(Newswire.net — September 28, 2020) — More than two-million Americans suffer from whiplash each year, and about 10 percent of them become permanently disabled. Minor neck injuries account of up to 60 percent of all permanent impairment claims, and over one million people will have chronic pain. Yet, whiplash remains one of the hardest injuries to prove.
Whiplash Causes
Whiplash is caused when your neck moves back and forth in a forceful, sudden motion. It got its name because the movement of your head is similar to that of the cracking of a whip.
The most common cause for whiplash injuries is rear-end car accidents, but it is also possible to get whiplash from playing sports, being physically abused or assaulted, or from falling. Your doctor may call what you have a neck sprain or strain, but those injuries can be caused by other movements of your head.
Symptoms of Whiplash
Although the signs of whiplash may appear immediately, they often take a day or so to appear. You may suffer from neck pain and stiffness. The pain may get worse when you move your head or neck. It is possible you will not be able to move your neck properly.
If the whiplash is significant, you may suffer from a headache that starts at the base of your skull as well as tenderness in your shoulder, arms, or upper back. You could have numbness or tingling in your arms and hands as well as fatigue or dizziness. Whiplash can also cause blurred vision, irritability, memory problems, depression, and ringing in the ears.
Treatment for Whiplash
If your whiplash is mild, your doctor may suggest rest as well as either heat or cold packs applied to your neck for 15 minutes every three hours. Over-the-counter pain medication may also be suggested. If your pain is severe, you may be given a prescription for pain medication or muscle relaxers.
Most people recover from whiplash in just a few days, but it is possible that it may take longer. If your first symptoms were intense, you may develop complications from the injury. These may include severe pain in the neck, limited range of motion, and pain that spreads to the arms.
Proving You Have Whiplash
Because whiplash is a soft-tissue injury, it can be difficult to prove. There is often no bruising or damage to the ligaments or tendons in your neck. It is critical that you visit a doctor immediately after an accident if you suffer any pain or discomfort in your neck. When it comes to personal injury claims timing is important, so follow this link to learn more about the statute of limitations in your state.
You can visit an emergency room doctor, walk-in clinic, or your family doctor, but you need to get documentation of the injury. If your doctor suspects whiplash, you will probably need to have x-rays, CT scans and/or MRIs to determine if any of your ligaments are torn.
Even if your scans show that there is no damage to the ligaments, you may still have suffered from a whiplash injury. Be sure to talk to your doctor about any symptoms you may be dealing with, even if they seem minor. The more information you provide to your doctor, the more likely you will be able to prove you are suffering from whiplash.
What to Do Next
If you have been involved in an accident and believe you are dealing with a whiplash injury, contact an attorney to learn more about your rights. A lawyer will review your case to see whether you have a personal injury claim for your whiplash injury. This could result in compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering, especially if your injury is severe.
