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 serious injuries. 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 injury lawyers will be able to advise you on the next steps to take as you recover from your injuries.
Today, we will outline what a whiplash is, how it occurs and how our team can help you navigate your case toward fair compensation.
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. Attorneys 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 were a victim of a rear-end accident where the other driver ran a red light and struck you on the driver’s side of your vehicle, you may experience a rapid extension of your neck and result in a whiplash.
Describing 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 while a Grade 4 leaves 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 injury 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
A car accident is one of the most common instances where a person will receive a whiplash injury. Oftentimes, they will occur during rear-end car crashes due to the rapid forward and back motion a person will sustain when their car is hit from behind. Many minor injuries can happen at low speeds, and the symptoms worsen with increased speed. Additionally, you may receive whiplash from a faulty airbag deployment or a slip and fall accident.
Your Next Steps in Filing a Whiplash Injury Claim
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 to ensure you have the correct documentation of your injuries by a medical professional.
After you obtain a diagnosis, you should contact a whiplash injury 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 our Experienced Whiplash Injury 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 injury during a car accident, contact us now for a free consultation.