Perhaps the most common injury you may experience in a car accident is whiplash. Although the majority of people see it as a minor issue, it can lead to significant pain and lingering issues.
If you have sustained a whiplash injury in a Texas car accident, understanding how it occurs can help you decide on the next legal steps to take. Learn more about whiplash injuries, the treatment options available, and whether you can pursue a personal injury claim.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a soft tissue injury that occurs when your head moves rapidly back and forth, straining the muscles in your neck. This whip-like movement most commonly occurs in rear-end crashes.
When your vehicle gets hit, it slows or stops, while you continue moving forward. Your head lags slightly behind the rest of your body, so it ends up shifting forcefully to catch up, leading the muscles to strain.
Anatomy of Whiplash Injuries
A whiplash injury impacts the soft tissues, including the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, of the cervical area of your spine. The injury causes small tears in these soft tissues, which get worse over time.
In more serious accidents, you can also sustain damage to intervertebral discs. These act like shock absorbers for the spine and can get hurt if your head moves rapidly back and forth.
There are nerve roots in the cervical region that can be affected by whiplash, too. They might become compressed, resulting in pain or loss of sensation.
One of the most challenging aspects of whiplash injuries is that they don’t start immediately after the collision. You can go hours or days without feeling any discomfort. This occurs because your body’s anti-inflammatory response takes time to kick in.
Symptoms of Whiplash
Once symptoms of whiplash start, you can experience:
- Stiffness when moving your head
- Pain when you touch the area
- Pain that radiates outward
- Muscle spasms
- Swelling and bruising in the affected area
- Muscle weakness
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Hoarseness
- Vision problems
Some people experience a few or all of these for several days and then start healing, but others may have symptoms that linger for weeks or months.
The Importance of Medical Care for Whiplash Injuries
It’s tempting to assume that whiplash will go away on its own and not require medical intervention. You may not have time to get medical care right away, and that can delay treatment. It’s essential that you receive medical assistance after sustaining a whiplash injury so that you can avoid long-term complications.
Untreated whiplash can result in chronic pain and stiffness that could prevent you from performing certain daily tasks. The inflammation in the area could prevent the healing process from beginning normally. Also, seeing a professional means ruling out further injuries, like concussions or spinal cord injuries, which sometimes accompany whiplash.
Finally, getting medical care quickly allows you to leave a record of the injury you sustained so that you have a better chance of recovering losses if you decide to file a personal injury claim.
Whiplash Treatments
The goal of whiplash treatments is to allow the injured area to heal as much as possible. There is no direct treatment option; instead, the focus is on immobilizing the area and offering medications to treat the pain. You may get a cervical collar to wear if there’s concern of spinal cord damage, for example.
Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications may be necessary, and in some cases, you may also need muscle relaxers. For more serious injuries, you could require physical therapy sessions to strengthen the area once it has healed.
In the most severe cases of whiplash, you may need spine surgery to address issues like torn ligaments or broken vertebrae.
How long the recovery process will take will depend on the severity of the injury. For more minor injuries, you can expect to feel better after a few days, but more serious ones can last months or could be permanent.
Filing a Claim After a Whiplash Injury
After suffering whiplash in a car accident that someone else’s conduct caused, one of the options you may have is to begin a claim against the liable party. You’ll have to prove that they were negligent or wrongful and that you sustained injuries because of their conduct.
Having thorough documentation of the injury you sustained can help this process. By getting medical care as soon as you feel symptoms, you can connect the whiplash injury you experienced with the collision.
FAQ
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents in Texas?
In most instances, you have two years to file a claim in Texas. There could be exceptions that shorten or extend the timeline, however, so having an attorney is vital.
What Damages Can I Receive in a Whiplash Injury Claim?
You can receive compensation for the medical expenses you’ve incurred because of the injury, along with coverage for any income you lost as you were recovering. Non-economic damages address pain and suffering, too.
How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
A car accident lawyer doesn’t charge upfront fees. Instead, they work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they get paid if you do.
Get Help From a Trusted Car Accident Law Firm
If you have suffered a whiplash injury in a car accident, you may be able to file a claim. At Ramsey Law Group, our team of attorneys can help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us to speak with a Texas lawyer about your case.