Symptoms of Whiplash From a Car Accident
Those involved in car accidents might not know what to expect. Some may experience a long recovery period, and some may return to work the day after they received their injuries – the severity will depend upon the accident. The truth is, whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries that a victim may experience. Even the slowest of vehicle bumps can cause enough jerking of the neck to cause some of the most minor symptoms of this injury. However, some injuries are so severe that they cause damage to the spine or spinal cord on a severe level.
When you have received a whiplash injury, your doctor will assess you just to make sure. Just by the way you describe the accident, many doctors will initially take it into consideration for a review. By examining your neck, the doctor can rule out that there are no signs of damage to the bones of your spine or your spinal nerves. Here are some of the symptoms that you may experience when you are diagnosed with a whiplash injury:
- Pain and stiffness of the neck that becomes worse on the day after the accident
- Difficulty turning or bending the neck
- Pain or stiffness in the shoulders and down the arms
- Pain and stiffness in the upper and lower part of the back
- Headaches
- Dizziness, blurred vision, or pain in the jaw
- Irritability and difficulty concentrating
Did you know that pain or stiffness from the accident might not happen the very moment the accident occurs? No, it may take several hours to days or weeks after the accident for symptoms to actually appear. However, the pain and stiffness will usually become worse the day after the accident, mostly seen on the first day following.
Luckily for you, if you have been injured in an accident and sustained a whiplash injury, there are treatment options for you. In many cases, exercising your neck and staying active and fix these issues as you are not allowing your neck to “stiffen up.” Day by day you should gradually try to increase the range of neck movements. You may also be given the option for medicinal treatment such as painkillers and muscle relaxers prescribed by your doctor.
Receiving Compensation
One of the biggest determining factors in how much compensation you will receive for your whiplash claim is the nature of the accident and what physical damages were actually sustained. When the soft tissues of your beck region are examined, this will help make the best determination. Many people will write whiplash injuries off as if they are not serious, but this is far from the truth – which is why speaking to a medical professional is your best bet. Provided your doctor can document the injuries in your medical file, all will be well when attempting to bring a claim.
You should also know that the duration of your pain will impact the claim value. Some people’s pain will not subside in a week or even a couple of months – it will go on much longer. If you experience lingering symptoms involved with your accident, you may have suffered more severe damage than you thought. These lingering symptoms should not be ignored under any circumstance.
The best step in any accident case is to speak to an experienced attorney. Not only can they help you in an attempt to “value” your case, but they can also offer the support you need. Call us today at Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi for more information on how to handle your case!
