. Smart. Helpful. Great for automobile accident cases. Located in saint louis, missouri. Use him!
Response from the owner: Thanks. Car accident cases are difficult without the right attorney and great clients. Much appreciated.
Quality lawyer. Best law firm for a car accident. Advice was way better than other lawyers I called in St. Louis. Helped with property and injury.
Response from the owner: Thanks. The TV lawyer advertisers are just car accident settlement mills. As soon as people call a real attorney, they always tell us how much better and more helpful we were. Appreciate this.
Get this lawyer if you have an automobile accident. Simply the best!
Response from the owner: Thanks Lizzy. Recommendations from other is the best way to find a car accident attorney.
This lawyer is big time. Smooth. The other lawyers on the other side were not nearly as good as this attorney. I recommend friends in St Louis to him for accident injuries and they all say the same thing…”that lawyer is great.”
Response from the owner: Very nice of you to say. Our lawyers work hard on auto accident cases.
Family used this car accident attorney after a crash. Located in St Louis. This lawyer answers the phone and will walk you through the process. Knows his stuff!
Response from the owner: Taking calls, going over the car accident injury and property process is important. Clients that call always say we are the only lawyers that explained everything. Much appreciated.
Tried the lawyers on TV. They were not good. Hired this car accident lawyer instead because he had great reviews. The reviews are correct. This attorney is as good as they get. He does big injury cases that need to be litigated.
Response from the owner: Car accident lawyers on TV do not litigate cases. It is mass production. They have quotas. Local attorneys are best on auto accidents.
Very very good at injury claims for car wrecks. Use this St Louis attorney. Two thumbs up!
Response from the owner: Thanks for the review! All we do is accidents. When you specialize, your knowledge base and practice skills grow. Thanks!
Used this attorney for an auto accident. Highly recommend this lawyer in St. Louis. Communicates well.
Response from the owner: Communicating with clients is essential. Taking the client though the car accident claims process is important otherwise major mistakes can occur. It is an effort that we make. Thanks!
Best for car accidents in St Louis. Use this attorney.
Response from the owner: Thanks. Great clients make for great cases!
This lawyer is great for car accident injury claims. Did an uninsured motorist case. Very good attorney.
Response from the owner: Car accidents can be insured or uninsured. The claims are much different. Thanks for the review.
Great lawyer if you are in an auto accident. I recommend this attorneys office.
Response from the owner: Thanks J. Glad we got your auto accident case completed and that for telling others about our lawyers.
Very good car accident attorney. Did my and my relatives claims and paperwork. Highly recommend.
Response from the owner: Thanks for recommending our law firm on car accident cases.
Fantastic law firm, I would recommend! Received free consultation related to an auto accident when my parked car was damaged by a baseball. Very supportive advice, these guys are good!
Response from the owner: Thank you!
Recommend this attorney for auto accidents.
Response from the owner: Thanks for recommending our attorneys for an automobile accident.
Best St Louis lawyer for car accidents.
Response from the owner: Thanks Tana. Appreciate this!
Great Lawyer!!
Response from the owner: Thank you
I was in a car accident in St.Louis and hired Chris as my lawyer. He was amazing!!! He helped me every step of the way and was able to get me a great settlement!!!Highly, highly, highly recommend him!
Response from the owner: Each step is important in a car accident. Thanks for recommending us for car accidents injury claims.
If you have an auto accident and need an attorney in St Louis, I recommend Mr Hoffmann.
Response from the owner: Appreciate this James and you did great as well. Car accident claims always start with a good client.
Great car accident lawyer. Did a very good job on my injury case. Thanks!
Response from the owner: Thanks. Appreciate the compliment. All we do is car accident litigation.
Very accomplished accident attorney in Saint Louis. 5 stars for sure!
Response from the owner: Thanks
A car accident lawyer I would recommend to anyone.
Response from the owner: Thanks. That is great of you to say about our lawyers.
Great car accident attorney!!
