Whiplash occurs when the head violently snaps backward and forward and is usually caused by a particularly intense impact like a car accident. However, the effects might not show up right away, making it difficult for some to tell if they truly have this painful condition. If you discover you have this injury, it’s important to contact a whiplash injury compensation attorney as soon as possible. Here are three signs of whiplash.

How Do You Know if You Have Whiplash?

1. Neck Pain & Stiffness

The most prevalent symptom of whiplash is pain and stiffness in the neck. This could come on immediately after the impact, or it may take several days to develop. The stiffness may make it impossible to move the neck at all, but, in situations where some movement is feasible, the pain can be so intense that moving the neck in any direction is excruciating. 

2. Headache

A whiplash victim's head and neck have endured a specific type of trauma. This often results in a headache that starts at the base of the skull and works its way up and around, encompassing the head; it can sometimes even be felt deep in the neck and shoulders. Always take a headache after a car accident or any traumatic event seriously, and get checked out by a doctor. If the accident was not your fault, you should also consider visiting a whiplash injury compensation attorney.

3. Tingling & Loss of Sensation in the Arms

Some whiplash victims will experience a tingling, pins-and-needles sensation in their arms; they might also have numbness or loss of feeling in their arms and shoulders. Again, either of these symptoms is a red flag, and you should visit a doctor right away. They can rule out more serious possibilities like a head injury and get you on a recovery regimen that could include medication, a neck brace, or physical therapy.

Always pay attention for the signs and symptoms of whiplash after a car crash, and you will be protecting your health, as well as any legal case that may develop. If you're dealing with the effects, call the whiplash injury compensation attorney at Schnurr Law Firm in Fort Dodge, IA, at (515) 576-3911. Visit their website to schedule a free initial consultation. The whiplash injury compensation attorney handles all manners of injury cases, including auto accidents, wrongful death, and dog bite lawsuits.