Practice Areas · Injuries
Neck Injuries
San Diego Injuries
Neck Injuries in San Diego
Neck injuries are among the most common results of a crash, and they are easy to underestimate at first. The neck is a column of seven cervical vertebrae, bones and nerves that run through the spinal cord, and it takes the strain when your body is jolted in a collision.
When you are hurt in a car accident, a motorcycle crash, or a fall, the neck can be pushed past its limits, leaving you with whiplash, stiffness, headaches, and a range of motion that never quite feels the same. Symptoms often show up a day or two later, once the adrenaline wears off.
Those limitations can follow you into work and everyday life. Joseph C. Crudo PLC helps San Diego neck-injury victims document what happened and recover the compensation they need to heal and move forward.
2 years
CA filing deadline
Free
Case consultation
$0
Up-front, most cases
Full value
What we pursue
By the Numbers
Neck Injuries, by the numbers
1.69 million1
Rear-end crashes in the U.S. in 2022, 28.4% of all police-reported crashes and the most common manner of collision
Includes 455,743 injury crashes, 27.4% of all injury crashes (Table 29).
15% lower2
Neck-injury rate in rear crashes for vehicles with 'good'-rated seats/head restraints vs. 'poor' (IIHS real-world crash study)
Long-term injuries lasting 3+ months were 35% lower; neck sprains and strains are the most frequently reported injuries in U.S. auto insurance claims.
4 of 183
Small SUVs earning a 'good' rating in IIHS's new (2026) higher-speed whiplash prevention test
Of the first 18 tested: 4 good, 9 acceptable, 2 marginal, 3 poor. The test adds a 30 mph pulse to simulate a higher-speed rear impact than the prior evaluation.
11%4
Reduction in injury insurance-claim rates for vehicles with 'good'-rated head restraints vs. 'poor'
From an IIHS analysis of more than 600,000 rear-impact crash insurance claims.
Do You Have a Case?
Signs you may have a claim
Whiplash is real and can be lasting. Don't let an insurer dismiss it before you're properly evaluated.
- ✓Neck or whiplash injury from an accident or fall
- ✓Symptoms that appeared or worsened after the crash
- ✓Facing treatment costs and missed work
- ✓An insurer is treating it as a minor injury
The Process
How your case moves forward
Here is how a neck injury claim typically proceeds.
- Free consultation
- We review how the injury happened and who is responsible.
- Medical documentation
- We document your diagnosis, treatment, and symptoms over time.
- Demand & negotiation
- We pursue your medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Settlement or trial
- We settle for fair value, or file suit when necessary.
Frequently asked
Common questions
My neck felt fine at the scene but hurts now. Is that normal?+
Very. Whiplash and other neck injuries often appear a day or two after a crash once the adrenaline fades. See a doctor promptly, both for your health and for your claim.
Insurance says whiplash isn't a real injury. Is that true?+
No. Whiplash can cause lasting pain and limited motion. Proper medical documentation is how we counter that argument and pursue fair value.
How long do I have to file?+
California generally allows two years from the date of the injury. Speak with an attorney early while the records are fresh.
What does it cost to talk to you?+
Nothing. The consultation is free. Call (858) 622-7280.
Related practice areas
Sources
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Traffic Safety Facts 2022: A Compilation of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Data (Table 29, Crashes by First Harmful Event, Manner of Collision, and Crash Severity) (2022). https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813656.pdf
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Virtual testing will help us chart a new course in neck injury prevention (2023). https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/virtual-testing-will-help-us-chart-a-new-course-in-neck-injury-prevention
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), IIHS launches new whiplash prevention test (2026). https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/iihs-launches-new-whiplash-prevention-test
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Good head restraints reduce injuries by 11 percent (2015). https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/good-head-restraints-reduce-injuries-by-11-percent
Get help now
Ready to discuss your case?
Tell us what happened and Joe Crudo will personally review your situation, free and confidential.