After facing car accidents, victims may experience minor injuries such as pain in the neck. However, you must not ignore neck injuries. If they are left untreated, the neck pain may result in severe conditions such as cervical radiculopathy.
Cervical radiculopathy may result from a herniated disc or pinched nerve in the neck. This is one of the most common injuries you may experience after a car crash. Even a minor car collision may result in permanent neck injuries.
Therefore, seeing a doctor, whether you sustain minor or major injuries, is always recommended. It is because they can diagnose your condition in a better way. After that, the process of filing a personal injury lawsuit will begin, providing compensation for your damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
What Is Cervical Radiculopathy?
Cervical radiculopathy is a pinched nerve in the neck that can cause numbness, pain, or weakness in the arm or chest. Sometimes, cervical radiculopathy is also known as pinched nerves. Due to inflammation, there can be changes in reflexes, strength, or sensation. It will cause pain in the back, arms, neck, and hands.
Symptoms of Cervical Radiculopathy
The symptoms of cervical radiculopathy may vary as it will depend on the severity of the injuries caused after the car crash. Common symptoms may include the following:
- Burning sensation
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Loss of motion
- Stiffness
- Muscle weakness
- Aching
Victims may experience these symptoms on one side of the body or maybe in the neck where nerve damage has occurred. Some may experience a tingling sensation in fingers in the fingers and not in the neck after the crash, leading to cervical radiculopathy.
How Do You Prove A Car Accident Caused Your Cervical Spine Injury?
To prove that your cervical spine injury has been caused by a car accident you need to show relevant evidence such as expert testimony and medical records. However, medical records are essential to prove your back and neck injury. This is because these records have documented injuries caused after a car crash and the treatment you are getting to address those injuries.
How Much Is The Worth Of Cervical Radiculopathy Car Accident Settlements?
The cervical radiculopathy settlements may range from thousands of dollars to millions of dollars depending on the circumstances in which the accident took place. Some factors that may impact the settlements are medical treatment expenses, insurance coverage, the severity of the injuries, and the loss of wages.
If the accident victim requires long-term medical care, the settlement amount may be more in comparison to those who require short-term medical treatment.
How Much Time It Takes For Cervical Radiculopathy To Heal?
More than 85% of acute cervical radiculopathy cases require a time of 8 to 12 weeks to recover with certain specific medical treatments. However, if the symptoms persist even after 12 weeks, there are several other treatment options for cervical radiculopathy. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be a good option to provide some relief within 1 to 2 weeks to patients who are struggling with inflammation due to their cervical radiculopathy.
What Is Cervical Radiculopathy C6-C7?
C6-C7 is located between the 6th and 7th cervical vertebrae in the upper neck region. Victims of car accidents who experience cervical sprain at C6-C7 may experience excessive weakness, pain, and paralysis. It may also affect an individual’s ability to control arm and hand muscles. C6-C7 is one of the most common neck injury levels that may be the outcome after a car crash.
Moreover, it may lead to trouble breathing and affect bladder and bowel functionality. The settlement may also go high in such cases due to the injury’s severity.
How Much Time Does Cervical Radiculopathy Car Accident Settlement Take?
There is no precise time that cervical radiculopathy car accident settlement may take to settle. Some cases may resolve in a few months whereas others may take a much longer length of time to settle. This is because the severity and impact of cervical radiculopathy may vary widely in severity which in turn will also impact the recovery time. Some factors that may impact the settlement time are:
- How the victim is responding to treatment?
Suppose, a victim is recovering quickly after their injury, the case will resolve quickly. However, if the effects of injury are causing long-term consequences the time may be more. This is because it takes time to understand the nature of the injury as some may even require surgery.
- How much compensation do you need to recover?
If your cervical radiculopathy is more severe or permanent, the medical care and expenses may be more. The time taken to recover the compensation may also be longer as other parties may try to provide you with a lower settlement.
- How many parties are involved in your case?
Some cases are more complex as they may involve multiple injuries or vehicles. These accident cases may require more time to settle than those where two parties are involved.
- Does the case go into litigation?
If you are unable to settle the case outside the court, it may take longer as your case will go to court. It will further add time.
Tips For Maximizing Settlement For Cervical Radiculopathy
Some tips that you must keep in mind to maximize cervical radiculopathy after a car accident settlement are as follows:
- Seek medical attention immediately after an accident
- Abide by the doctor’s instructions
- Maintain detailed records of your injury claim in a journal
- Ensure that you do not sign any release forms without consulting a lawyer
- Do not post anything on social media about your injury case
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help You In Your Cervical Radiculopathy Case?
An experienced car accident attorney may help you determine the appropriate course of action by understanding the nature of your injury and what to expect from your injury lawsuit. They can also help to pursue fair compensation for your pain and suffering after the accident.