How Whiplash From a Car Accident Can Affect You

Whiplash is a very common car accident injury that leads to a lot of personal injury claims, but many people don’t understand it. There is still a large section of the population, including among the legal community, who think that many whiplash cases are exaggerated, faked, or the result of hypochondria. Others think that whiplash is not a serious injury, and is not even worth complaining about. These stereotypes can all make personal injury claims more complicated and difficult, even though nothing could be further from the truth. Here’s how whiplash can affect you in very serious ways.

What Is Whiplash, Exactly?

Without getting too technical, whiplash is a soft-tissue injury that can result from your head “whipping” back and forth quickly and forcefully. It can be a traumatic injury to the connective tissue around your neck, and your body can have an inflammatory response to the injury. Your muscles, nerves, and tendons can all be damaged, and the spine could be affected as well.

Causes of Whiplash

There is no doubt that car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash in the general public. A lot of people drive vehicles, and sometimes those vehicles get into collisions that cause the head to violently whip back and forth. However, that’s not the only way someone can get whiplash. Roller coasters and fast amusement rides are big culprits as well. Many people get whiplash from sports injuries, especially in a collision sport like football, slips and falls, and even abuse and assaults. These could all potentially make the victim eligible for personal injury claims.

Immediate Symptoms of Whiplash

If you are in an accident, it’s important to remember that even the short-term symptoms of whiplash are not always present immediately. They sometimes manifest within minutes, or even hours. When your body’s adrenaline has settled down, that is when you will most likely start to first feel the effects. This can include back pain, aching in your neck, pins and needles around your neck, headache, and even ringing in your ears. In more severe cases of whiplash, the short-term symptoms might include cognitive issues like trouble concentrating and being irritated easily. The general rule of thumb is that the more short-term symptoms someone experiences, the more likely they are to have long-lasting consequences as a result of their whiplash injury.

Long-Term Symptoms of Whiplash

What makes whiplash so difficult is that many of the effects may not be felt for a long time after the incident that caused the injury. Some victims have reported having symptoms months after the fact. This means that you could be walking around after your accident, going to work or school, and going through your normal routine without having any idea that you have whiplash. For some, the effects of whiplash can last their entire lives. These effects can include pain and stiffness, chronic dizziness, chronic headaches, sensory weakness, blurred vision, and memory issues. Some victims also report mood and personality changes. Those who report the most long-lasting symptoms are people who didn’t receive medical attention soon after the accident, were in a particularly severe accident, suffered a spinal injury, or re-injured their neck during the time period that they were healing. People who already have neck issues prior to an accident are also more at risk for long-term issues. More than two-thirds of all whiplash sufferers have symptoms that last up to 7 years or more.

What Are Your Rights When You are Suffering From Whiplash From an Accident?

The long-term effects of whiplash can be seriously damaging to your quality of life. You will not just have pain and discomfort, but you may need to miss time from work and lose out on wages as a result. You may also require ongoing medical care. Your whiplash may have been caused by the negligence of another party. It may have been a driver who was reckless or careless, or it could have been from a company employing inadequate safety measures. If you were injured because of the actions or inaction of someone else, you may be entitled to compensation for your lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. To make sure that your rights are protected, your best bet is to hire an experienced and reputable injury attorney.

The Powerhouse Attorneys will make sure to examine every aspect of your case to make sure that your rights are protected. They will seek fair compensation from the culprits behind your injury, and make sure that your needs are met, every step of the way. Call them in Nevada at (702) 747-6724 or in Phoenix at (602) 691-5043.