Whiplash injuries are not uncommon in an automobile accident, and many victims will suffer pain and other symptoms for months or even years after the incident has taken place. People often feel that whiplash injuries aren’t that bad, but they can be tremendously debilitating.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a neck muscle and ligament injury resulting from a car accident. The most common cause of this type of injury is a rear-end collision. It’s called whiplash because it occurs when a person's head "whips" backward and then forward because of one car colliding with another.
Is a Whiplash Injury Serious?
Many whiplash victims suffer from several symptoms and considerable pain for years. Although minor whiplash injuries typically resolve on their own, more severe whiplash injuries can cause patients to experience both immediate and long-term medical complications.
Whiplash Injuries
With whiplash injuries, oftentimes the extent of a patient's injury is not immediately apparent, and it can take weeks or even months to manifest.
The following are the most usual symptoms suffered by whiplash victims:
- Headaches
- Neck and head pain
- Stiffness in the neck and shoulders
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Memory problems
- Insomnia
- Tinnitus
As with any injury resulting from an auto accident, speedy medical care is vital. Without the help of a medical professional, it is hard to determine the extent of the injury or the best course of treatment.
While most insurance companies tend to dismiss whiplash claims as minor, these injuries can be serious. The neck or cervical region is critical to a person's natural mobility, and damage to the area can result in long-term or even lifelong health issues.
Medical Treatment for Whiplash Injury
While many whiplash injuries heal after a week or two, some can take months or even years to heal. A person who has persistent symptoms of a neck injury, such as pain, numbness, or tingling, might be showing indications of a more serious problem than a minor whiplash.
Symptoms that persist for weeks or months can indicate that there is damage to the cervical spine, intervertebral discs, or joints. If these symptoms persist, resist the temptation to ignore them in the belief they will disappear. Seek medical assistance as soon as you can to treat your condition and be sure to retain any records related to your diagnosis and care..
Using an Injury Lawyer
Head and neck injuries like whiplash can be serious, and you may be off work for some time because of them. This is one of the things a Woodstock Car Accident Attorney may take into consideration when making a claim for you.
Unfortunately, insurance companies tend to offer a meager settlement that falls far short of compensating a victim for their injuries. That is why we recommend you retain the services of an experienced car accident attorney to handle your case.