Neck Injury Lawyer in Portsmouth, VA

Neck injuries are among the most common injuries in car accidents, and also among the most frequently dismissed by insurance companies. Levin & Levin, P.C. represents people throughout Portsmouth and the Hampton Roads area who suffered neck injuries because of someone else’s negligence, and we know how to build a case that reflects the real impact of these injuries.

Whiplash is the neck injury most people are familiar with, caused by the rapid back-and-forth motion of the head during a collision, which strains and sometimes tears the muscles and ligaments in the neck. Beyond whiplash, we also handle claims involving:

• Cervical strains and sprains affecting the muscles and ligaments of the neck
• Herniated discs in the cervical spine, which can press on nearby nerves and cause pain, numbness, or weakness radiating into the shoulders and arms
• Cervical vertebral fractures, in more severe cases
• Facet joint injuries in the neck, causing localized pain that worsens with movement

In severe fracture cases, there’s also a risk of injury to the spinal cord itself, given how closely it runs through the cervical spine.

One of the most important things to understand about neck injuries is that symptoms frequently don’t appear immediately after an accident. Adrenaline and shock can mask pain in the minutes and hours following a crash, and inflammation from a soft tissue injury often builds gradually over the following day or two. This delay is one of the main reasons insurance companies try to argue that a neck injury reported a day or two after an accident isn’t related to the crash, even though this pattern is medically well understood.

Neck injuries can occur in a wide range of accidents, though some are far more common than others:

• Auto Accidents — particularly rear-end collisions, which are a leading cause of neck injuries because of the specific forward-then-backward motion they cause
• Truck Accidents — the greater force involved often causes more severe cervical injuries
• Motorcycle Accidents and Bicycle Accidents — falls and sudden impacts to the head or upper body
• Premises Liability & Slip and Fall — a fall that jars the neck, even without direct impact to the head
• Sports Injuries — contact sports and collisions during recreational activities

A neck injury claim can pursue compensation for medical treatment, including physical therapy, injections, or surgery in more severe cases, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Because whiplash and other soft tissue neck injuries don’t always show up clearly on imaging, consistent medical documentation of your symptoms and treatment over time plays an especially important role in establishing what your claim is worth.

A thorough evaluation typically includes a physical examination of range of motion, strength, and reflexes, along with imaging when warranted. X-rays can identify fractures, while an MRI is often needed to detect disc damage or soft tissue injury that wouldn’t otherwise be visible. Because whiplash and other soft tissue neck injuries can worsen or persist longer than expected, follow-up evaluation matters just as much as the initial exam, particularly if new symptoms like numbness or radiating pain develop over time.

While many whiplash and cervical strain injuries resolve within a few months, some people develop chronic neck pain, recurring headaches, or reduced range of motion that persists well beyond the typical recovery window. When that happens, it’s important that your claim reflects the ongoing nature of your symptoms rather than being valued as though your injury fully resolved on the timeline insurance companies often expect.

Most neck injuries involve the soft tissue or bones of the cervical spine without affecting the spinal cord itself, but in the most severe cases, a cervical fracture or dislocation can damage the cord, potentially resulting in paralysis. When that happens, the case moves into the territory covered on our Spinal Injury page, involving a very different scale of long-term care and compensation.

Get checked out even if you feel okay at the scene, and go back to a doctor promptly if pain, stiffness, or headaches develop over the following day or two. Follow through on physical therapy or other recommended treatment, and keep a simple log of your symptoms and how they’re limiting your daily activities. This kind of documentation is often what separates a properly valued whiplash claim from one an insurer tries to dismiss.

Our attorneys bring more than 60 years of combined courtroom experience to neck injury claims, and we understand how insurance companies try to use delayed symptoms or normal imaging results to undervalue these cases. We work with your treating providers to build a clear medical record connecting your symptoms to the accident.

Levin & Levin, P.C. has served the Portsmouth and Hampton Roads community since 1968. We take whiplash and other neck injuries seriously, even when insurance companies try to treat them as minor.

Levin & Levin, P.C. represents clients with neck injuries throughout Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, and the wider Hampton Roads region. If you suffered a neck injury because of someone else’s negligence, contact our office today for a free case evaluation.