You may have heard of whiplash – a common neck injury caused by car accidents – but you might not realize that this could be a long-term or permanent injury for a crash victim. In some cases, whiplash injuries can lead to chronic or lasting pain in the neck and surrounding areas. If you suffer a whiplash injury in an accident, hire a Las Vegas auto wreck attorney to help you seek compensation for the full extent of your losses, including damages suffered due to chronic pain.
What Is a Whiplash Injury?
A whiplash injury is caused by strain to the neck muscles or soft tissues, often caused by a traumatic accident such as a motor vehicle collision. The rapid backward and forward motion of the head and neck in an accident such as a rear-end collision could pull, strain, tear or damage the structures and tissues located in the neck.
Common Symptoms of Whiplash
Car accident victims who experience whiplash may have symptoms arise in the hours or days following the injury. These symptoms often include:
- Stiffness or pain in the neck
- Pain in the shoulders, upper back or arms
- Lost range of motion in the neck
- Persistent headaches
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Tingling or numbness in the arms
For most individuals, whiplash injuries heal within weeks or months. However, in some cases, damage caused by whiplash can inflict constant, chronic or long-term pain or other symptoms.
Potential Long-Term Effects of Whiplash
It is possible for a victim to experience pain from whiplash for longer than is typical. Every individual is unique. Some people experience pain that is classified as “chronic,” meaning persistent over a long period of time or constantly recurring. Chronic pain as a result of whiplash can plague a victim for years or even a lifetime. Other long-term effects of whiplash can include:
- Headaches or migraines
- Reduced mobility in the head and neck
- Functional limitations
- Numbness or tingling in the arms and hands
- Muscle weakness in the arms and hands
- Degenerative changes in the spinal cord
- Sleep disturbances from chronic discomfort
- Emotional and psychological effects (whiplash-associated disorders)
These symptoms and lasting effects of a whiplash injury can vary significantly from person to person depending on factors such as the severity of the initial injury and the effectiveness of treatments. Chronic whiplash symptoms can negatively affect quality and enjoyment of life, the ability to earn a living wage, and enjoyment of time spent with loved ones.
Recovering Fair Compensation for Chronic Whiplash Pain
It is vital to your financial future not to underestimate the value of a personal injury claim filed for a whiplash injury. Work with your doctors, experts and a personal injury attorney to accurately determine how much your case is worth if you are suffering from lasting or chronic pain. It is important to recover a fair amount not only for your existing damages but for future losses, as well. These may include medications, therapies, rehabilitation and medical devices to treat ongoing whiplash pain. If chronic pain interferes with your ability to work, an attorney can also help you seek fair compensation for a long-term disability. If you are involved in a serious automobile accident and suffer from chronic pain caused by a whiplash injury, protect your rights with assistance from an experienced car accident attorney. Contact Koch & Brim, LLP for a free case evaluation.