Posted on Wednesday, May 11th, 2016 at 12:54 am
Whiplash is often dismissed as an injury that people use to claim more money in a car crash or other personal injury accident. Insurance companies routinely deny whiplash claims as minor injuries that only require a couple of weeks to recover with no lasting negative effects. However, this is not always the case.
Whiplash can have long-term effects that prevent accident victims from performing daily tasks or returning to work. In serious cases, victims can face substantial financial losses and years of pain and suffering. If you have suffered whiplash in an accident caused by another person, you need to consult with your physician immediately and then consult with an experienced personal injury attorney.
What is Whiplash?
Whiplash, or cervical acceleration-deceleration injury (CAD), is a neck injury caused by a severe jerk to the neck with the head is thrust forward then backward in a violent motion. The soft tissues of the neck is injured when the head is violently whipped back and forth such as in a rear-end car crash. Any sudden movement to the neck and head can cause CAD.
Common causes of whiplash include:
- Car and truck crashes
- Bicycle accidents
- Slip and falls
- Blows to the head
- Contact sports
- Horseback riding
- Amusement park rides
In many cases, a person will recover from whiplash within one to two weeks after the accident. However, some victims have whiplash symptoms that last for months or even years depending on the severity of the injury to the soft tissue of the neck. Full symptoms may take longer to appear; therefore, you should never ignore neck, shoulder, or back pain following an accident. Advances have been made in detecting which patients are likely to suffer from chronic pain or other long-term effects of whiplash.
Long-Term Effects of Whiplash
One of the most debilitating long-term effects of whiplash is chronic pain. Chronic pain can prevent an accident victim from returning to a normal life following an accident. Other long-term effects include:
- Upper and lower back pain
- Persistent stiffness and/or pain in the should and/or neck
- Dizziness
- Constant weariness
- Jaw pain
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Sleeping disorders
- Memory and/or concentration problems
- Severe, chronic headaches
- Irritability
- Weakness and/or numbness in the arms or legs
- Spinal stenosis or osteoarthritis when accompanied by an injury to the spine
Because diagnosing severe cases can be difficult, insurance companies fight whiplash claims; however, researchers have found a new way of identifying patients who are likely to suffer from chronic pain from a CAD injury.
Doctors can now use special MRI imaging to determine if a patient may suffer from long-term chronic pain, PTSD, or disability. If you have been injured an accident and you are continuing to experience symptoms, discuss having an MRI with your physician to determine if your injury is more serious.
Contact an Experienced Whiplash Injury Attorney
The personal injury attorneys of the Tiemann Law Firm have experience representing clients who are suffering from whiplash. Contact our office by calling (916) 999-9000 or chat with a representative on our website to schedule a free consultation. Do not let an insurance company make you think you are imagining your symptoms or that you do not deserve compensation for your injury. You deserve to be fully compensated for your pain, suffering, and financial damages.