Response from the owner: Thanks
Understanding Neck Injuries from Car Accidents
Neck injuries are one of the most common types of injury associated with car accidents in the United States. If you or a loved one has been involved in an auto accident it is important that you seek medical attention immediately. Even a seemingly minor accident can cause damage to the neck and spine.
Types of Neck Injuries from Car Accidents
There are many different types of neck injuries and they can range from mild to severe. It is important to keep in mind that if you have damage to one part of your neck, you may have damage to other parts as well. This is because all the parts of the neck are connected by means of the bones, joints, nerves and soft tissues. All of these components work together to support and move your head.
- Whiplash: This is the most common type of neck injury resulting from a car accident. The sudden impact causes the neck to jerk forward and backward in a whip-like motion, leading to muscle and ligament strains and tears.
- Neck Sprain: This occurs when ligaments in the neck are torn or stretched, often due to the sudden deceleration and acceleration involved in a car accident.
- Neck Strain: This type of injury involves a tear or stretching of the muscles in the neck, commonly referred to as a ‘pulled muscle’.
- Herniated Disc: A car accident can cause the discs between the vertebrae in the neck to rupture or herniate, resulting in pinched nerves and severe pain.
- Cervical Radiculopathy: This injury happens when a nerve root in the neck is damaged or inflamed, causing numbness, tingling, or loss of strength in the arm.
- Fracture or Dislocation of the Neck: In severe car accidents, it’s possible for the vertebrae in the neck to fracture or dislocate. These are very serious injuries that can lead to paralysis or death.
- Spinal Cord Injury: This is a severe type of neck injury from car accidents where damage is done to the spinal cord. It can result in partial or complete paralysis.
- Muscle spasms: These are characterized by straining of the ligaments around facet joints in the neck vertebrae
- Vocal cord damage: This can occur because of the impact to the larynx
- Soft tissue damage: This involves injuries that are not directly to the bone. Instead, they affect the muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
- Paresthesia: Tingling sensation on the skin without an apparent reason can occur because of a slipped disc pushing on a nerve root
- Brain injuries: Any injury to arteries in the neck can restrict blood flow to the brain
Any nerve damage in the cervical spine region can cause mental and emotional damage as well. It is possible for a person to sustain more than one type of neck injury in a car accident.
It’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention if you suspect any of these injuries after a car accident. Early diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve the prognosis and recovery outcomes.
Symptoms and Causes of Neck Injuries from Car Accidents
A neck injury in a car accident generally results from the whiplash effect due to the impact of the accident. Symptoms of neck injuries are not always felt immediately due to the adrenaline rush and the endorphins that mask the pain. Common symptoms of neck injuries are:
- Jaw pain
- Paraspinal muscle tightness
- Limited range of motion
- Muscle spasms
- Low back pain
- A chronic headache
- Pain between the shoulders
- Dizziness/vertigo
- Blurred vision
- Chronic fatigue
- Inner ear problems/nausea
- Difficulty swallowing and breathing
- Numbness in upper limbs
- Swelling inside the neck and throat
If you feel any of the above symptoms, you should immediately seek the advice of a specialist to carry out a complete diagnosis and recommend a course of treatment.
Neck Strain
The forceful stretching or pulling of muscles is called a strain. When the muscles in the neck are stretched, pulled, or torn, the outcome will usually be a neck strain.
Neck Sprain
Ligaments play a vital role in providing stability. These are bands of tissues that help to connect bones or cartilages together and stabilize joints. A neck sprain is the consequence of ligaments in the neck getting damaged or torn. Neck sprain usually reveals itself in form stiffness and pain. Along with neck strains, neck sprains are often referred to as whiplash or hyperflexion-hyperextension injuries.
Cervical Radiculopathy or Pinched Nerve
Cervical nerves constitute a portion of the human body’s peripheral nervous system. They emerge from the spinal column in the cervical spine region, passing into the arm. These nerves are responsible for ensuring sensation in portions of the shoulder and arm. They also provide electrical signals to some muscles to ensure movement in the hand or arm. However, the function of these nerves is compromised when they are pinched by pieces of herniated discs or bone spurs. This leads to numbness or pain in areas of the body served by the nerves or weakness in muscles to which the nerves lead. In medical terms, the condition is referred to as Cervical Radiculopathy.
