Car accidents are daunting experiences for all parties involved. They are referred to as “accidents” because no one wants to be involved in a crash, especially one that results in an injury. But the reality is that car accidents occur each day. In fact, there were 5,657,000 car accidents in 2013, with 30,057 resulting in fatalities. Car accidents can occur anytime one gets into the car to take a drive.
Whiplash is the most frequently reported injury that results from a motor vehicle collision, usually a rear-end contact. This type of injury is caused by the severe jerking of the head back and forth, similar to the crack of a whip. While whiplash alone may seem like a minor injury, it can lead to other health complications that require further treatment and diagnosis. Whiplash can lead to joint dysfunction, restricted ranges of motion in the neck and back, uncoordinated movement patterns, disc derangement, chronic pain, fatigue, sprains, strains, spasms, and even nervous system dysfunction.
How Do You Know If You Are Suffering from Whiplash?
Whiplash injuries, like many soft tissue injuries, are sometimes difficult to diagnose. The victim of the car accident should think back to the day of the accident – did you feel a jerking pain upon contact with the other vehicle? That feeling, in conjunction with other symptoms, can help determine whether whiplash is the cause of your discomfort. Some whiplash victims feel pain to the neck and back coupled with a loss of range of motion, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, numbness, blurred vision, tinnitus, sleep disturbance, irritability, and depression.
Do not delay if you think you are suffering pain resulting from an automobile accident. Symptoms do not always immediately materialize following the accident – in some cases, victims fail to feel any symptoms at all from the accident until weeks or months afterwards.
What Should You Do If You Think You Are Suffering from Whiplash?
It is important to seek medical treatment immediately. Failure to diagnose or treat a whiplash related injury can complicate health problems and lead to further injuries. A chiropractor can treat the injury in a variety of ways. Manipulation under anesthesia is a non-invasive procedure used to treat injuries to the neck and back. Massages, electroshock therapy, chiropractic adjustments, and acupuncture are some of the other ways that these injuries can be treated.
Treatment can be costly. Initiating a lawsuit can help obtain recovery for out-of-pocket expenses used to treat whiplash injuries. In some cases, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and transportation costs can be obtained through court intervention. In serious cases where the victim of a car accident is hospitalized or homebound for a prolonged period of time, the victim may be able to recover compensation for lost income, diminished earning capacity, and mental anguish.
Seek Legal Assistance
If you believe you were injured as a result of an auto accident, contact an attorney immediately. The Connell Law Firm, LLC has seasoned attorneys available to discuss your case and
offer a free evaluation.