NECK INJURIES

NEW YORK CITY NECK INJURY ATTORNEY

NEW YORK CITY NECK INJURY ATTORNEY

Neck injuries are one of the most common injuries from traffic accidents, and the symptoms are not always present right away.  That’s why you need an experienced New York City neck injury attorney to represent you.  After a car, bus, truck, or bicycle accident, it’s a good idea to check to see if your neck has a full range of motion. Gently moved your down and around in a circle and notice if there is any pain with this movement.  Our necks are less protected than other parts of the body, and what might feel like a slight twinge initially could be a herniated disc, a torn ligament or even a slight fracture. This is all the more reason you should seriously consider taking an ambulance to the hospital directly from the scene of an accident.

It’s also a good idea to call an expert New York City Neck Injury Attorney to find out what you might need to do right away to preserve your rights.  At Wittenstein & Wittenstein, we’ve been holding client’s hands through their cases for over 60 years. Let us work on the legal aspects of your situation, while you focus on returning to full health.  Please call us for a free consultation at 718-261-8114.

Strains and Sprains (Whiplash)

Whiplash is the lay term for mild traumatic injuries to the neck.  Sensitive tendons, muscles, and ligaments work together in your neck.   A strain of the neck is when the muscle or tendon is suddenly contracted or stretched.  A sprain is when the ligaments are stretched or torn. It is very difficult to diagnose a neck problem with any certainty without Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) films.  With an MRI, a doctor can determine the extent of your neck problem and recommend the best treatment.

Herniated Disc

The neck (cervical spine) is made up of discs with a hard shell and a soft gel filled interior.  This works to absorb force and protects the spine. When the gel inside the disc protrudes, due to trauma or degeneration, this is known as a herniated disc.  Symptoms include a shooting pain that radiates down the arms, numbness or tingling and muscle weakness.

A herniated disc is usually diagnosed with an MRI and clinical testing of reflexes, range of motion and pain level.  Treatment is usually a combination of physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, pain relievers and muscle relaxants. Rarely, surgery is necessary to relieve the pain.

These are the most common types of traumatic neck injuries from traffic accidents.  If you have sustained an injury to your neck, you should seek medical treatment and consider suing the negligent party for compensation.  Please call Wittenstein & Wittenstein for a free consultation at 718-261-8114

Product Liability Claims Lead to Ridiculous (and hysterically funny) Warning Labels

I was going to write a post about the most common types of product liability claims and a serious article about how manufacturers can be held liable when they are negligent or reckless in the design of their products.  Another major basis for product liability lawsuits is the "failure to warn" about the dangers of using a product.  Warning labels are intended to give consumers the information they need to use a product safely, such as warnings about allergens and appropriate uses for a product.  I'm not sure if manufacturers are trying to avoid liability or just making fun of lawyers with some of these hysterically funny warning labels, probably a combination of both.  Here in the [...]

Why Drunk Driving Accident Injuries Are Often Catastrophic

Of the thousands of motor vehicle accidents that happen each year in New York City, the ones that cause the most serious injuries are usually caused by drunk driving. This is because sober drivers that make a mistake are usually able to mitigate the damage, they cause by slamming on the brakes, turning out of the way, or other corrective actions, whereas drunk drivers aren’t able to accomplish this. The best negligence lawyers Queens are well aware of these tragic consequences and can help you understand why drunk driving accidents are so catastrophic. What Alcohol Does to a Driver These are just some of the effects that Queens drunk driving accident attorneys report that makes [...]

New York’s “Scaffold Law” Protects Injured Construction Workers

New York State Labor Law § 240/241 was one of the first labor laws enacted in the United States.  It predates the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Workers Compensation Programs.  It was enacted in 1885, and despite lobbying to repeal it, has survived to this day. A similar law in Illinois was repealed in 2013.  There is even a website scaffoldlaw.com, dedicated to “Scaffold Law Reform,” with scurrilous claims that the laws actually makes worksites “less safe.”  Why is a law that protects injured construction workers so controversial? So, you must be wondering now, what’s the big deal about this Scaffold Law?  What makes it so terrifying to builders? First off, it operates as [...]

Reject the Evidence of Your Eyes and Ears: Orwell’s 1984, Trump, ICE, and the Loyalty Test of Fascism

George Orwell’s 1984 warned that authoritarian power ultimately demands one thing above all else: loyalty proven by denying reality itself. That warning is no longer abstract. From January 6 to the killing of Nicole Good by ICE, Americans are being asked to reject what they can plainly see and hear—and to treat that denial as a civic duty. “The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”—George Orwell, 1984 The second sentence is the point. Orwell was not describing secret propaganda or subtle mind control. He was describing a system in which truth becomes subordinate to loyalty. Once people can be trained to say [...]

The Personal Injury Lawsuit Process for Traffic Accidents

CLIENT INTERVIEW The client and attorney meet and discuss: How the accident happened The extent of the injuries Employment and when the client expects to return to work Health issues that might impact the rate of recovery for injuries The jurisdiction and venue (where the accident happened and where the parties live, or where a company does business.) Ascertaining all defendants and the insurance coverage that should apply Any liens that might be levied on the case Legal options are discussed, including whether or not a lawsuit should be commenced immediately A retainer and preliminary authorizations to obtain medical reports are signed, as well as any other documents that will be filed immediately such as [...]

Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Truck Accidents

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, most truck accidents fatalities are to persons in passenger vehicles in collisions with 18-wheelers, big rigs, tractor trailers and other large commercial vehicles.  Despite increasing safety regulations, truck accidents have increased substantially since the 1990’s.  This could be due to downturns in the economy that are causing drivers to work longer hours or from recent legislation that rolls back safety legislation. Why You Might Need a Truck Accident Lawyer in NYC It’s also not surprising that truck accidents are the leading cause of catastrophic injuries or fatalities from vehicle accidents.  These cases are often multi-faceted, including worker’s compensation, interstate or international litigants and large amounts of insurance coverage.  That’s [...]

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr   Martin Luther King Jr. Day was officially observed as a national holiday for the very first time on January 20, 1986. Signed into law three years prior by President Ronald Reagan, the day was chosen to be on the 3rd Monday of every January.  His positive messages while fighting for equality set the mood for groundbreaking laws requiring equality.   Sit Wherever You’d Like to New Yorkers love to lament the unreliability of the MTA, and these complaints have some merit, but we can [...]

COVID 19 CRISIS ANNOUNCEMENT

We are hoping that you and your family are well and managing this crisis smoothly. Please let us know if there is anything at all we can do to help you. Our office is located on the first floor of a townhouse that is accessible without social contact, so we’re planning to remain fully operational throughout this crisis. Don’t hesitate to call on us if you’re in need. Please DO NOT show up at our office without an appointment - we are doing all work remotely at this time. Your Current Cases Are Being Worked On All of the civil courts are currently closed. We are working on rescheduling court appearances, depositions and other important litigation [...]

Psychological Injuries Lawsuits

Some psychological injuries are so severe that they can be as disabling as serious physical injuries.  When a careless or reckless act caused intense trauma, special arrangements must be made when pursuing a lawsuit.  This concept originated with “collaborative divorce,” where a psychologist becomes part of the team so that settlement discussions can stay on track.  With lawsuits that involved extremely traumatic events, this formula can also be applied, and a lawsuit for psychological injuries can be brought. Of course, any accident is traumatic.  Fearing for your life when you are hit by a car or slipping on water and breaking your leg are “traumatic events,”, but these accidents do not shatter the core of your [...]