There are many serious injuries that can occur after an accident. One of the most common is the soft tissue injury whiplash. Sadly, many people underestimate the severity of this painful injury because of pop culture references that infer whiplash is not a serious condition. These myths are so pervasive that doctors now refer to whiplash as “cervical sprain”, “cervical strain”, and “hypertension injury.”
However, regardless of what people think, whiplash is a very serious and painful injury that can interfere in your normal life.What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is an injury happens when your neck is suddenly whipped back and forth after an impact. The most common cause of whiplash is rear-end car accidents, but slip or trip and falls, as well as blows to the head from sports or assault can also cause whiplash. Whiplash can cause injury to the vertebrae in your neck and back and the soft tissue of the muscles and ligaments.
Whiplash injuries aren’t always immediately recognized after an accident and they can become very painful over time. Many people don’t realize they have whiplash until weeks, and sometimes months after an accident.
What Are The Symptoms Of Whiplash?
Since you may not even recognize you have whiplash until well after your accident, it is important to watch for the symptoms of whiplash. Here are the most common signs of whiplash:
- Tightness and stiffness in the neck and shoulders
- Pain or tenderness in the neck, shoulders, arms, hands, or upper back area
- Dizziness and problems with balance and equilibrium
- Headaches
- Memory problems and difficulty concentrating
- Muscle spasms
- Nerve injuries and pins and needles
- Sleep issues or insomnia
- Loss of range of motion in the neck
- Blurred vision
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Irritability, depression, and mood swings
What To Do If You Think You Have Whiplash?
First of all, we always recommend seeing a doctor immediately after an accident. There are several severe and even life threatening injuries that take time to manifest symptoms. It’s also important that you have a record of hospital visits following an accident in order to show causation if you need to make a claim for your injuries. However, a lot of the time in whiplash cases, people genuinely think they are fine from the accident, so they don’t go and see a doctor right away. In these cases, you still need to see a doctor as soon as possible so you can get a diagnosis and start proper medical treatment.
Treatment For Whiplash Injuries
Whiplash often takes two to three weeks to heal with proper medical treatment. However, severe cases of whiplash can last years after an accident. Doctors may send you to a specialist like a chiropractor or a neurologist. Diagnosis may involve x-rays, CT, or MRI scans. Treatments range from immobilization of the neck to range of motion and physical therapy to medication. In severe cases you may be required to have surgery, especially if you’ve experienced muscle or ligament damage.
What To Do If You Have Whiplash After An Accident
The amount of pain and suffering caused by whiplash can interfere with your normal life activities. The costs of medical bills can add up, especially if you have severe damage. Between missing work and the cost of medical bills, whiplash can become a very expensive injury. So you’ll need to file a claim with the insurance company after your accident. Sadly, since whiplash isn’t taken seriously and can take weeks to manifest symptoms, you may find the insurance company is not willing to pay for your injuries. At that point, it is critical that you hire a professional injury attorney, like Michael Babboni who can help you prove the severity of your injuries and get you fair compensation from the insurance company. Contact the St. Pete’s Lawyer today to learn more!
