A frequent result of car accidents, whiplash occurs when the head suddenly jerks forward and back, stretching and straining neck tendons and muscles. If you’ve suffered neck pain from a recent wreck, you may have some questions about your outlook. Depending on the nature of your accident, you may be entitled to personal injury damages as you recover.

What You Should Know About Whiplash

What are the symptoms of whiplash?

Neck muscle pain and stiffness are the most common signs, as is a reduced range of motion. For example, you may experience pain when you rock your head back and forth or move your head and neck from side to side. Symptoms sometimes take two to 48 hours to manifest because adrenaline hormones may block pain for a while.

Other symptoms include headaches, blurred vision, neck tightness, shoulder and upper back pain, dizziness, ringing in the ears, insomnia, and anxiety. Depending on the severity of the injury, whiplash can cause neck vertebrae damage and disc herniation. It can also cause a concussion, which is why you may experience symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and blurred vision.

Are car accidents always the cause?

While car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash, they can also occur because of bus and train accidents. Sports injuries, such as skiing accidents, may also involve the same movement of the neck and cause the injury. Other examples include pedestrian accidents, horseback riding, physical abuse, amusement park rides, and bicycle crashes.

Is it treatable?

Symptoms of mild whiplash usually go away on their own and benefit from treatments such as over-the-counter pain relievers, ice and heat packs, and foam collars. However, it’s still important to seek a doctor after experiencing whiplash to diagnose the severity using X-rays, motor skills and reflex tests, and compression testing. Seeing a doctor not only helps you avoid chronic pain from whiplash, but it also provides evidence in a personal injury case.

Can I recoup losses from my injury?

If whiplash is the fault of someone else, you may be able to file a personal injury claim and recover damages from medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, trauma, and vehicular repairs. Determining fault depends on your state’s negligence laws.

For example, if you suffer whiplash because of a car accident in Ohio, you’re subject to the state’s contributory negligence laws. Such laws may reduce damage amounts depending on what percentage of fault is attributed to the plaintiff. 

Discuss your whiplash-related personal injury claim with the attorneys at Ibold & O’Brien. Serving northeast Ohio, including Geauga, Lake, Ashtabula, and Cuyahoga counties, since 1980, this full-service law firm offers a variety of services, such as estate planning and probate, criminal defense, and medical malpractice. Call (440) 285-3511 today to schedule a consultation or visit the website to get to know the firm.