Issues of Whiplash in Car Accidents

A surprising number of car accident victims are left suffering from whiplash, a common ailment that can cause significant pain and limit victims’ mobility. Unfortunately, whiplash is often misunderstood and downplayed, leaving some car accident victims without the treatment and support they need.

If you’ve suffered whiplash in a Biloxi car accident, it’s important to find out if you’re entitled to compensation. Call Gardner Law Group at 228-436-6555 to set up a personal injury consultation right away.

Whiplash—A Common Injury in Car Accidents

Whiplash is most commonly caused by rear-end car accidents. It’s characterized by forceful back-and-forth movement of the head. The head is a fairly heavy part of the body, and the neck is not meant to absorb as much force as it does in a car crash. This can cause significant pain and significantly limit how you move.

Each person’s experience with whiplash is a little bit different. In general, symptoms start within a few hours or days of the accident in question. Victims often complain of neck pain, neck stiffness, inability to turn the neck from side to side, and intense headaches. These headaches tend to start at the base of the skull and radiate up into the rest of the head.

Potential Consequences of Whiplash

For the majority of car accident victims, whiplash is a temporary ailment that only lasts a couple of weeks. In these cases, it often does not require medical treatment—just rest and over-the-counter pain medications.

However, those who suffer more serious cases of whiplash often do not respond to rest alone. They may require more intensive medical intervention. Less common symptoms that may occur include blurry vision, irritability, sleep disturbances, tinnitus, and difficulty focusing.

Medical Concerns

Many of the most dangerous consequences of whiplash come from high-speed rear-end collisions. If a victim’s neck pain worsens over time instead of easing up, that may be indicative of a serious injury. A victim’s range of motion can also indicate the severity of the injury; if you are completely unable to move your neck or experience intense pain when trying to do so, there’s a good chance your whiplash will not go away with time and rest. Pain that radiates down into the arms is also a troubling sign.

While anyone can experience a severe case of whiplash, certain people are at greater risk of this outcome. They include older victims, people who already experience lower back or neck pain, and those who have had whiplash before.

Legal Implications

Getting fair compensation after an accident is easier when you have proof of your injuries. Unfortunately, many insurance companies downplay whiplash and even assume that victims are falsifying or exaggerating their neck pain. It’s important to understand that you may need substantial evidence to prove your injuries and hold the negligent driver accountable.

This is why it’s important to seek medical care as soon as possible after a car accident. The sooner you can get your injuries diagnosed, the easier it is to connect them to the accident in which you were hurt.

As is the case with any personal injury claim, it’s important that you take your injury seriously and do your part to mitigate the damage. For example, your doctor may order you to take four weeks off of work to rest your neck and let it recover. If you ignore these instructions and go back to work the next day, you can expect the other party’s insurance company to refuse to offer a settlement. To mitigate the damage of your injuries, you should listen to your doctor’s instructions, adhere to their treatment plans, and attend all appointments.

Working with a Biloxi car accident lawyer can make this process much easier and less stressful. Your attorney can gather necessary evidence, build a case for you, and help fight for the compensation you deserve.

Fight for Fair and Full Compensation with Gardner Law Group

Have you suffered whiplash in a rear-end car accident? You could be entitled to compensation. The sooner you reach out to the team at Gardner Law Group, the sooner we can investigate your accident and begin advocating for you. Contact us online or call us at 228-436-6555 to get started.