Neck injuries are caused by automobile accidents, or by physical trauma like slips and falls. Most neck injuries are not serious, but some that are seemingly innocuous can cause major problems later on. It is always best to consult a physician and a personal injury settlement attorney if you have been involved in an accident and suffer a neck injury.

Whiplash neck injuries are notorious, because they show no visible symptoms other than some discomfort that vanishes over time. Serious consequences like paralysis, disability and numbness can develop later on. The damage to the soft spinal cord tissue shows up after years in the form of chronic pain, paralysis and, in some cases, death. Take the case of a woman who was involved in a car accident and settled for a small compensation amount for what she thought was a minor neck sprain. Her injury became so serious over the years that she was ultimately confined to a wheelchair, unable to walk or move her lower body. Because she had already settled her personal injury claim, she could not sue again. Her mounting medical bills forced her into bankruptcy.

Always hire an experienced attorney to represent you in a neck injury case. Neck injuries have a very uncertain prognosis, and what seems minor, can escalate into paralysis. Only an experienced attorney will know how to claim compensation for an injury not yet serious, but having chances of becoming so. The lawyer needs to understand medical facts and discuss the outcome of the whiplash injury with physicians. If he is not able to convince the jury a fair compensation is needed because an injury might worsen over the years, it could lead to serious financial loss for the victim.