Neck & Back Injury Attorney in Chicago: What to Do After a Car Accident

Rear-end accidents can cause injuries that do not always show up on the outside. A hard hit from behind can hurt you in ways that don’t show up on the outside. If your neck snapped forward and back in a Chicago crash, or your legs went numb the second the airbag deployed, you’re dealing with one of the most common and most misunderstood injuries in car accident law. 

It is important that you get checked out immediately and save every piece of paper you receive from law enforcement or related to the crash. An experienced Chicago neck injury lawyer can help you understand your rights and remedies in these situations. 

Whiplash After a Car Accident: Is It Actually Serious?

Many people use the word “whiplash” as if it were a neck ache or a minor inconvenience. People may believe that a few days of rest with a heating pad can treat whiplash, but in reality, the fix is not that simple. 

A rear-end collision on the Eisenhower or a sudden stop on the Kennedy can snap your neck through a range of motion it was never built for, and the damage often doesn’t announce itself right away. You might walk away from the scene feeling fine, then wake up the next morning unable to turn your head.

Researchers estimate that traffic crashes send roughly 869,000 people to U.S. hospitals every year with some kind of cervical spine injury, and about 841,000 of those cases are whiplash-type sprains and strains. Most people recover within a few weeks. Some don’t. Pain that lingers deserves a real workup, not just a prescription for muscle relaxers and a pat on the back.

Neck, Back & Spinal Cord Injuries After a Car Accident: What’s the Difference?

Spinal cord injuries are on the more severe side of the spectrum. These types of injuries can significantly impact a person’s livelihood. Spinal cord damage can lead to permanent loss of movement, sensation, and control of bodily functions. Unlike whiplash, this isn’t something that heals with rest and time. Back injuries are just as common after a car accident. Herniated discs, lumbar strains, and other lower back injuries can bring the same kind of long-term pain and disability as a neck or spinal cord injury, and they deserve the same serious medical and legal attention.

Each year in the U.S., roughly 18,000 new traumatic spinal cord injuries occur, and motor vehicle crashes account for about 38 percent of all cases, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. That’s a small slice of all crash injuries, but it’s the slice that upends careers, marriages, and everyday independence. If your legs feel weak, your fingers won’t cooperate, or you’ve noticed any change in bladder control since your accident, don’t wait to see a specialist. Early treatment can sometimes limit permanent damage, and a delay gives an insurance company room to argue your injury came from something else entirely.

Why Chicago-Area Roads Make These Injuries Worse

Illinois recorded 303,913 crashes in 2024, and 63,109 of them caused an injury, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s own crash data.

• Cook County consistently ranks as the highest-crash county in Illinois, according to Illinois Department of Transportation data. 
• Anyone who’s merged onto Dan Ryan at rush hour knows why. Speed was a contributing factor in over 30 percent of these crashes. 

None of this means every sore neck becomes a lawsuit. However, the numbers do reflect the reality of how many people suffer serious consequences after a car crash. These crashes aren’t limited to the city. Suburbs like Joliet, Schaumburg, Naperville, and Aurora see the same high-speed, rear-end collisions on I-55, I-90, and I-88, and drivers throughout Cook, Will, and DuPage Counties face the same risks of serious neck, back, and spinal cord injuries.

What Illinois Law Says About Your Car Accident Injury Claim

Illinois gives you two years from the date of your crash to file a personal injury lawsuit, under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. Unfortunately, if you miss that small window,  you may lose your ability to sue and collect compensation. 

Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, which bars a plaintiff from recovering damages if their contributory fault is more than 50% of the proximate cause of the injury. 

If the plaintiff is 50% or less at fault, they may still recover damages, though those damages will be reduced in proportion to their degree of fault. Insurance adjusters rely on this rule to protect their bottom line. 

Contact a Chicago Neck & Back Injury Attorney at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg

You don’t have to figure any of this out alone, and you shouldn’t have to fight an insurance adjuster while you’re still trying to heal. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg has represented injured drivers and passengers across Chicago and Cook County for decades, and the firm doesn’t collect a fee unless you win. You may still be responsible for case costs and expenses even if the firm doesn’t collect an attorney’s fee. 

Contact Briskman Briskman & Greenberg at (312) 222-0010 for a free consultation about your neck or spinal cord injury claim. Past results don’t guarantee a similar outcome in your case, but you deserve to know what your options actually are.