The term, whiplash, comes from the motion that a whip makes when you snap it. Your body experiences a similar motion when your car collides with another vehicle or object, snapping your head and neck back and forth sharply.
Whiplash is an injury to the neck muscles, tendons, and ligaments caused by this snapping movement. Rear-end crashes are a top cause of whiplash injuries.
Depending on the severity of your injuries, some people who suffer whiplash entirely recover after a few weeks of treatment and therapy. But others experience long-term or permanent pain, suffering, and disability from their whiplash injuries.
If you are experiencing symptoms of whiplash, call Jason Schultz at 404-474-0804 for legal help getting compensation for your injuries and damage.s
What Happens to Your Body During a Car Accident to Cause Whiplash
The force from a car accident can quickly throw your head backward and then forward, snapping your head and neck like a flicking whip.
The scientific terminology for the jerking motions that a rear-end crash subjects your neck to is “rapid acceleration and deceleration.” Your head and neck are not supposed to move in this manner. The force pushes the head and neck beyond their normal range of motion.
A car accident that forces the head and neck to move in this manner can injure your:
- Neck muscles
- Ligaments
- Tendons
- Vertebrae (bones) in your neck
- Spinal discs
Soft tissue injuries like muscle, ligament, and tendon sprains and strains are common injuries associated with whiplash.
In addition to these injuries, the rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head and neck may cause a concussion, brain trauma, fractures, and other injuries.
How You Might Feel if You Have a Whiplash Injury
Many people do not feel any signs of a whiplash injury at the scene of the accident. But over the next few hours or days, they may start to experience symptoms, such as:
- Neck pain and stiffness. You might feel pain and stiffness in your neck, which hurts when you turn your head from side-to-side or nod your head up or down. You might not be able to turn your head as far as usual.
- Arm, upper back, and shoulder symptoms. You might have numbness, tingling, pain, or tenderness in these areas.
- Headaches often accompany whiplash injuries.
- You might also be tired or dizzy.
If you experience any of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately. Even if you don’t feel injured or if you think your injuries are minor, see a doctor for an evaluation. Your doctor may identify serious injuries. The sooner you start treatment, the better it may be for your health and potential legal case.
What to Do if You Sustain a Whiplash Injury in a Car Accident
Do these things if you were in a car accident and experience symptoms of whiplash:
- Get medical attention. As noted, starting treatment right away not only helps you recover from your injury but also enables you to connect the injury to your accident.
- Contact a lawyer. Call Jason Schultz for help: 404-474-0804. Our law firm can help you pursue compensation for your whiplash injury and its effects on your life.
- Do not give a written or recorded statement to the insurance company or agree to a settlement of your claim without first speaking with our firm.
- Gather evidence. Save photographs, medical records, eyewitness contact information, accident reports, or other documentation of the accident or your injuries. Share the evidence with your lawyer. We will also gather evidence to help you prove fault and liability.
The personal injury team at the Law Office of Jason R. Schultz, PC stands ready to help you. Please call us at 404-474-0804 today, and we will arrange to meet with you for free. There is no obligation, and we do not charge attorney fees until you get compensation.