A whiplash injury often occurs in low impact, minor auto accidents. They typically happen when a victim’s vehicle is struck from behind by another vehicle in a rear-end collision. Even though the traffic accident may have been minor, whiplash injuries can have devastating and lasting effects for months, years and even for a lifetime, depending on the severity of the injury. An estimated one million Americans suffer from a whiplash injury in a traffic accident each year. Treatments for their whiplash injuries cost nearly $30 billion annually.
A whiplash injury encompasses a wide range of neck and upper spine injuries caused by rapid hyper-extension and hyper-flexion of the neck muscles, causing injuries. While the majority of whiplash victims do recover from the severe neck pain involved with such an injury after a few weeks, one in five injured people take a year or longer to recover from whiplash. Symptoms mostly involve neck pain, but the pain can spread out to the back, shoulder and back of the head. Whiplash can give you a stiff neck, weakness and numbness in your arms and shoulders. You might feel dizzy, suffer from bad headaches and have muscle spasms. It can sometimes takes days before you’ll realize that you have whiplash. Whiplash can become so serious that it can lead to depression, fatigue, sleeping problems and memory loss.
While some people may think whiplash injuries are pretty minor, those who suffer from whiplash likely don’t see it that way. If you have suddenly found yourself unable to work with mounting medical bills, along with chronic pain, as a result of someone’s negligence or inattentive driving, it can be a frustrating experience.
If you haven’t done so already, seek the evaluation and treatment for your injury by a medical professional. A doctor, chiropractor, neurologist or orthopedic specialist may all be of help, depending on your symptoms. If you don’t get treated for your whiplash injury, you could end up with chronic pain. Make sure you document your treatment and any recommended medical treatments you’ll need in the future.
Your next step is to file a claim to seek compensation for your injuries. A personal injury lawyer can guide you through this process and ensure that you receive the fair settlement that you deserve. Call (619) 338-8230!
San Diego Injury Law Center
San Diego Injury Law Center is a dedicated law firm synonymous for providing top-notch legal advice and excellent representation in personal injury cases. The law firm focuses exclusively on injury cases and is devoted to helping plaintiffs who have been injured in car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and falls, and whiplash injuries.