We’ve all heard about whiplash injuries—and seen the neck braces on courtroom television dramedies—but what are whiplash injuries really all about? Rear-end car accidents (even minor fender benders) are closely related to whiplash injuries, but nearly any kind of vehicular accident can lead to a whiplash injury. Whiplash can have extremely serious and long-lasting repercussions for your health, and it should never be discounted or ignored. Additionally, whiplash can be a stealthy injury meaning that symptoms don’t always show up right away. So don’t adopt an I’ll wait and see attitude; seek medical attention if you’ve been involved in any kind of car accident. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Whiplash: What Is It?
Whiplash is a soft-tissue injury of the neck that’s caused when your neck is forced to move quickly back and forth—much like the motion of a whip cracking. Whiplash is often associated with rear-end car accidents, but any kind of car accident will do. Additionally, sports accidents, physical abuse, and other forms of trauma can lead to whiplash injuries. Further, the effects of a whiplash injury can be instantaneous or they can build slowly over time. The symptoms that emanate from a whiplash injury can range from immensely painful to quite mild, and their duration can range from protracted to very brief. In other words, whiplash injuries are all over the board.
If you’ve suffered a whiplash injury, seek immediate medical attention and then consult with a skilled personal injury attorney. Your health is too critical not to take it seriously. The skilled legal team at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC understands how difficult these injuries can be, and we’re here to help. Our experienced personal injury attorneys have the knowledge, commitment, and skill to aggressively advocate for your rights.
Whiplash and Its Symptoms
The symptoms of whiplash can be extremely painful and quite varied:
- Pain and stiffness throughout the region of your neck
- Pain and stiffness in your shoulders
- Pain and stiffness in any area of your back
- Pain or stiffness in your jaw
- Headaches that can range from mild to severe
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Mood disturbances
- Sleep disturbances
- Ringing in your ears
- Weakness or numbness in your limbs
If your whiplash symptoms haven’t healed within about six months, it could be indicative of a chronic condition that will necessitate ongoing medical care.
Pay Attention to the Symptoms
Because whiplash can present in so many different forms and because it can come on slowly and quietly, it’s imperative that you seek medical care whenever you’re involved in a rear-end car accident—or any accident that jolts your neck. Seeking immediate medical attention is not only better for your health but is also a mechanism for establishing the connection between the accident and your injury for your personal injury claim.
Whiplash injuries can lead to long-term health problems that can limit you physically, cause you to experience significant pain and discomfort, and be exceedingly expensive. Not only can a case of whiplash rack up expensive medical bills but it can also cost you in terms of lost wages, decreased earning potential, and diminished quality of life. Your health and well-being are too important to leave to chance—first, seek medical treatment and then obtain experienced legal counsel.
Georgia Whiplash Injury Claim
We’ve all seen how whiplash is portrayed as a scam or mockery in films and on television—when, after appearing in court, the injured plaintiff whips off his neck brace to hit the dance floor. If you’ve suffered a whiplash injury, however, you know that it is absolutely no laughing matter. Because whiplash isn’t an injury you can see, it can be difficult for people to believe that it’s real. If you suffer from whiplash, however, you know just how real it can be.
A good way to convincingly communicate the effects of your whiplash injury is to keep a journal related to the ongoing effects whiplash has on your daily life. Note your pain, the activities that you used to enjoy but must now forego, any headaches and their effects, the sleep disturbances that you experience, any shifts in your mood or emotions, and any other ways that the injury has affected your life. A whiplash injury can have serious negative consequences on your lifestyle, your health, your finances, and your emotions. Don’t downplay its effects.
The Myths of Whiplash
The stereotype of whiplash victims being fakers is so pervasive and negative that some victims of these injuries try to talk themselves out of their injury’s existence. Don’t be one of these whiplash victims; your health will suffer for it. In fact, there are several myths closely associated with whiplash injuries:
- It’s probably just a sprain. If you’ve been in an accident that jolted your neck, you may have a minor sprain that will heal quickly but you may not. Don’t take that chance. If you’ve been in an accident, see a doctor; it’s good for your health and your claim.
- I have no pain; I’m fine. Not necessarily true. The pain from a whiplash injury often blossoms over time. If you’ve been in an accident, play it safe and seek medical treatment.
- It was just a fender bender; I’m fine. You may be fine, but then again you may have sustained a whiplash injury. Even a fender bender at very low speeds can jolt your neck enough to lead to a whiplash injury. Always rule out whiplash by seeking medical care.
If You Suffered a Whiplash Injury, Seek Skilled Legal Counsel at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC
If someone else’s negligence has caused you to suffer a whiplash injury, you need legal counsel. These cases are complicated, but your health and your legal rights matter. The experienced legal team at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, in Gwinnett County, Georgia, has the skill, knowledge, and commitment to fight for your claim’s best possible resolution, and we’re here to help. Whiplash injuries are no laughing matter (no matter how they’re portrayed on television), so please contact or call us at 404-418-8244 for a free consultation today.
