Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers | May 23, 2025 | Personal Injury
C3, C4, & C5 Spinal Injuries
Any injury to the spinal cord is serious, but the most debilitating injuries involve the cervical, or neck, area. Whether the injury happened in a slip and fall accident or a car accident, an impact to the C3, C4, or C5 vertebra can change your life.
What Are the C3, C4, and C5?
Your spine is divided into five areas: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccyx sections. The cervical section, abbreviated as “C,” refers to the vertebrae in the neck. Each vertebra is vital for your body to function.
The C3 Vertebra
The C3 vertebra is the third cervical vertebra. It supports your skull and enables you to move your neck. This vertebra is also associated with the C3 nerve, which transmits signals and sensations to and from your neck, the back of your head, and parts of your face.
Suffering an injury to this vertebra may give you less control over your breathing. It could leave you unable to breathe on your own at all. C3 vertebra injuries can also affect body functions like swallowing and speaking, depending on the injury’s severity.
The C4 Vertebra
The C4 vertebra is the fourth one in the cervical spine. Like the C3, it also contributes to neck movement. It is associated with the C4 nerve, which allows you to move and feel your neck and shoulders. This nerve also affects the control of your mouth and a few other facial muscles. Finally, it helps control your diaphragm so that you can breathe.
An injury to the C4 could mean that you struggle to breathe on your own. It may lead to partial or total paralysis of your arms and legs.
The C5 Vertebra
The C5 vertebra is the fifth bone in the cervical region of the spine. It supports your head and makes it possible to move your neck backward and forward. The C5 and C6 vertebrae bear most of the weight of your skull and neck.
The C5 nerve enables movement in the deltoid muscles in your shoulders, as well as your biceps. It provides motion and sensation to your entire upper arm. An injury to this vertebra and nerve could mean losing feeling in your neck, shoulders, and arms.
What Causes C3, C4, and C5 Spinal Injuries?
Suffering trauma to any cervical vertebrae can result in partial or total paralysis, which means that you are unable to live your life as you used to.
One of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries is falls. For example, you might fall down a staircase because of a missing handrail and land on your neck. Although falls from heights increase the risk of severe injuries, any fall can result in spinal damage. If you slip on a wet floor and land on your neck, the fall could damage a cervical vertebra.
Car and motorcycle accidents are also common causes of neck injuries. These injuries are more likely to happen in rollover accidents and those involving high speeds.
Pursuing a Spinal Injury Claim
After you suffer a spinal cord injury affecting the cervical region, you will need a significant amount of medical care. You might be unable to work or take care of yourself.
If the accident that caused the injury happened because of someone else’s conduct, a personal injury claim can be the way to recover your losses.
Because there’s so much at stake, you should hire a personal injury lawyer to help you start your claim.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Ontario, Canada
If you need legal help with a personal injury case, contact the team at Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today.
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