Herniated Disc
In between the vertebrae in our spines, there are rubbery cushions or discs. Think of the disc as a small jelly doughnut with a tough exterior. A herniated disc refers to the jelly-like substance pushing through the tough exterior. When this pushes out it often pushes on nerves and causes pain, numbness, weakness, and discomfort. If this type of injury is not treated quickly, you may be left in chronic pain.
Whiplash
Whiplash injuries occur when violent motions force your neck into extreme positions. The word whiplash is not a medical term. Cervical acceleration-deceleration actually describes the injury. It is a hyperextension of the neck and is associated most commonly with auto accidents. In fact, it is one of the main injuries that are covered by insurance companies. We have experience helping those who have suffered a whiplash injury in all types of accidents.
Thousands of individuals suffer from whiplash car accident injuries every year. Many individuals believe their pain will go away and fail to seek proper medical attention immediately. This can lead to a lifetime of pain and other chronic conditions.
Soft Tissue Damage
Neck injuries involving soft tissue damage often persist long after a car accident and can cause complications that necessitate ongoing medical care. Whiplash is the most common form of soft tissue damage resulting from a car accident. Other injuries include sprains, strains, and tears to the ligaments and tendons.
Vocal Cord Paralysis
Another serious neck injury resulting from a car accident is vocal cord paralysis, which occurs when the car accidents result in an impact to the larynx. It affects the ability to speak, and in serious cases, affects breathing as well.
When Neck Fusion Is Required After a Car Accident
Neck fusion is a type of surgery wherein a variety of techniques are used to rejoin the bones. In a high impact motor vehicle collision, the discs can become dislodged or the disc material may rupture out of the disc. When the discs and bones are damaged, they can put significant pressure on the spinal cords and nerves, causing immense pain and suffering. Before a neck fusion is performed, a surgeon may have to perform some additional procedures including:
- Discectomy: Removal of part of all of the spinal disc.
- Laminectomy: Removal of the lamina.
- Foraminotomy: Widen the area where nerves exit from the spinal column.
A surgeon may use decompression techniques to relieve pressure on the spine. They may have to fuse the bones using a graft of bone from the pelvis. They may also use hardware such as surgical plates and screws to prevent the bones from moving while the graft heals.
Rehabilitation After Neck Fusion
Rehabilitation after neck fusion is often lengthy and expensive. The patient may have to be hospitalized for at least 3-4 days, but the period can be much longer depending on the severity of the injury. In some serious cases, a doctor may advise the patient to stay in a rehabilitative unit before being discharged from the hospital. The patient would need a minimum of 6 weeks to see the first signs of healing; however, the patient may still not be able to use the affected arm. It may take at least 3 to 4 months for the arm to heal significantly and the healing may continue for a year or so. The expenses of surgery and rehabilitation can be quite high. If you have been injured in a car accident caused by another person’s negligence, consult a St. Louis car accident lawyer to claim damages for the losses suffered.
Neck Fusion – Possible Complications
- Rejection of bone graft.
- Abnormal bleeding.
- Anesthesia complications.
- Fusion failure.
- Blood clots.
- Infection.
- Increased injury to surrounding nerves.
- Immense pain and suffering.
Victims of car accidents who have to undergo neck fusion may be eligible to receive compensation for the injuries if the accident was a result of another party’s negligence. The victim may have to furnish evidence of the other party’s fault and negligence and of damages suffered.
Contact St. Louis Neck Injury Lawyers
To learn more about how we can help people who have suffered a neck injury in an auto accident, call (314) 361-4242 or contact fill out our online contact form. Attorney Christopher Hoffmann will speak with you personally. Your initial consultation is always free and we do not charge attorneys fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Free Consultation with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer
Don’t talk to an insurance claims adjuster before speaking with The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We can help you avoid making statements that may affect the outcome of your case. The consultation is free; you don’t pay unless we get you money!
