Throat Injury Lawyer

The throat represents the internal and external body parts descending from the tonsils down to the opening of the trachea. One may get throat problems internally through swallowing something too big or sharp, or externally such as by a blow to the throat or a strangulation injury that damages the throat.

Trauma to your throat or neck area is a serious health concern. Depending on the severity of the injury, it can be devastating and life-threatening. The prognosis for your recovery depends on receiving the best medical care and proper rehabilitation. If you or a loved one has suffered severe throat injury due to someone else's negligence,  our legal team at AutoAccident.com can help you file a claim for compensation to pay for your damages. While you are receiving treatment and working toward recovery, our experienced throat injury attorneys will be fighting for you to get you the full compensation that you deserve. Call us at (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly advice.

Read below for more on throat injuries.

Table of Contents:

• What is Throat Injury
• Causes of Throat Pain
• Symptoms of Throat Injury
• Risk Factors for Throat Infection
• Diagnosing Throat Disorders
• Treatment of Throat Injury
• Complications of Throat Infection

A throat injury can be due to penetrating trauma to the throat or to blunt trauma to the throat. Any throat injury resulting in a break in the skin can do extensive damage because there are major arteries and veins that pass through the throat and can cause serious bleeding. One should look carefully at a sore throat to see how deep it is so you can determine if there is damage in major vessels.

Blunt trauma to the throat can cause injury to the trachea, esophagus, spine, or even the brain stem. If the person has had severe blunt trauma to the throat, they should be asked the same questions as a person who may have had a concussion because there may actually be a brain injury with throat trauma.

Throat injury can damage the trachea and can cause difficulty breathing, swallowing, or hoarseness of the throat. If the vocal cords are damaged, speaking will be difficult and there can be a hoarse throat or a complete lack of ability to speak if the vocal cords are more than just bruised.

Blunt trauma to the throat can affect the cervical spine. If there is any pain in moving the neck, the patient shouldn’t be moved until the cervical spine is cleared by x-ray.

You may have to immobilize the neck until the clearing x-rays can be done. Because of the number of important organs (the thyroid, vocal cords), blood vessels (carotid artery, jugular vein), and nerves (the spinal nerves of the cervical spine) involved in the throat, any kind of blunt or penetrating trauma can do a great deal of damage, even with a seemingly minor injury.

As mentioned, throat injuries can be blunt trauma injuries or penetrating trauma injuries, such as a gunshot wound. They are complicated by the fact that many delicate and important structures reside in the small space of the throat so that damage to some aspect of the throat is likely. The causes of throat injury can include:

• Car accidents, being struck by a blunt object or being cut by metal or glass.
• Sports-related injuries, such as being struck by another player’s extremities or helmet.
• Altercations, like being punched in the throat or kicked in the throat.
• Accidental falls, such as landing on a sharp or blunt object.
• Gunshot wounds, which can easily be fatal
• Knife wounds, which usually strike a vital part of the throat
• The throat has no particular bony cage or protection so it is open to trauma in many different ways.

Some of the symptoms are the same as with any soft tissue trauma. Others are specific to the throat and the structures of the throat. There is the thyroid gland, major blood vessels and nerves, the trachea, the esophagus, and the cervical spine to think about.

In total, the symptoms can be any of the following:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Hoarseness
• Stridor
• A sensation of fullness in the throat
• Spitting up blood
• Subcutaneous air
• Visible throat swelling
• Loss of normal landmarks because of swelling
• Bleeding in the mouth or externally
• Labored breathing

More men than women get a sore throat, in part because they engage in high-risk behaviors. Many high-risk behaviors include driving too fast, driving recklessly, engaging in high-risk sports such as boxing and football, and being prone to altercations with people who might strike them with their fists, their feet or their weapon. People who practice martial arts are at higher risk of sustaining a throat injury.