Whiplash Claims
What is Whiplash?
Whiplash is an injury of the neck that occurs when a person’s head is rapidly jolted backward and forward by a sudden and violent force. It often happens to the occupants of a car when it is rear-ended by another car. The sudden force of a rear-end accident, in conjunction with the rapid movement, stretches and tears the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the neck and the cervical portion of the spine. A whiplash injury can range from mild to severe, depending on the magnitude of the force of impact.
Whiplash injury
Common Causes of Whiplash Injuries
Whiplash occurs when a violent force causes an individual to suffer hyperextension (head jerked forward) or hyperflexion (head jerked backward). The sudden movement may result in a cervical strain or sprain, or soft tissue injuries such as herniated disc, bulging disc, or damage to muscles and ligaments. Car accidents, especially rear-end collisions, are notorious for causing whiplash.
However, fender benders are not the only cause of whiplash. It can also be caused by the following:
- Physical assault
- Bus accidents
- Collision while playing contact sports
- Horse riding accident
- Amusement park accident
- Cycling accident
- Getting hit in the head with a heavy object
- Construction zone accident
- Falls
One of the biggest misconceptions about whiplash is the amount of force it takes to cause an injury. Many whiplash injuries happen following car accidents with speeds as low as five to 10 mph. Women are more vulnerable to whiplash than men since their neck muscles are smaller. If you suffered whiplash from any of these activities, contact one of our California whiplash attorneys to talk about the compensation you may be owed.
Signs and Symptoms of Whiplash
People often make the mistake of ignoring the signs and symptoms of whiplash, which only makes the injury more severe. Often, whiplash injuries do not show up right away, which is why you must pay close attention to how you are feeling and get an examination by a doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms following a car accident, assault, trauma, or any other incident that may impact your neck:
- Neck pain
- Stiffness in the neck
- Pain that worsens with movement
- Reduced range of motion in the neck
- Tenderness in the shoulder and upper back
- Tingling or numbness in the arms
- Fatigue and dizziness
- Muscle spasms
- Headaches that start at the base of the skull
In some extreme cases, whiplash injury victims may experience the following:
- Blurred vision
- Sleep disturbances
- Irritability
- Ringing in the ears
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory loss
- Depression
While most whiplash victims make a full recovery within three months, some people experience pain and discomfort throughout their remaining life. Studies have shown that between 15 and 40 percent of people who sustained whiplash injuries develop chronic neck pain.
The symptoms of whiplash may include:
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Difficulty turning neck
- Radiating neck pain
- Tingling
- Difficulty swallowing
- Fatigue
- Headaches
Whatever the case, if you have been involved in a car accident and are experiencing neck pain, get a medical evaluation. If your first checkup is unsatisfactory, do not hesitate to seek out a second opinion. Your number one priority is your health.
What Should I Do if I’ve Suffered Whiplash Injury?
The following steps may help you recover damages if you suffered whiplash in a car accident or another incident caused by another person’s negligence or misconduct; the next steps may help you recover damages:
- Seek immediate medical attention
- Follow the doctor’s treatment plan
- File a claim with your insurance company
- Collect evidence supporting your whiplash injury
Even the most minor of whiplash injuries can be disruptive and lower your quality of life. Unfortunately, whiplash injuries are often difficult to prove because they don’t always show up right away.
What is the treatment for whiplash injuries?
While whiplash injuries can be harrowing and keep you awake at night, the treatments are often simple. You can treat mild to moderate cases of whiplash with over-the-counter drugs like Tylenol and aspirin. You may even use ice to treat mild whiplashes. If you have suffered a more serious form of whiplash, you may require prescription painkillers (to ease the pain) and muscle relaxants (to reduce muscle spasms).
Please contact us now if you would like to speak to a solicitor in confidence about making a claim for compensation.
Treatment of severe whiplash may also include physical therapy sessions of a few weeks to a few months in addition to medication. Your doctor may also recommend practicing good posture and relaxation techniques to hasten the recovery process. Never ignore the hidden symptoms of whiplash; they can have dangerous consequences. While seeking medical attention, do not forget to call a reputable personal injury attorney to file a claim.
How do I know if I have whiplash from a car accident?
Your doctor will ask you questions about your injury, such as how it occurred, exactly where you feel the pain, and whether the pain is sharp, shooting, or dull. Physical examinations may include asking you to move your neck to check the range of motion and probing with the hand to find areas of tenderness. The doctor may also order an X-ray to see if the pain is connected to other types of injuries and diseases. He may also order a CT scan, MRI scan, and other tests to assess damages and inflammations of the soft tissues of the muscles of the neck and jaws, the nerves, and the spinal cord. Diagnosing whiplash or other soft tissue damage cases can sometimes be challenging. The initial X-ray may produce negative or normal results, and symptoms may not make themselves apparent until several days have passed. If not treated in a timely fashion, symptoms may worsen and develop into serious debilitations.
Please contact us now if you would like to speak to a solicitor in confidence about making a claim for compensation.