What is Whiplash?
Whiplash occurs when your neck bends one way and then quickly in the opposite direction causing pain and damage to the muscles, nerves, tendons, and discs in your neck.
Whiplash can happen in many different scenarios such as sports injuries, falls, and auto accidents. It is reported that over 800,000 cases of vehicle accidents each year involve neck injuries.
How do I know if I have whiplash?
When involved in an auto accident, it is important to be checked by a medical professional immediately. Even if it was a minor rear-end accident whiplash can still occur. Signs of whiplash include neck pain and stiffness, shoulder pain, dizziness, numbness in your arms, blurred vision, memory problems, and much more. The symptoms of this injury can cause long-term damage and it is urgent to get medical attention as soon as possible. These injuries can occur at crashes even below 12 mph.
If you had anyone else in the vehicle with you at the time of the auto accident be sure to get them examined by a medical professional. For children, whiplash patients can recover within 3 months but some can have prolonging injuries that last a lifetime. The faster you get everyone examined the better. Be sure to keep an eye out after the accident for changes in your children’s behavior. Some side effects of whiplash in children include fear, emotional outburst, difficulty sleeping, irritability, pain, and discomfort.
What are the long-term complications with whiplash?
People can deal with headaches, and pain in joints, discs, and ligaments. There can also be issues with concentration, memory, sleep, irritability, and ringing in the ears.
There are many things doctors can do to help you ease the pain of your trauma. These include medicine, muscle relaxants, applying heat and ice, relaxation practices, massage, nerve stimulation, acupuncture, and much more!
Contact your attorney
If you or a loved one have been in an auto accident seek medical attention, whiplash can seem like a minor injury in some cases. Still, it is essential to be examined by a medical professional. If you believe you are a victim of whiplash after an auto accident – seek out an attorney at Scott & Wallace. The law holds drivers accountable when they cause an accident and you should not be held responsible for financial hardship due to medical bills for this injury.
