When you see the pictures and video from a news report on this Reno car crash, it’s hard to believe that, as the news story mentions, no injuries were sustained. One car is fully on its side and looking quite crushed in the middle of the freeway. The accident was reportedly on Interstate 395 in the area of the Oddie Boulevard exit. The accident occurred this evening just a little while before 7:30 in the evening. Multiple lanes were closed due to the accident and the emergency response. The Nevada Highway Patrol is the law enforcement agency reporting that no injuries were sustained in the accident. The freeway has since reopened. The closure of lanes and diversion of vehicles onto the shoulder made the commute very difficult this evening, as any accident usually does especially on that stretch of road.
What happens if you’re in an accident and the police determine that there were “no injuries,” but a few days later or a day later or a week later you start to feel pain? The most common locations for that pain to occur are the head, neck and back areas. This is common of a whiplash injury in Nevada. These often devastating injuries can take time to manifest, after the shock and adrenaline and all that wears off following an accident. And just because they are later to manifest doesn’t make them any less painful or costly than an immediate fracture or other more easily noticeable injury.
“The neck is a very fragile and unique area of the body as it contains the cervical vertebrae. The cervical region of the neck is the most common injury area in automobile accidents. The syndrome Las Vegas personal injury attorneys deal with frequently is known as whiplash where the neck is thrown in multiple directions shifting the normal curve of the spine and stretching ligaments and tendons. The human head weighs approximately 15 lbs and is supported by the spinal column. As we age, the bones become more brittle and actually calcify creating degeneration. This degeneration can become a catalyst for disc compression leading to nerve impingement, bulging discs, herniations, and annular tears. Just the same, these conditions can also be caused by trauma like a severe or moderate car accident . . . The most common injury in rear end car accidents are cervical sprain and strains. These injuries begin with a sharp pain in the neck, and continue with shoulder, trapezius, and upper back pain. Headaches can also be a classic symptom of cervical sprain. Most cervical strain and sprains will get better with time and are very responsive to therapy. Ice packs are a great idea to reduce the inflammation as well as plenty of rest. If you have been a victim of whiplash or a cervical neck injury, contact the Las Vegas personal injury offices of Benson & Bingham and ask for Joseph L. Benson II, Esq.: 702-382-9797 x. 226.”