Whiplash Injuries In a Car Accident
Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries and also one of the most misunderstood and underestimated—especially by auto insurance companies. Experienced car accident lawyers in Atlanta have seen cases in which whiplash occurs even during low-speed accidents with minimal damage to a vehicle. Often, insurance companies use the minor damage to a car, combined with the fact that whiplash injury does not typically appear on X-rays or other medical imaging tests, as reasons to dispute or deny claims.
What Is Whiplash?
A human head is heavy and supported by relatively delicate structures in the cervical spine of the neck. During a collision, the weight of the head as it whips back and forth or from side to side causes an overextension of the neck, stretching and tearing the soft tissue structures supporting the upper portion of the spinal column. This is whiplash. Whiplash can occur even in low-speed accidents. The crash force of an accident transforms a 125-pound person into a 4,375-pound force in a collision at only 35 miles per hour, placing a motorist at risk of whiplash and other injuries.
What Are the Symptoms of Whiplash?
Another reason that auto insurance adjusters sometimes deny whiplash claims is that whiplash injury victims don’t always go immediately to a hospital or other medical facility to seek treatment. This gives the insurance company cause to claim that the injury didn’t occur in the accident. Whiplash symptoms may not be immediately noticeable after the accident, or may present as only mild discomfort or stiffness. Unfortunately, more painful and debilitating symptoms develop in the hours or days after the injury as inflammation sets in, impacting the nerves in the affected area. Common symptoms of whiplash include the following:
- Worsening pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulders, and upper back
- Headaches
- Vision problems
- Ringing in the ears
- Reduced range of motion
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory problems
- Anxiety, irritability, and other mood changes
- Sleep disturbances
Atlanta spinal injury lawyers handling whiplash cases understand that severe whiplash injuries can be temporarily debilitating, making it difficult or impossible to work or carry out routine daily tasks.
Does Whiplash Have Long-Term Consequences?
Most whiplash victims recover in time, with treatment such as steroids, anti-inflammatory medications, a cervical collar for support, and physical therapy. Unfortunately, however, some whiplash victims experience long-term impacts. According to a 20-year study, a significant percentage of whiplash victims still experienced shoulder pain (72%), headaches (24%), and arm pain (13.3%) as much as 20 years after the accident.
Recovering Damages In a Whiplash Injury Claim
It’s always best to seek an immediate medical evaluation after a car accident, even if it was minor. This helps to identify and treat injuries as early as possible, preventing worse outcomes. It also helps to provide critical evidence that the injury occurred in the accident, which makes a more compelling car accident claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance.
If you suffered a whiplash injury in a car accident and didn’t seek medical attention until days later, it doesn’t mean that you cannot recover compensation. An experienced car accident attorney consults with medical experts and provides evidence for a strong claim for the full compensation available to you.
Why Call Piasta Walker Hagenbush for Your Whiplash Accident Claim?
A whiplash accident claim requires skilled navigation by an accident attorney with experience in whiplash injury claims. Call Piasta Walker Hagenbush, LLC for an award-winning personal injury lawyer in Atlanta to recover compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost earnings, out-of-pocket costs, and compensation for your pain and suffering.