What To Know About Whiplash Injuries

There are as many as three million cases of whiplash treated in American hospitals every year. Most of these injuries result from car accidents and, more so, rear-end accidents. 

Most whiplash injuries are minor and resolve with minimal or no medical intervention. In other cases, whiplash can result in costly complications in terms of the cost of treatment and impact on a person’s life. If you have suffered whiplash in an accident and are considering seeking compensation, this guide is an excellent read.

What Is A Whiplash Injury?

A whiplash injury is another name for a neck strain or sprain. It is caused by overextension of neck muscles through sudden back-and-forth movement of the head, mimicking the movement of a cracking whip where it borrows its name. 

While it is a real medical condition, it is often overlooked, and the court and jury may not give it so much weight due to its association with fabricated injuries. So, in some cases, your lawyer may use different terms to refer to the injury, such as cervical sprain or strain, myofascial injury, and hyperextension injury, among others.

Whiplash Symptoms

Whiplash presents with a wide range of symptoms. According to the NHS, some common whiplash symptoms include neck pain and stiffness, muscle spasms and pain around the shoulders and in your arms, tingling in your fingers, electric shock kind of pain in the back and around the neck area, and severe headache. 

You may have noticed that whiplash symptoms may not be conclusive, as many other types of injuries can present the same symptoms. As such, the best rule of thumb is to seek medical attention for proper diagnosis. There are cases in which symptoms won’t show until after hours or even days. So, even when you may not have apparent injuries, it is still a good idea to seek medical attention. 

What To Do After Suffering A Whiplash

If you are in an accident, it is always advisable to seek medical attention irrespective of the injury you believe to have suffered. Medical attention serves two main purposes: upholding your health and providing you with the documentation you need to file a claim. 

After medical attention, gather as much evidence as you can. The best place to start is at the scene of the accident and as soon as you can. After you are sure you are out of danger, start scene documentation using your phone camera to take pictures and record video footage. This is also the perfect time to gather witness statements and contact information. 

Medical records, receipts, invoices, police reports, expert witness reports, etc., also form a critical part of the evidence, so ensure you hold one to each of them. Your lawyer can help you access evidence that may require legal procedures to procure and preserve. 

Get A Lawyer

“The opposing side will want to make it appear as if whiplash is a minor injury and, as such, want to pay out minimal compensation. Your best chance of pushing back at them and recovering the compensation you deserve is facing them with a lawyer,” says Arizona personal injury lawyer Jeffrey Phillips. 

It costs nothing to get a rough estimate of the value of your claim because most lawyers do not charge anything for the initial consultation, which is sufficient to give you a rough view of what to expect. Also, personal injury lawyers only charge litigation fees after winning a case, so you have nothing to lose. 

Also Read: Retaining a Personal Injury Lawyer: Does Size Matter?