Neck and back pain after a car accident does not always register as a serious condition to the person who suffers the injury. This is because most people assume that the neck pain is just whiplash – a soft tissue and muscle injury – and then they don’t take the injury seriously. Whiplash occurs when a person’s head moves back and forth with great force and often occurs in rear-end collisions. The symptoms of whiplash may arise over several days or weeks and may not be immediately noticeable after the accident. Because of the delay in noticeable symptoms, people may not always seek medical attention right after an accident.
Whiplash Symptoms
Symptoms of whiplash include dizziness, neck and back pain, headaches, dizziness, and tiredness. Some symptoms such as loss of memory, irritation, and ringing in the ears can mirror the symptoms of traumatic brain injuries, which can also take time to manifest and are much more serious injuries. Whiplash-related injuries can be observed through x-rays and other imaging tests, especially if there is a fracture involved.
If the whiplash is just a minor tissue injury, it is possible to treat it with over-the-counter treatments. Some people also seek treatment by going for a massage or seeing a chiropractor for an adjustment. In some cases, chiropractic care may be an effective long-term treatment that helps a person suffering from whiplash avoid pain medicine that may be addictive. However, it is still advisable to get a medical diagnosis and recommendation for treatment from a medical doctor. This is important so that if the condition later gets worse, the progression of the injury is well documented. This information can be very useful if the person injured in a car accident later seeks compensation for the injury from the negligent driver who caused the car accident.
Whiplash injuries can last a long time, and sometimes never go away. Therefore, a person who has already suffered a neck or back injury can have these injuries aggravated in a subsequent accident. This would not mean that the person would not receive compensation for the subsequent accident, but the prior injuries would be factored into any award received.
Let a Virginia Beach Injury Attorney Help
Whiplash and other neck and head injuries after a car accident can permanently affect a person’s life. From suffering from chronic pain to suffering a permanent disability, the injuries can limit a person’s ability to work, as well as enjoy his daily life. The costs associated with these kinds of injuries can also become unmanageable, and the injured person can benefit from filing a personal injury claim against the negligent driver can help with these costs.
If you have suffered whiplash or any other injury caused by the negligent or reckless behavior of another driver, contact a Virginia car accident attorney to discuss what your legal options may be. Victims can be compensated for medical expenses, lost income from being unable to work, and pain and suffering.
If they are left with long-term and permanent disability, they may also be entitled to financial compensation for the losses this disability has caused, including loss of future income if they are unable to work or return to their profession, future medical expenses, and the overall negative impact the injury has had on their quality of life.
Our personal injury attorneys have successfully obtained financial compensation for many clients, like a $30,000 car accident insurance settlement for one client who suffered a whiplash injury in a chain-reaction crash in Virginia Beach. Contact Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp today to schedule a free case evaluation.
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For over twenty years, Mr. Sharp's law practice has focused on serious personal injury claims, including traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury claims. He also handles nursing home neglect cases and medical malpractice claims. Mr. Sharp has counseled numerous clients about the complexities concerning litigation of both pediatric and adult brain injury. Mr. Sharp has been awarded the AV Preeminent ranking by Martindale, the highly respected and widely utilized directory of lawyers throughout the world. AV Preeminent status is awarded only to those lawyers who achieve the highest level of success within the legal field and is a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers and Judges rank him at the highest level of professional excellence. He has also been recognized as a "Best Lawyer" by U.S. News for personal injury, an accolade awarded to only a small fraction of lawyers. Mr. Sharp has also been recognized by Super Lawyers as one of the top personal injury lawyers in Virginia. This recognition is awarded only to those lawyers who have achieved the highest level of success and have been recognized by their peers as demonstrating the highest level of professional excellence.
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