While some people may think of whiplash as a simple soft-tissue injury that causes mild pain and stiffness in the neck, it can manifest as severe and chronic pain, persistent headaches, and numbness permeating down your arms and back. Whiplash can make it difficult to work, enjoy hobbies, or even perform basic tasks of daily living. However, early medical intervention can mitigate these symptoms.
Even if you think you initially feel fine after a car accident, you should seek a prompt medical examination. Timely diagnosis and treatment of whiplash-associated disorders can improve your chances of a faster recovery. It can also help you connect your whiplash injury to a rear-end collision or other type of car crash when you pursue compensation from the parties at fault for the collision.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash injuries occur in car accidents when the head and neck are suddenly jerked forward and then back again. The term comes from the violent snapping motion that resembles the cracking of a whip. Whiplash most often occurs when a motorist is rear-ended by another vehicle, causing the victim’s head and neck to suddenly lurch forward before snapping back.
What Are the Symptoms of Whiplash After a Georgia Car Accident?
The speed and force of impact that cause whiplash put intense strain on muscles and tendons in the neck, shoulders, and upper back. However, whiplash injuries may not manifest for several hours or days after an accident.
Symptoms of whiplash may appear minimal at first before growing much more painful over time.
Common symptoms of whiplash include:
- Severe pain in your shoulders, upper back, or neck muscles
- Pain when moving your neck (for example, when turning your head to the side or looking up and down)
- A numb feeling in your arms
- Limited range of motion in your neck due to pain
- Blurry vision
- Ears ringing
- Feeling irritable or angry for no apparent reason
- Problems with memory
- Anxiety and depression
- Trouble sleeping
If you experience any of the above symptoms after a car accident, seek medical attention. The sooner you seek treatment for your symptoms, the better the chance you will be able to recover fully, and the stronger your case for compensation could be.
When Do Whiplash Symptoms Appear After a Car Accident?
While some severe whiplash symptoms, such as neck pain and stiffness, can appear almost immediately, others may take several hours or days to develop as adrenaline levels, which mask pain, decrease, and the strained muscles in your neck become inflamed.
Headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, and nausea may begin a few days after the car accident. Symptoms may worsen over time until they become unbearable.
It is crucial to seek medical treatment for any adverse symptoms experienced after a car accident, as they may be signs of a more severe underlying injury.
Can Whiplash Injuries Be Treated?
Whiplash injuries can be challenging to treat. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, your doctor may prescribe pain medication, chiropractic treatment, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, massage, physical therapy, a neck brace, and other orthopedic treatments. Surgery may be required in severe cases.
Depending on your specific symptoms, several types of medical professionals can treat whiplash injuries. They include primary care physicians, emergency room doctors, orthopedic specialists, neurologists, and sometimes chiropractors. If you need assistance seeking the right doctor to treat your injuries, our lawyers are here to help.
Whiplash treatments can be expensive. Even with treatment, sometimes whiplash injuries can be extremely painful for months or years after an accident. It is crucial that you speak with our knowledgeable attorneys about your injuries to ensure you are pursuing the full compensation you need to recover.
How Are Whiplash Injuries Diagnosed?
To diagnose a whiplash injury, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and perform an examination to determine the extent of your impairment. The examination may include:
Checking the degree to which you can turn your head from side to side- Checking the degree to which you can move your shoulders
- Asking about your pain levels when attempting to move your neck
- Checking the strength of and feeling in your limbs
Your doctor may also request medical images, including X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. While these medical images typically do not show direct evidence of whiplash, they can identify related injuries or rule out other explanations for the pain you are experiencing.
How Do I Prove That I Suffered a Whiplash Injury After a Car Accident?
Because whiplash injuries often seem minor at first or do not manifest immediately, it can be challenging to prove these injuries in court. You will need to provide extensive evidence and documentation to back up your claim.
Here are some materials our lawyers can help you gather to prove the severity of your whiplash injury:
- Doctor’s notes – Your doctor or a specialist can examine you to diagnose whiplash. They can document the symptoms you are experiencing and the course of treatment prescribed for you.
