Whiplash Can Be Surprisingly Serious
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Whiplash” is a commonly-used term to describe damage to the soft tissue of the neck. Contrary to what many people believe, whiplash is not a single injury. Instead, it can refer to many different types of injuries—all of which may be painful.
People commonly suffer whiplash in car accidents—primarily in rear-end collisions. However, whiplash can result from any impact or event that causes your head to snap suddenly in one direction and then snap quickly back. This snapping is what causes tears, strains, or sprains to the ligaments, tendons, or muscles in the neck. When soft tissue injuries are caused by a jerking of the head, you may be diagnosed with whiplash.
How Whiplash May Affect You
The common depiction of a whiplash victim is often a person entering a courtroom with a neck brace in a personal injury case. While this portrayal often insinuates that a victim is exaggerating her injury, in reality, whiplash can have quite serious effects on your life. The following are some of the many symptoms a whiplash victim may experience:
- Pain—either with or without movement of the neck
- Stiffness in the neck and restricted movement
- Headaches
- Pain in the arms, upper back, or shoulders
- Numbness or tingling in the arms or hands
- Dizziness or disorientation
- Fatigue and sleep issues
- Ringing sound in the ears
- Blurry vision
- Challenges with memory or concentration
- Irritability and depression
While some pain or stiffness may be immediately apparent, other symptoms of whiplash may gradually develop over time. The sooner you see a doctor after an accident, the sooner you can begin treatment that may work to mitigate future effects of your injury.
Financial Recovery for Whiplash
Many accident victims who suffer whiplash will incur a number of
damages as a result of their injury. Such damages can include:
Medical bills – No medical treatment is cheap, and even a single trip to the emergency department can put a strain on your finances. Whiplash can require emergency care, follow-up visits, medical equipment and medication, physical therapy, and more.
Lost income – Whiplash can make it difficult to perform the duties of many different types of jobs, including heavy lifting, construction work, tending to children, or even standing or sitting in one place. If you are forced to miss work during your recovery, you can lose a lot of income.
Pain and suffering – Whiplash can cause physical and emotional pain and suffering, especially if your injury persists for some time.
Contact Our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers for More Information
At Abels & Annes, we have witnessed how significantly whiplash and similar injuries can affect a person’s life. We will never minimize your injuries and will always fight for the compensation you need to cover your losses. We have handled a variety of accident cases involving many types of injuries—including serious and painful neck injuries. Our
Chicago car accident attorneys are here to assist you, so please call our office at 312-924-7575 or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation today.
