Whiplash is one of the most common injuries sustained in a car accident. It occurs when the head is jerked forward or to one side and then suddenly snapped back with excessive force. If not treated promptly and properly, whiplash can cause permanent damage to the tissue, nerves, and bones in the cervical spine. For this reason, it’s important not to overlook the symptoms of whiplash. If you were involved in a collision due to someone else’s negligence, a personal injury attorney will help you pursue compensation to pay for your medical expenses. Here’s what you need to know about identifying whiplash.

How to Recognize a Whiplash Injury 

Detecting & Diagnosing Whiplash

Whiplash can be challenging to detect and diagnose. Many people don’t notice symptoms right away, but they can develop hours or days later. This is because your body is in shock and full of adrenaline immediately following a collision, which produces a numbing effect that temporarily masks your pain. As such, it’s crucial that you get examined by a health care professional, even if you don’t think you’ve been injured. Detecting whiplash early will ensure you get the treatment you need, and it will provide medical records your personal injury attorney can use as evidence to support your compensation claim. 

Common Signs of Whiplash 

Whiplash injuries can range from mild to severe, and the symptoms can vary greatly from one person to the next. However, there are a few tell-tale signs that often show up within 24 hours of sustaining the injury. These include neck pain and stiffness, tender neck and shoulders, and persistent headaches. Other common symptoms are difficulty sleeping, memory loss, problems concentrating, dizziness, blurred vision, and ringing in the ears. In some cases, accident victims will experience whiplash-associated disorder, which brings on symptoms such as depression, anxiety, mood changes, and irritability.

If you have been diagnosed with a whiplash injury as the result of another motorist’s negligent actions, consult a personal injury attorney from Sanders & Austin. You can rely on them to help you establish liability and fight aggressively to protect your right to compensation. For more than a century, the family-operated and locally owned law firm has represented injury victims throughout Mercer County, WV, and they have earned an impressive track record of success. Call (304) 425-8125 to have a personal injury attorney review your case, and visit their website for more information on the legal services they provide.