- Medical imaging results – X-rays, MRIs, and other medical imaging tests can offer a clear picture of your injuries and demonstrate any progress you have made in treating them.
- Pre-injury medical records – Medical records from before the accident can help demonstrate the contrast between your health status before and after the crash.
- Pain journal entries – Keeping a journal where you detail your daily pain levels and how your injuries impact your ability to perform daily activities could be essential for demonstrating the toll whiplash has on your life.
What Should I Do Immediately After Discovering I Have Whiplash?
Here is what to do after you have been involved in a car accident to protect your health and your legal rights:
- Seek treatment immediately. The sooner you seek medical care, the better your health outcome is likely to be. Additionally, seeing a doctor quickly after an accident makes it easier to show that your injuries are serious and directly related to the crash.
- Follow the prescribed treatment plan. Not following the doctor’s treatment plan could jeopardize your recovery, while sticking to the plan is another way to demonstrate that you are taking your injuries and recovery seriously.
- Gather whatever evidence you have. Medical records, photos from the accident scene, witness contact information, and other details could be necessary to prove your claim. The more documentation you have, the better.
- Do not talk to the insurance company. If the at-fault driver’s insurance company contacts you, do not give a statement or answer questions about your injuries. Anything you say could be used against you later on. Let them know you will have a lawyer contact them instead.
- Speak with our whiplash attorneys as soon as possible. Insurance companies have massive resources that most individuals cannot match. To demand the full and fair compensation you deserve, you will need the help of an aggressive, dedicated car accident law firm like Sherrod & Bernard, P.C.
What Is the Process for Filing a Whiplash Injury Claim in Georgia?
Filing a whiplash injury claim in Georgia involves several key steps. The first step is to document the accident and your injury. To do this, your lawyer will investigate the accident, gather evidence, and obtain copies of your medical records.
Next, your lawyer will calculate the value of your case and send the at-fault party’s auto insurance provider a demand letter. If the provider accepts liability for the crash, your lawyer can negotiate for a settlement that covers your losses. If the provider denies liability or will not agree to a fair settlement amount, your lawyer can file a lawsuit.
If your case proceeds to litigation, your lawyer will present the evidence in court and seek the maximum compensation available.
What Compensation Can I Seek for My Whiplash Injuries?
Compensation for whiplash injuries can cover both your economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses refer to those with tangible value, while non-economic losses encompass personal losses that do not have a monetary value attached.
Examples of economic losses include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced future earning capacity. Non-economic losses include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and the impact of a lasting impairment on your life.
The assistance of an experienced whiplash injury attorney is essential for determining a fair value for your losses. In some cases, your attorney may consult with medical or vocational professionals to better understand the long-term implications of your injury.
Do I Have Limited Time to File a Whiplash Injury Claim?
Under Georgia Code Section 9-3-33, victims have two years from the date of the crash to file car accident lawsuits against the parties responsible for their injuries, including whiplash injuries.
While your first option for seeking compensation after a whiplash accident is typically to file an auto insurance claim against the at-fault party’s insurance company, it is crucial to keep track of the deadline for filing a lawsuit. If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement for your injuries, your car accident attorney will need to file a personal injury lawsuit to seek the compensation you deserve. If you delay too long, you could lose your right to pursue legal action through the court system.
Contact a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer for Help with Your Whiplash Claim
At Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., we have been serving injury victims throughout Georgia for over 30 years, and our car accident lawyers have more than 85 years of combined legal experience. Our experience and resources have enabled us to successfully recover millions of dollars in compensation for our deserving clients. While past results do not guarantee future outcomes, they do indicate the level of experience our attorneys have with successfully pursuing complex claims.
Review our positive client testimonials to find out more about what working with our firm is like. For example, one of our past clients wrote:
“My husband and I were involved in a car accident and came to Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., for help. Ken Bernard and his paralegal, Hannah Field were wonderful to work with. Hannah kept us up to date with everything and was very helpful and friendly. They got our case settled quickly. I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a personal injury lawyer.” – Jenna Richards
If you need an experienced Douglasville personal injury lawyer who will treat you like family, contact our firm for a free consultation.
