Whiplash Injury

Did you know that whiplash injury affects over one million people in the United States each year? 

The signs of a severe injury aren’t always apparent right away. For instance, when you have whiplash, it could take a few hours, days, or even months before the symptoms start to show up. This is one of the reasons why many people choose not to see their doctor when they suffer a whiplash injury. 

Unfortunately, not seeing a doctor may seriously damage your well-being in the future. Here are some of the reasons you should visit a doctor as soon as possible after suffering a whiplash injury in an auto accident.

What Causes a Whiplash Injury?

An injury to the neck caused by a sudden, forceful forward and back motion of the neck is known as whiplash. In a whiplash injury you can damage:

• The spine’s bones
• The disks between the bones
• The muscles around the neck
• The ligaments between the bones
• Other tissues in the neck 

Whiplash is a typical injury sustained in a rear-end car collision. On the other hand, whiplash can originate from a variety of causes. Whiplash also is known as neck sprain or strain. Most whiplash patients recover within a few weeks if they adhere to a treatment program covering pain medication and exercise. However, if you do not consult a doctor, you may experience severe neck pain and other long-term complications.

Common Symptoms

Whiplash symptoms usually appear within a few days of the injury. People frequently fall into the trap of disregarding the early symptoms of whiplash.

Most whiplash victims recover within a couple of weeks and appear to have no long-term effects from the injury. However, many continue to experience pain months or even years after the whiplash injury.

It is difficult to anticipate how each person suffering from whiplash will recover. In general, you are more likely to develop chronic pain if your initial symptoms were severe, began quickly, and included:

• Neck discomfort and stiffness
• Chronic pain from moving neck
• Frequent headaches, which most typically begin at the skull base
• Inflammation, tenderness, or pain in the shoulder area, upper back, or arms
• Arm tingling or numbness may be experienced
• Fatigue and dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Tinnitus or ringing in the ears
• Battling to sleep
• Feelings of irritability
• Concentration problems
• Memory loss 
• Feelings of depression

It cannot be reiterated more that if left untreated, whiplash can result in persistent discomfort, which may force you to lay low for an extended period. Fortunately, getting immediate care and a prognosis can drastically cut your recovery time. The following risk factors are associated with a poor outcome of a whiplash injury:

• Having suffered a whiplash injury in the past
• Suffering from an existing neck or low back pain
• Having suffered a high-speed injury in the past

If you experience one or more of the above symptoms following an accident, it is prudent to seek medical attention immediately. Your doctor might order tests such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs based on the severity of your symptoms. This will enable your doctor to rule out any other possible injuries that may be provoking your neck pain.

Why You Need to Visit a Doctor Immediately

Surprisingly enough, after an accident, you may feel perfectly fine and even more energetic than usual. This is due to the body’s reaction to trauma, in which adrenaline is released to keep you going. Adrenaline and other hormones can mask severe injuries or pain symptoms for hours, days, and sometimes months. Emergency services personnel at an accident scene will usually examine to rule out obvious issues. However, they may not be able to do detailed imaging. They may also miss unseen injuries for which you have no symptoms.

Whether you feel okay after a collision or your symptoms are managed at home, you should contact a doctor to ensure everything is fine. The diagnostics performed during this doctor’s visit will create a medical record that can be used in any personal injury claims you file. They can also identify injuries that you may not have realized you had until later when they worsened.

In addition, doctors encourage visits to reduce risk and begin treatment plans as soon as possible. Similarly, lawyers recommend these visits to track your medical treatment and establish a link between both your injury and your accident.

Prevent Further Injury

Specialists in whiplash treatment understand that keeping an injury unchecked can worsen the situation. However, you may not link your symptoms to whiplash, particularly if they arise much later after the incident, and you will carry on with your life as usual.

By keeping the movement of your upper body without a specialized workout plan prescribed by a physiotherapist, you may be causing more tissue damage. This will aggravate your pain and may also result in more lasting injuries over time.

A Whiplash Injury Can Have Devastating Outcomes

If you have been in an auto accident it is imperative that you visit a doctor to rule out fractured bones or other injuries that can cause or worsen symptoms.

If you’re recovering from a whiplash injury that someone else caused, you may be entitled to compensation for any costs associated with the injury. You should consult a personal injury lawyer to help you determine if you have grounds for a personal injury claim.

Our personal injury attorneys at The Law Offices of Daniel Kim will assist you through every step of the procedure from start to finish. Contact us today to make an appointment for a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers.