Motor vehicle accidents are often known for resulting in critical injuries. These injuries can take many forms, but one of the most common types of injuries that occur in car accidents are whiplash injuries. Whiplash is a serious injury that could have a lasting impact on victims’ lives. Those who have suffered a whiplash injury may be entitled to financial compensation to help them recover after expensive treatments, loss of wages, and pain and suffering. Explore your legal options further when you contact an experienced whiplash lawyer at The Mark Casto Law Firm, PC for help. Reach us by phone at 706-450-7071 for a free consultation today.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs when an individual’s neck moves back-and-forth rapidly, similar to the cracking of a whip. Whiplash injuries commonly occur in motor vehicle accidents, including rear end collisions. However, whiplash injuries can also occur in slip and fall accidents, sports accidents, work injuries, and physical abuse.
Whiplash Symptoms You Should Look For Following a Car Accident
Whiplash pain has been known to be excruciating. Depending on the severity of the injury, victims might experience a wide variety of symptoms, such as:
- Stiffness in the neck
- Neck pain
- Pain in the hands or arms
- Pain in the lower back or shoulder
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or arms
- Dizziness
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Ringing in the ears
- Trouble concentrating
- Blurring vision
- Memory issues
These are just a few of the more common symptoms associated with whiplash injuries. Individuals who may be experiencing symptoms of whiplash or other related injuries should seek a medical evaluation to obtain the treatment and care they need. If left untreated, whiplash injuries can result in chronic pain and further injury or illness.
How Do You Know If You Have Whiplash After a Car Accident?
It may not always be clear whether a whiplash injury has occurred following a motor vehicle accident. However, the best way to find out is by contacting a healthcare provider for a medical evaluation. Although whiplash injuries may seem minor, they can actually be life-threatening if left untreated.
It could take weeks or even months for a whiplash injury to heal. The sooner injury victims obtain the medical treatment and care they need, the sooner they can begin rebuilding their lives.
How Do Physicians Diagnose Whiplash Injuries?
Physicians can diagnose whiplash injuries in a variety of ways. First, doctors will need to ask about symptoms victims may be experiencing, how the accident occurred, and obtain the injury victim’s medical history. It will also be important to describe how whiplash injuries may be affecting a victim’s day to day life.
Many physicians will need to conduct a physical exam before a whiplash diagnosis can be issued. Some of the different aspects of a whiplash examination include:
- Checking the injury victim’s back, neck, and shoulder tenderness
- Checking the injury victim’s range of motion in their shoulders and neck
- Determining whether the injury victim suffers further pain when moving their neck, backs, or shoulders
- Checking the neck, back, and shoulder reflexes, sensation, and strength
Whiplash injuries do not typically require diagnostic imaging. However, a physician may be more likely to conduct imaging tests if they believe that the injury victim has suffered another medical condition that is exacerbating their whiplash injury. Such tests could include:
- Magnetic resonance imaging MRIs
- X-rays
- Computerized tomography CT exams
What to Do After Suffering Whiplash
In the aftermath of a car accident resulting in whiplash, it may not be clear what initial steps should be taken. However, these steps could have a significant impact on an injury victim’s ability to recover maximum compensation for their damages.
Here are some of the most important steps that should be taken after suffering a whiplash injury caused by a car accident:
- Contact 911 and request emergency responders
- Attempt to document the accident scene, if possible
- Do not speak with anyone about the details of the accident
- Consider contacting a whiplash injury lawyer at the Mark Casto Law Firm PC for help
- Meet with your physician for further whiplash injury treatment and care
- Document the physical pain and emotional trauma
- Follow healthcare providers medical advice and treatment instructions
- Start gathering written and physical documentation of your whiplash injuries
- Do not post about your whiplash injury or car accident on social media
Injury victims can focus on recuperating from their injuries while their whiplash injury attorney handles the legal details of their case. Preparing for negotiations with profit driven insurance companies and gathering the evidence needed to establish liability against the culpable party can be handled while injury victims get the medical care, physical therapy, and mental health counseling they need to get through these difficult times.
Recoverable Damages Following a Whiplash Injury
Following a whiplash injury, injury victims may be entitled to total compensation for the damages if another party is at fault for their whiplash injury.
Damages can be separated into categories known as economic and non-economic damages. Examples of economic damages awarded in whiplash claims include:
- Costs of whiplash treatment and care
- Future medical expenses related to the whiplash injury
- Costs of higher insurance premiums
- Loss of future potential earnings and current wages
- Property damages and vehicle repair expenses
Examples of non-economic damages awarded in whiplash claims include:
- The excruciating pain associated with whiplash injuries
- The emotional trauma and suffering from the accident
- Embarrassment associated with disfiguring whiplash injuries
- Loss of companionship, love, protection, guidance, and support
- Diminished quality of life
These are only a few of the different types of damages awarded for whiplash injuries. Those who have suffered debilitating whiplash injuries can find out more about how much their claim is worth by contacting a dedicated whiplash attorney for help.
Learn More About Your Legal Rights From a Georgia Whiplash Attorney Today
Those who have suffered whiplash injuries and are unsure of where to turn to help can get the legal guidance they need when they need it most by contacting a dedicated Georgia whiplash lawyer at The Mark Casto Law Firm, PC. Schedule a no-cost, risk-free consultation today by calling our office at 706-450-7071 or completing our convenient contact form.