When many people hear the term “whiplash”, they think fake injury. However, this could not be further from the truth. Whiplash injuries can leave long-lasting side effects, causing pain and discomfort for weeks, months, or, if left untreated, even years. Whiplash is a common injury suffered by rear end or multi-car accident victims.
In medical terms, whiplash is a neck injury that occurs when an impact or blow, such as from an auto accident or slip and fall accident, causes your head to jerk forward and backward in such a manner that the force stretches the muscles and tendons in your neck. In many cases, ice and rest can treat whiplash symptoms but sometimes, physical therapy is needed. When dealing with any type of suspected head or neck injury, it is best to see a medical professional so that more serious injuries can be ruled out.
Whiplash Symptoms
Whiplash symptoms do not come on immediately following an accident. Often it takes a few days for the following symptoms to show up:
- Pain, stiffness, and/or tenderness in your neck
- Pain when moving your neck to the side or back and forward
- Inability to look over each shoulder
- Headaches starting at the base of your skull that shoot up to your forehead
This list is not exhaustive. And some whiplash accident victims suffer only one or two symptoms while others experience pain and headaches for weeks. Left untreated, whiplash can create a permanent or semi-permanent disability if it prevents you from driving or performing your normal daily activities.
Compensation for Whiplash Injuries
Whiplash accident victims who are injured in an accident that was not their fault (such as being rear-ended to slipping on an unattended spill in a grocery store) have the right to recover financial compensation for their injury. In order to do so, yo must file a personal injury claim against the negligent party. This could be the other driver, the store owner, etc… An experienced accident lawyer will walk you through the process and let you know how much your potential claim is worth.
For a free, no obligation consultation about your whiplash injuries, contact Woodland Hills injury lawyer Barry P. Goldberg today.
