Whiplash is a general term used to describe a variety of neck injuries that most commonly occur in motor vehicle crashes. It's the injury most frequently reported to insurance companies after a collision.
While whiplash is sometimes dismissed as a superficial injury, it can be a serious condition that results in chronic pain. So it's important to know more about what you can do to protect your physical and legal recoveries if you suffer whiplash.
Symptoms of Whiplash
Whiplash often happens after rear-end wrecks. When you're hit from behind, your neck may forcefully move outside of its normal range of motion due to the sudden impact.
Here are some of the potential signs of whiplash:
- Neck pain, which may worsen when you move
- Neck stiffness
- Losing range of motion in your neck
- Headaches
- Pain or tenderness in your shoulders, upper back, or arms
- Tingling or numbness in your arms
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Tinnitus or ringing in the ears
- Difficulty sleeping
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Memory issues
- Depression
Any of these symptoms should be promptly reported to your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and the development of an effective treatment plan.
Whiplash Treatment
Once your doctor diagnoses whiplash, it's important to follow through with all treatment recommendations in order to manage pain and protect your future physical health. While every treatment plan is unique, yours might include:
- Rest
- Pain medication, which may be over the counter, prescription, or injectable
- Muscle relaxants
- Exercise
- Physical therapy
Allow Us to Protect Your Legal Rights
If someone else’s negligence caused a collision that led to your whiplash injury, you may have the right to recover financial damages. This could happen through negotiation with the responsible party’s insurance company, or by going to court.
Presenting a claim might be overwhelming and challenging to do on your own. However, an experienced car accident attorney can work with you to protect your rights and recover the compensation you deserve.
Please reach out to us using the form or phone numbers on this page if you'd like to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about your legal options.
