The worst types of car accidents are the ones you cannot see coming. As car and truck accident attorneys, we hear countless stories of rear-end, sideswipe and t-bone accidents that result in severe injury. One of the most common injuries is whiplash. In the U.S. alone, there are an average of three million new whiplash injury claims that occur each year. Our whiplash lawyers will be able to advise you on the next steps to take as you recover from whiplash.
Today, we will outline what whiplash is, how it occurs, how to prevent whiplash and how our team can help you navigate your case toward fair compensation after experiencing a neck injury from a car accident.
Defining Whiplash
Whiplash is a soft tissue injury, often to the neck or back, that occurs when the body experiences a sudden movement, causing an extension or flexion of the neck that damages spinal joints, discs, ligaments, cervical muscles or nerve roots. Whiplash lawyers may also refer to this injury as a cervical sprain or strain, neck sprain or strain, myofascial injury, hyperflexion or a hyperextension.
For example, if you experience rear-end collision neck pain due to a car accident where the other driver ran a red light and hit you, you may experience a rapid extension of your neck and experience whiplash or a concussion.
Our Whiplash Lawyers Outline the Symptoms
Whiplash has five different grades that compile mild to severe symptoms. For example, a Grade 0 injury may leave the victim feeling sore for a few days after experiencing a whiplash from a side impact. A Grade 4 whiplash may leave lasting injuries in the form of chronic pain and permanent tissue damage.
A whiplash injury claim may include one or many of the following symptoms:
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Worsening pain with neck movement
- Loss of range of motion
- Headache
- Shoulder or arm pain
- Numbness in the arms
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Tinnitus
- Sleep difficulties
- Irritability
- Issues with concentration
- Memory issues
- Depression
After an accident, a whiplash lawyer will be able to help you make note of all your symptoms, collect medical records, and obtain other evidence to prove how your condition impacted your life.
Traffic Accidents and Whiplash
As whiplash lawyers, a car accident is one of the most common instances we see where a person will receive a whiplash injury. Oftentimes, they will occur during rear-end car crashes or getting a whiplash from side impact crashes. Many minor injuries can happen at low speeds, and the symptoms worsen with increased speed. Additionally, you may receive a whiplash or concussion from a faulty airbag deployment or a slip and fall accident.
Filing a Claim with a Whiplash Lawyer
After a car crash many people may consider the question — should I go to the doctor for whiplash? If you believe you experienced a serious whiplash injury, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention to evaluate the extent of your injury. Additionally, whiplash can be severe right away or worsen over time, so it is important to obtain medical documentation of your injury to support your case.
It is also common for symptoms to appear days after the accident. If this happens, you should still seek medical treatment for untreated whiplash symptoms to ensure you have the correct documentation of your injuries by a medical professional.
After you obtain a diagnosis, you should contact a whiplash lawyer to help you file your claim. They will be able to help you prove if the driver who hit you violated their duty of care, was negligent and as a result, you suffered serious injuries from their negligence.
Consult with our Experienced Whiplash Lawyers
As experienced car accident attorneys, we understand that being in an unexpected accident is not only shocking but also draining both physically and emotionally. As you look to navigate your next steps, you deserve to have a team at your side who will help you work through the complexities of a whiplash injury claim.
At MHM, we are here to help you get back on your feet. If you experienced a serious whiplash, concussion or neck injury during a car accident, contact us now for a free consultation.