When you were hit by a DC tractor-trailer, you may have thought you had an ordinary case of whiplash. You were hit from behind, and you’ve heard about these kinds of injuries before…but now your doctor says it’s much more serious than a soft-tissue injury.
Neck Injuries Are Often More Serious Than They Appear
Many victims assume that a pain in the neck is a minor injury, especially if they were able to walk away from their Fairfax semi accident. Unfortunately, these victims miss the opportunity to hold the trucking company accountable for their injury costs, assuming their insurance will be enough to cover the damage – only to find later that they need surgery and will be out of work for weeks to come.
If you’re not sure about filing a Fairfax truck accident case you should know that a cervical spinal injury can be both exhausting and expensive. Many victims experience severe pain, numbness, or “pins and needles” in their extremities, and will require disc surgery to take pressure off of the spinal cord.
Treating a Herniated Cervical Disc
Here are just a few treatments for a herniated cervical disc injury:
- Discectomy. If pressure on the spinal cord is affecting mobility, a victim may have one of his vertebrae removed in order to restore feeling to the limbs.
- Fusion surgery. Neck fusion surgery may be done at the same time as disc removal. The neck is fused together at the point where the disc was removed to add stability and support to the neck.
- Inpatient recovery. Patients are often out of work for a considerable time after neck fusion surgery due to extreme pain, immobility, and difficulty speaking or swallowing.
Contact a Local Truck Injury Lawyer
Our board-certified DC injury attorneys can help you receive the settlement you deserve for your truck accident injury. Call Shevlin Smith today at (703) 721-4233 to get started on your FREE case evaluation, or fill out the contact form on this page.
