Car accidents have the potential to cause injuries that have a lasting impact on your wellbeing. One of the most common injuries in a car crash is whiplash. This is because most collisions cause your head and neck to move back and forth rapidly. As with any injury, it can be difficult to determine how to move forward and recover both physically and financially. Our team of experienced personal injury lawyers at Grabb & Durando are here to help you.
These are the basics of what to do after a whiplash injury.
Know the Symptoms of Whiplash
At first, whiplash can seem less severe than other types of car accident injuries. It’s important to recognize the symptoms and causes so you can get treatment as soon as possible. Whiplash is a type of neck strain, which means that the muscles and tendons in your neck stretch and tear. Neck sprains and neck strain are different, as neck sprains involve the tearing of ligaments rather than of soft tissues. However, the symptoms are very similar.
You may experience:
- Neck Pain. This is the most common symptom of whiplash. You can begin to feel neck pain either immediately after the accident or up to several weeks later.
- Tightness. After you experience whiplash, your neck muscles may feel tight and knotted. You may also find that is difficult to move your head.
- Headaches. Another symptom to be aware of is headaches, which usually start at the base of your head and radiate upwards.
Seek Medical Treatment
As is the case with any injury, you need to seek medical treatment as soon as possible for whiplash. Ideally, you should see a doctor immediately after you experience a car accident. You should also keep your doctor informed if your symptoms change. Since whiplash may take a few weeks to manifest, it may not appear in an initial medical examination. Making sure your doctor is up-to-date on any symptoms that occur helps them ensure that you get the best treatment possible. It also allows them to properly document your injuries. This will be important when settling your claim.
Your doctor will let you know how to best reduce the neck pain that comes with whiplash. In many cases, they will have you ice your neck for a few days while taking pain medication to manage your level of discomfort. If your symptoms persist, they may recommend physical therapy or other long-term treatments.
Call a Personal Injury Lawyer
Any sort of injury can come with significant medical costs. If you experience whiplash, you may need to pay for long-term treatment as well as any initial visits. There’s also the possibility of developing chronic pain after your injury, which can lead to high medical bills in addition to your pain and suffering. You need an experienced personal injury lawyer to fight for you. The insurance companies have adjusters that will be documenting your case and it’s their job to find reasons to pay you as little as possible. It is important that you have an attorney on your side. We will make sure everything is in order so you can get the money you deserve.
If someone else’s negligence caused your whiplash injury, then you deserve the highest compensation possible for your medical expenses and pain and suffering. At Grabb & Durando, we have decades of experience fighting for people who have been injured in car accidents. Call us today for a free consultation.
