Whiplash is one of the most common injuries after a car accident or another violent incident, and the symptoms can be debilitating. Whiplash can cause severe pain, muscle stiffness, and a loss of range of motion in the neck. Although some whiplash injuries are minor, many cause significant damage and require pain management and physical therapy. Without proper treatment, whiplash may result in chronic pain and permanent muscle weakness.
At Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC, we understand that the symptoms of whiplash can impact the quality of your life. We want to help alleviate your pain by holding negligent parties accountable for the harm they’ve caused. For over 20 years, our attorneys have helped injury victims seek the compensation they need after accidents. Let us handle every detail of your case so you can focus on healing from your injuries. Contact our office to speak to an Indianapolis whiplash injury attorney during a free case review.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a soft tissue injury to the neck that is caused by a violent or forceful back-and-forth motion, much like the cracking of a whip. Many whiplash injuries are the result of car accidents, particularly rear-end collisions. While a seat belt helps hold the torso firmly in place, the head and neck rapidly move forward and backward because of the force of the rear-end impact. When this occurs, the muscles in the neck can be torn or strained.
Whiplash Symptoms
Unfortunately, the symptoms of whiplash may not appear right away. Car accidents are frightening events that can trigger the release of adrenaline. Adrenaline can result in a fight-or-flight response that allows people to react quickly in life-threatening situations. It can also dull pain signals in the aftermath of a traumatic experience, which means you may not notice the symptoms of whiplash until hours or days after a crash.
If you were involved in a car accident, you should be aware of the most common symptoms associated with a whiplash injury:
- Neck pain
- Upper back pain
- Neck stiffness
- Decreased range of motion
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Pain that radiates down into the arm or hand
- Numbness or tingling in the arm or hand
If you notice any of these symptoms of whiplash, seek prompt medical attention.
Causes of Neck Injuries and Whiplash
Although car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash, there are other ways a person can suffer this type of neck injury. Some other potential causes of whiplash include:
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Slips and falls
- Sports injuries
- Physical assault
Neck Injury After a Truck Accident
Neck injuries are prevalent in accidents involving large trucks. Even at low speeds, commercial trucks can inflict tremendous force in the event of a collision because of their substantial size and weight. It is common for the force from a truck accident to cause the head to suddenly and violently jolt back and forth, damaging the soft tissue in the neck or upper back.
Truck accidents can also cause herniated discs and fractures to the bones in the neck. Herniated discs are injuries to the soft, rubbery cushions between the bones of the spine. The first two bones in the neck, called the atlas and the axis, are particularly vulnerable to injury due to the violent nature of truck accidents.
Proving a Whiplash Injury
While whiplash is one of the most common injuries car accident victims suffer, it can be challenging to prove the existence of whiplash. Usually, a doctor must rule out other potential causes of neck pain, like herniated discs and broken bones, which may be identified through diagnostic tests like X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and computed tomography (CT) scans.
Unfortunately, because whiplash is generally a soft tissue injury, it will not show up on X-rays. A medical professional may use MRI or CT scans to determine damage to the neck’s discs, muscles, or ligaments, but these tests often cannot diagnose whiplash. Typically, your doctor will examine you to see whether the range of motion in your neck and shoulders is impaired, what degree of motion is causing your pain, and whether the reflexes, strength, and sensation in your limbs are impacted.
Because proving a whiplash injury can be challenging, see a doctor immediately after an accident. A medical professional can diagnose and treat your injuries, which will help you heal more quickly and create a record of your injuries. Your medical record can be helpful evidence if you need to prove your condition to insurance companies. Follow your doctor’s treatment plan, attend all follow-up appointments, and keep all medical bills and receipts related to your injuries.
Neck Injury Settlements
No two neck injuries are alike, so determining exactly how much compensation you could receive in a settlement is tricky. The settlement value often depends on several factors, including the severity and duration of your neck injury. In general, the more severe and long-lasting the injury, the more compensation you can seek, particularly if you have incurred costly medical bills and require future medical treatment.
In general, in a successful neck injury settlement, you could be entitled to compensation for your financial and personal losses, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Anticipated future medical care
- Pain and suffering
An experienced neck injury attorney can calculate your financial losses and estimate the value of your personal losses to determine how much you may be owed.
Our Whiplash Injury Attorneys Are Ready to Provide Legal Guidance on Your Case
If you suffer from whiplash symptoms after an accident that was not your fault, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries and other losses. For over 20 years, the legal team at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC has advocated for injured clients like you. We know that a neck injury can impact your quality of life, and we will work tirelessly to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Our whiplash injury attorneys are ready to provide you with the necessary legal guidance. Contact our office for a free case evaluation.
