- November 26, 2018
- Car Accidents
- Personal Injury
Whiplash Injuries & Car Accidents
Whiplash is a general term used to encompass a variety of painful neck injuries caused by a strong jerk in the head or neck. When the head is thrown back and forth in a quick, jerky motion, it can damage the ligaments, nerves, or muscles in the neck. As common as these injuries can be, they can also be very dangerous and damaging, especially if they are left untreated. Any type of major impact can cause someone to suffer a whiplash injury, but they are most often the result of car accidents.
In any car accident involving a sudden impact, whether the impact was from the side, the front, or behind the vehicle, it can cause the driver and passengers to whip their heads in reaction to the impact. If you or someone you love suffered a whiplash injury while in a car accident, make sure you know how these injuries are identified, how they’re caused, and what you can expect as you recover.
About Whiplash Injuries
When the body suffers a sudden blow, it can cause the head to whip back and forth, damaging the neck and causing what is referred to as a whiplash injury. Whiplash injuries can be extremely painful immediately after they occur, or the symptoms may remain dormant for days or months. The type of damage a whiplash victim sustains varies greatly depending on the severity of the incident. Whiplash injuries might result in damage to various neck muscles, intervertebral joints, ligaments, and nerves.
The Signs of a Whiplash Injury
In some cases, the symptoms of a whiplash injury will be apparent immediately after the injury took place. However, some whiplash injuries might remain unnoticed for a few days or even weeks. After time has passed, the injured person may experience even stronger symptoms, though they are very much the same in nature.
Common symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Neck stiffness
- Pain in and around the shoulders
- Pain or numbness in the hands and arms
- Dizziness
- Loss of memory
- Difficulty concentrating
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty sleeping
Car Accidents & Whiplash
Whiplash injuries can occur in any impact-related accident. Some common causes of whiplash injuries include sports incidents, physical assaults, repetitive stress injuries, shaken baby syndrome, and slip and fall accidents. However, most whiplash injuries are caused by car accidents.
If you were involved in a car accident, you likely suffered some sort of extreme impact, whether from the front, side, or rear. In some car accidents, like rear-end accidents, the jolt may be so sudden that you have no time to brace yourself for the incoming impact, which is one of the reasons whiplash injuries of this nature can be so severe.
When someone hits your car from behind, it may cause your head to fling forward before rearing backward against the seat. Sometimes the injured party might even strike their head on the seat in front of them or on the dashboard or steering wheel, making the injury even more complex. Similar types of whiplash injuries can occur if the vehicle is struck from the side or the front.
What Next?
Anyone injured in a car crash should take immediate action to protect their rights and their future. First of all, seek medical attention. Not all injuries present symptoms immediately, especially spinal or head injuries like whiplash. To be safe, its always best to see your doctor for a professional consultation after the crash. Once you’ve received medical treatment, you should call your attorney. If the crash was caused by another person’s negligence or carelessness, you may have a personal injury lawsuit on your hands.
Dealing with a whiplash injury isn’t easy. Not only are the medical bills expensive, the lasting damage caused by the incident can lead to chronic back pain, frequent headaches, and other painful health issues. If you were wrongfully injured, our firm wants to help you seek justice and compensation from the liable party.
Contact Goodman Acker P.C. today to get started on your Detroit car accident case.