Image by Tom Woodward via flickr
There are many property damages and physical injuries that can come from being involved in a car accident and one of the most common injuries that you can sustain is whiplash. Whiplash is an injury to the neck that is caused by the vigorous and rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck. Whiplash is often associated with being rear-ended by another vehicle or other vehicular accidents, but this injury can also come from other sources like a sports injury or other trauma that forces your neck to move too fast.
Just like any other injury sustained during a car accident, you must immediately seek treatment for whiplash. If you’re experiencing any neck pain, even minor ones, after an accident, try not to move your head and wait for first responders to arrive. Let them know immediately that your neck is in pain so they can check your condition and do the necessary steps to keep your neck secured until you get to the hospital for further diagnosis. If you’re with passengers during the accident and they are experiencing neck pain, make sure that they do not move their heads unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Whiplash could also present its symptoms a few hours after the incident that caused it. Sometimes, adrenaline and shock can prevent a person from feeling any of the injuries they’ve sustained, and this is causes delayed whiplash symptoms. Visit a doctor immediately if you feel any neck pain a few days after an accident since this may mean that you have delayed symptoms of whiplash.
Here’s a list of symptoms you should watch out for after being involved in a car accident. These symptoms may indicate that you have sustained whiplash from the vehicular accident:
1. Neck pain. – The most apparent symptom of whiplash. Visit the doctor immediately if the pain or stiffness that you feel on your neck keeps on getting worse whenever you try to move it.
2. Stiff neck. – Stiffness in your neck could also be a symptom of whiplash especially if it hinders the range of movement of your neck to the point where you can’t even nod.
3. Headache. – Headaches could be a symptom of whiplash, especially if it starts from the bottom of your skull where your head connects to your neck. Headaches may also be an indicator of a concussion, so it’s best to visit your doctor as soon as possible.
4. Muscle ache. – Muscle aches or pain in your shoulder, upper back, or arms may be an indicator that you have whiplash. Tingling or numbness in your arms is also a symptom of whiplash.
5. Dizziness. – Since whiplash is caused by the rapid forward and backward movement of the neck, you might also experience dizziness since your head was shaken.
6. Other symptoms. – Whiplash may also cause blurred vision, ringing in your ears, difficulty in sleeping, irritability, difficulty in concentrating, and memory problems.
You should visit a doctor if you feel any of the symptoms above, especially if you experience more than one of the mentioned symptoms. It is imperative to seek medical attention and treatment since your neck is a vital and sensitive part of your body.
If whiplash is not diagnosed and treated immediately, it can lead to long-term effects that could permanently affect your way of living. If the symptoms of whiplash persist for more than six months, it is usually referred to as chronic whiplash, and the symptoms may never disappear entirely.
Involved in a car accident which resulted in a whiplash injury? Contact us at Hogan Injury for expert legal advice.
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