Most cases of whiplash heal within months, primarily if the patient seeks medical treatment soon after the injury occurs. But sometimes, there are long-term effects of whiplash — such as pain, headaches, reduced range of motion, and blurry vision, to name a few — that linger for years after an accident that can be debilitating.
People who suffer from long-term whiplash effects may require extensive medical treatment, including scans, medication, and physical therapy. These expenses can add up. If your whiplash injury occurred in an accident, you may have grounds to recover compensation for your medical bills and other damages.
In this post, we’ll look into what whiplash is, why people may not connect the injury to the accident, and how a personal injury lawyer can help you with your whiplash claim.
What is Whiplash?
Whiplash is one of the common injuries seen in car accidents. The term “whiplash” refers to a neck injury that occurs when the head is suddenly and forcefully jerked backward and then forward. This rapid back-and-forth motion can cause the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the neck to stretch and strain beyond their normal range of motion, leading to injury.
Whiplash injuries often result from car accidents, particularly rear-end collisions, where the impact causes the head to snap back and forth due to the sudden deceleration of the vehicle. It can also occur in other situations involving abrupt impacts or forceful movements, such as during sports accidents or falls.
These injuries can happen in an instant. Some people may be too in shock from their accident to realize they’ve injured their neck and may not even make the connection between their symptoms and whiplash for hours, days, or even weeks later. That’s because the inflammation and soreness associated with whiplash can come on gradually, with symptoms worsening over time.
Again, most whiplash symptoms, such as pain and restricted range of motion in the neck and shoulders, heal within a few months. But for some, symptoms can persist and lead to whiplash-associated disorders (WAD), a term used to describe the collection of symptoms associated with whiplash.
Long-Term Whiplash Symptoms or WAD
Some long-term symptoms of whiplash include:
- Neck, shoulder, or back pain and stiffness
- Numbness or weakness in the arms or legs
- Severe headaches
- Reduced range of motion in the neck
- Jaw pain and TMJ
- Visual disturbances, such as blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Difficulty sleeping
- Memory and concentration problems
- Ringing in the ears
- Stomach aches
- Psychological distress
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Depression
How Common is Long-Term Whiplash?
A study published in the journal Neurology found that 8% of whiplash patients continued to suffer such debilitating symptoms that they could not return to their normal activities more than a year after their accident. The study involved a review of over 4,000 individuals over seven years who were injured in car accidents. Researchers found that, in some cases, x-rays of some patients showed no indication of injury despite them reporting severe whiplash pain.
The Neurology study, as well as a subsequent study published in Plos One found that certain groups of patients were more likely to suffer a chronic disability from their whiplash injury, and some had an up to 50% greater risk of long-term disability.
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Who is at Greater Risk for Long-Term Whiplash
Certain groups of individuals may be at greater risk of long-term whiplash effects:
- Women are twice as likely to experience whiplash in a car accident
- Patients involved in accidents involving more forceful impacts
- Patients whose initial symptom was limited neck movement
- Patients with previous neck or back pain or injury
- Lack of initial medical treatment following an accident
- Young children, older adults, and people with physical disabilities
How is Whiplash Diagnosed?
Whiplash is typically diagnosed through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and sometimes imaging tests. Here’s a general overview of the diagnostic process for whiplash:
- Medical History: Your healthcare provider will ask you about the circumstances leading up to the injury, such as whether you were involved in a car accident, sports activity, or other incident that could have caused whiplash. They will also inquire about your symptoms, such as neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and any other discomfort.
- Physical Exam: During your physical exam, your doctor will assess the range of motion in your neck, check for areas of tenderness or swelling, and examine your reflexes, strength, and sensation in the arms and hands. They may also evaluate other potential injuries and rule out more serious conditions that could be causing your symptoms.
- Imaging Tests: In some cases, imaging tests may be ordered to provide a more detailed view of the neck structures. These tests can help confirm the diagnosis and rule out other potential injuries. Common imaging tests used for diagnosing whiplash include.
- X-rays: X-rays can help identify any fractures or abnormalities in the bones of the neck, although they may not show soft tissue injuries like strained muscles or damaged ligaments.
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): An MRI scan provides detailed images of soft tissues, such as muscles, ligaments, tendons, and discs. This imaging method is useful for identifying soft tissue injuries and assessing their severity.
- CT (Computed Tomography) Scan: CT scans can provide cross-sectional images of bones and soft tissues. They are often used if there is a suspicion of fractures or other bony abnormalities.
- Clinical Judgment: Diagnosing whiplash can sometimes be challenging, as symptoms can vary widely from person to person and may not always show up immediately after the injury. So, your doctor may rely on their clinical judgment, taking into account the combination of history, physical examination, and imaging findings, to make a diagnosis.
How is Whiplash Treated?
Whiplash treatment aims to control pain, restore a normal range of motion, and get the patient back to normal activities. Treatment usually involves a combination of rest, pain management, physical therapy, and sometimes neck braces or collars to support the injured area. Pain management may include applying heat or cold to the neck, over-the-counter and/or prescription medications, muscle relaxers, and injections. In most cases, whiplash injuries heal over time with appropriate care, although more severe cases might require more extensive medical intervention.
How can I Recover Compensation for my Whiplash Injury?
Medical bills for long-term whiplash can add up quickly, the financial stress of which can be compounded if your injuries prevent you from working for a time. The chronic pain and reduced range of motion associated with long-term whiplash are also associated with emotional distress, especially when patients cannot return to their regular activities and enjoy life to the capacity they were before their accident.
You may be able to recover compensation for the losses associated with your whiplash injuries if they occurred after an accident or incident caused by the negligence, carelessness, or intentional act of another party.
Here are some steps to take to help recover compensation after a whiplash injury:
- Seek Medical Treatment: Your health is the top priority. Seek medical attention immediately after the injury, even if symptoms are not severe. Proper documentation of your injuries and treatment is crucial for your compensation claim. And be sure to follow your doctor’s treatment plans and follow-up appointments.
- Gather Evidence: Collect evidence related to the accident and your injury. This may include photographs of the accident scene, damage to the vehicles involved, your injuries, and any visible signs of the impact. Keep copies of medical records, bills, and any treatment plans.
- Get the Other Party’s Information: If another driver caused the accident, gather their insurance and contact information. This will be important for making an insurance claim.
- Notify the Insurance Company: If you were involved in a car accident, contact your insurance company to report the incident and your injuries. Be truthful and accurate in describing what happened, but never admit fault, even if you think you are partially to blame. Only provide them with the necessary information to initiate a claim. And never accept a settlement offer without talking to a lawyer.
- Document Everything: Keep a detailed record of all interactions with insurance companies, medical professionals, and anyone related to the accident and your injury. This includes emails, phone calls, and any relevant documents.
- Contact an Attorney: Unfortunately, insurance companies have created a stigma toward whiplash. They argue that the injury isn’t as debilitating as patients say and will deny a claim or refuse to cover the full value. However, research over the past two decades has shown whiplash is a valid and, at times, debilitating injury. Still, you will need to provide evidence to bolster your insurance claim and engage in negotiations with the insurance company, and this is where an attorney can significantly improve your chances of receiving compensation.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer for Your Whiplash Injury
Obtaining compensation after a whiplash injury can be time-consuming and stressful — and not something you want to deal with when you are focused on recovering. During a free consultation, a personal injury lawyer from Berry Law can review the details of your accident and determine if you have a valid claim.
If you choose to retain our services, our Lincoln personal injury law firm will handle all the details of your case and fight for the maximum compensation on your behalf. To learn more, call or fill out our online contact form.
