Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Whiplash Symptoms
Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran
Whiplash is a common neck injury resulting from car accidents in the U.S. According to some sources; whiplash injuries happen to about 3 million people annually. Many whiplash sufferers overlook the injury as an ache or pain they can safely ignore. However, whiplash can signify severe and long-term damage to the muscles or spinal vertebrae that make up the neck.
It is crucial to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of whiplash so that you know when to seek treatment after a crash. If you suffer from whiplash after a car accident in Michigan, a car accident attorney in Detroit can help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Causes and Symptoms of Whiplash
Whiplash is an injury to the neck that occurs when an outside force of motion, like a car crash, jerks your head forward or backward. It can damage your neck’s ligaments, muscles, and other tissues. It is often associated with car accidents, particularly rear-end collisions, but it can also result from a fall, sports injury, or physical abuse.
Symptoms of whiplash vary in intensity and may not appear until days or weeks after the initial injury. Common symptoms of whiplash include:
- Neck pain that worsens with movement
- Headache at the base of your skull or in your temples
- Pain or numbness that travels down your arms
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or unsteadiness on your feet
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Fatigue
- Trouble with memory
- Irritability
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Whiplash Symptoms
While most people who suffer whiplash recover within about three months, some people who experience whiplash report chronic headaches or long-term head and neck pain in the months or decades after the accident.
Whiplash involves injury to the cervical spine, the section of your spine that makes up your neck, and the neck muscles. Since neck injuries can cause permanent damage, getting medical attention as soon as possible is critical. A medical professional can most accurately determine the seriousness of your injury, diagnose your condition, and help you get appropriate treatment.
Untreated whiplash can cause long-term bodily damage, but it can also affect your ability to receive compensation when caused by a negligent driver. If you get into a car accident and don’t seek treatment for whiplash, the driver’s insurance company may deny or reduce your claim, citing that the injury isn’t serious.
How Whiplash is Treated
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating whiplash, as treatment plans depend on the severity of your injury. In most cases, you will likely receive physical therapy over weeks or months and take pain relievers as necessary. Neck-specific physical therapy exercises can cost over $12,000, with cervical spinal cord injury treatments costing $50,000 or more in some cases.
Even with treatment, however, whiplash injuries may cause persistent pain or a reduced range of motion. These conditions, called whiplash-associated disorder (WAD), often result in life-long medical care and significant loss of enjoyment of everyday activities or ability to work a typical job.
With an attorney from Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C., you can use medical bills, treatment receipts, and other documentation to prove your whiplash injury and get compensation. You can seek a settlement for lost wages, long-term disability, medical expenses, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Our Registered Nurse and Senior Partner Attorney Eileen Kroll can expertly assess your medical records to understand the severity of your whiplash and how it has and will continue to affect your quality of life. She will use this information to seek maximum compensation on your behalf to pay for medical care, pain and suffering caused by the accident.
Consult Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. if You Have Been Injured in a Car Accident
Whiplash can leave you with serious injuries and lifelong effects. If you’ve suffered long-term whiplash pain or complications from whiplash, the auto accident attorneys at Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Our contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk to you to get started. Call our law firm today at 1-866-MICH-LAW and schedule your no-obligation, free case evaluation.
Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.
