Whiplash After A Rear-End Accident

Whiplash is a type of neck injury in which the neck muscles are strained and sometimes even sprained often due to being violently thrust forward and backward. This is why whiplash injuries often occur in rear-end accidents. When the rear-vehicle hits the front-vehicle, the driver and passengers in the front car that’s been hit from behind many times sustain whiplash injuries, which can be painful and serious.

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Can you get whiplash from a minor/low-speed rear-end accident?

Yes. One of the biggest myths is that low-speed rear-end accidents are not serious and don’t result in painful injuries. But the reality is even if you were involved in a low-speed rear-end collision, you can sustain whiplash or other painful injuries. This is especially true if you were the driver or passenger in the front vehicle hit from behind. You know your neck pain is real. Make sure you get the medical care and support you need to recover. See a doctor. Then talk to a car accident lawyer as soon as possible to learn more about your legal rights.

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Can you get whiplash if your car had no damage?

The short answer? Yes. Vehicles are built to withstand collisions with another car, and your body isn’t. As a result, your car might not have any damage but you might have whiplash or another painful injury due to your rear-end collision.

Such situations can be especially complicated since insurance companies – especially the at-fault driver’s insurance company – might not believe that you actually got hurt in your rear-end accident. As a result, they might deny your whiplash injury claim since they might insist that your injury is not real.

You know the truth. You’re in pain. Even though your car does not have any damage, your whiplash is real. You need medical care and support to recover from your rear-end accident. That’s why you need a rear-end accident lawyer to demand the compensation you deserve.

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There are often many warning signs that someone sustained a whiplash injury in a car crash. Common symptoms of whiplash include:

• Neck pain, especially after a rear-end accident
• Neck pain that gets worse, especially when moving the neck
• Reduced range of motion in the neck
• Frequent headaches, which often start near the base of the skull
• Delayed neck pain that occurs several hours or days after your rear-end accident
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Tingling sensation in the neck or other muscles, including shoulders and arms
• Feeling tired and having difficulty staying awake

Other whiplash injury symptoms are common. In each case, it’s important to take such symptoms seriously. Otherwise, your whiplash injury might get worse. In addition, you might also have other serious injuries that require immediate medical care.

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What muscles are injured in whiplash?

Along with the neck muscles, other muscles in the body can be in pain and injured due to whiplash. Shoulder muscles are sometimes injured in rear-end whiplash accidents. This can cause pain between the shoulder blades and other parts of the shoulder.

Other times, whiplash injury victims might have back pain due to injured back muscles in the upper back or even the lower back. This is why it’s important for whiplash injury victims to have a doctor examine them as soon as possible to diagnose what’s wrong and provide the necessary medical care for whiplash.

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How long does whiplash last?

Neck pain, frequent headaches and other physical discomfort caused by whiplash might last a few days or weeks. In many cases, neck pain and other physical ailments associated with whiplash last roughly three months.

But every whiplash injury is unique. In some cases, whiplash can last much longer. It’s unusual for whiplash injury victims to suffer from chronic neck pain and headaches months or years after a rear-end accident.

Every person is different. This is why you should not feel pressured to rush your recovery. If you are in pain and experiencing any other discomfort, your focus should be on getting the medical care you need to recover.

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Yes. You should see a doctor as soon as possible if you believe you sustained whiplash in a rear-end collision. It’s not always necessary to go to the hospital if you believe you have whiplash. Then again, many times what might seem like whiplash could be another life-threatening injury, such as a spinal cord injury or a traumatic brain injury. In addition, you could have additional internal injuries – such as organ damage or internal bleeding – on top of whiplash.

So what should you do if you suspect you have whiplash? Should you go to the doctor or go to the hospital? You know your body best. If something doesn’t seem right, seek immediate medical care. Your health should always come first.

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How do you test for whiplash?

Testing and diagnosing whiplash can be very complicated. Doctors often take X-Rays, computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images in an effort to diagnose whiplash. But such tests might not identify muscle damage caused by whiplash. This is because the physical injuries caused by whiplash can be subtle.

So what’s the best way to diagnose whiplash? An examination by an experienced physician can be helpful. Paying close attention to your symptoms and physical changes in your body can help doctors diagnose whiplash as well.

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How do you treat whiplash?

There are many different ways to treat whiplash. Sometimes, simply having the time to rest and recover can be the most important part of the healing process. In addition, physical therapy, daily exercises and other physical activity (as directed by a doctor or physical therapist) can help improve mobility and flexibility in the neck.

Other ways to treat whiplash caused by a rear-end accident may include:

• Anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce neck pain and swelling
• Applying heat to sore neck muscles
• Massage therapy
• Wearing a soft neck collar (a type of neck brace) in some cases

Different doctors might have different methods for treating whiplash due to a rear-end accident. This is why you should always talk to a doctor about your injury and their approach for dealing with whiplash. That way, you can decide if their recommended medical care is right for you.

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There’s no set dollar amount when it comes to how much money your whiplash settlement is worth. In general, you should be financially compensated for all your injury-related expenses. This might sound straightforward. But there’s often a lot of debate about which expenses should be included when calculating your whiplash settlement.

Insurance companies often only include short-term expenses like emergency medical care and vehicle repairs. But if you have long-term, chronic neck pain and other physical ailments due to whiplash, you should be compensated for those long-term expenses. Such expenses can include:

• Long-term physical therapy
• Replacement income if you have to work reduced hours due to your whiplash injury
• Prescription medications, especially if you have chronic neck pain weeks or months after your rear-end accident

Add all these expenses up and your whiplash settlement can easily be worth thousands of dollars or significantly more.

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Many times, the best way to get the money you rightfully deserve for your whiplash injury claim after a rear-end accident is to file a lawsuit. Often, this involves suing the at-fault party seeking damages, the legal term for financial compensation. That generally includes the driver who rear-ended you (and their insurance company). You may also be able to take legal action against other at-fault parties depending on the circumstances of your accident.

The best way to know who to sue and whether filing a lawsuit is the right approach is to talk to an experienced rear-end accident lawyer. A Law.com Premier Attorney listed on this website can meet with you, free of charge, and explain the legal options available to you.

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