Did you know that injuries frequently cost more than your doctor bill? On top of having to pay a substantial medical bill, you might have to miss work or do some level of rehabilitation as well.
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries that occurs during a car accident. It is a soft tissue injury that happens when the neck moves backward and then quickly jolts forward. This causes a varying amount of damage to the muscles and ligaments that help keep your neck upright.
The general understanding of whiplash is that it is a minor or potentially even fake injury, but it is very real. It can cause a lot of pain that makes regular day-to-day activities difficult.
Symptoms and diagnosis
The symptoms of whiplash are difficult to see, but the pain is extremely obvious for those suffering from it. People who sustained the injury in a car accident typically have neck pain, stiffness and tightness radiating from the head out into the shoulders and upper back. Pain is highly dependent your specific accident and can range from mild to severe. Extreme cases require medical treatment.
Non-experts often consider whiplash a minor or fake injury. If you believe you are suffering from whiplash, it is extremely important to have a doctor examine you. He or she will check your range of motion and reflexes as well as evaluate tenderness in your neck, shoulders and back. The sooner the diagnosis, the better off you will be.
Dealing with your injury
If you are involved in a high-speed crash, visiting a doctor or treatment should be one of the first things you do. Whiplash can be very challenging to prove and receiving a verifiable evaluation by a physician will make a personal injury claim much easier to show.
Once you have received documented proof from a physician, you want to file your claim as soon as possible. Waiting for your injury to get worse before deciding its time to move forward with your claim will not do you any good. Keep in mind that the sooner you take control of your situation, the sooner it will be that you will receive compensation for your injury.
Finally, you want to make sure that you document your expenses. If your circumstances result in you having to file a lawsuit with an attorney, you will want to have as much information as possible to assure that you receive the compensation that you deserve.
Whiplash can be a serious injury that not only affects your quality of life but also makes it difficult to perform your duties at work, and it’s important to seek proper legal help if necessary.
