While many rear-end collisions result in only minor annoyances for the parties involved, quite a few result in serious injury due to the impact of one vehicle slamming into the back of the other. The quick and sharp jerking motion of a vehicle’s occupant’s neck often causes a whiplash injury because the muscles, tendons, and bones are twisted and stressed.
It is important to note that while whiplash is a common injury in rear-end accidents, any kind of vehicle collision can cause injuries. If you have been injured in a crash and have suffered a whiplash injury, first seek medical help and then contact a Virginia Beach car accident attorney from Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp to find out how we can help.
What Are the Symptoms of Whiplash?
In some rear-end crashes, the symptoms of a whiplash injury are immediate and intense. But this isn’t always the case. It is not uncommon for the victim to not feel or exhibit any symptoms of the injury at the accident site and usually decline any medical treatment by emergency responders. It isn’t until hours – or even days – later that the victim begins to suffer the injury symptoms. Some of the common signs that you may have sustained a whiplash injury include:
- Arm pain
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Jaw pain
- Lack of back or neck mobility
- Neck pain
- Numbness or tingling in the arms
- Ringing in the ears
- Shoulder pain
The severity of the injury depends on certain factors, including the type and severity of the crash impact, the age of the victim, and whether the victim had any past medical history of back or neck injuries.
Why Is It Difficult to Diagnose a Whiplash Injury?
While it is a common injury, whiplash injuries can be challenging to accurately diagnose due to several factors:
Delayed Onset of Symptoms
One of the primary reasons whiplash is difficult to diagnose is the delayed onset of symptoms. After the initial trauma, symptoms may not appear until hours or even days later. This delayed onset can make it challenging for the patient and healthcare providers to connect the symptoms to the original injury, leading to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.
Non-Specific Symptoms
Whiplash symptoms are often non-specific and can overlap with other conditions, making it challenging to differentiate. Common symptoms include neck pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. These symptoms can occur in various medical contexts, making it difficult to attribute them solely to whiplash.
Lack of Objective Diagnostic Tests
Unlike some injuries that can be diagnosed through X-rays or MRIs, whiplash injuries typically do not show up on standard imaging tests. Soft tissue damage, such as muscle strains and ligament sprains, is often invisible on traditional scans. The absence of objective evidence can make diagnosis reliant on clinical assessment and patient-reported symptoms.
Subjective Nature of Pain
Pain perception is highly subjective, and individuals may experience and describe pain differently. This subjectivity can complicate diagnoses, as healthcare providers must rely on the patient’s description of their pain and discomfort, which can vary widely from person to person.
Variability in Injury Severity
Whiplash injuries can range from mild to severe, and not all cases involve the same level of force or trauma. The variability in injury severity can result in a wide spectrum of symptoms and clinical presentations, further complicating diagnosis.
Pre-Existing Conditions
Patients with pre-existing neck or spine conditions may have symptoms that overlap with those of whiplash. These underlying conditions can make it challenging to attribute new or worsening symptoms solely to the whiplash injury.
Lack of Awareness
Some individuals may not be aware of the potential for whiplash injuries, especially if they do not experience immediate pain or discomfort after an accident. As a result, they may not seek medical attention promptly, further delaying the diagnosis and treatment of their injury.
Who Is Liable for a Whiplash Injury?
When there has been a rear-end collision, the driver who rear-ended the other vehicle is usually the at-fault party in most cases. The most common cause of these types of crashes is that the second driver was following too closely behind the other vehicle (tailgating), not allowing enough space between vehicles in the event the first vehicle has to come to a sudden stop.
There are many reasons why the second driver may be guilty of following too closely. They may have been in a hurry and tailgating in an effort to get the first driver to speed up (aggressive driving), or they could have been distracted (looking at their phone, etc.) and didn’t realize they were so close to the first vehicle. They may have been under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, causing their reaction time to be delayed and causing them to not stop in time.
Because the second driver was tailgating, which violates Virginia traffic law, they will likely be deemed at fault for the crash and held legally responsible for all of the injuries and vehicle damage the other driver sustained as a result of their negligence. This can include medical expenses, loss of income, and pain and suffering.
Call Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp
If you or a loved one has suffered a rear-end crash injury as a result of another party’s negligent or reckless actions, contact one of our Virginia Beach car accident attorneys. It is critical to remember that Virginia has placed a statute of limitation for how long victims have to file a claim for damages against those responsible for their injuries, so do not delay. Failure to file before that legal deadline could mean you lose any chance of ever filing your claim or getting justice against the person responsible for you or your loved one’s injuries.
Contact our office today to set up a free and confidential case evaluation with one of our dedicated accident attorneys. Our personal injury firm has been advocating for injured victims for four decades. Our success is evident in the more than $100 million in settlements and verdicts we have obtained for our clients.
For your convenience, we have offices in Virginia Beach, Hampton, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
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Andrew Stover limits his law practice exclusively to personal injury law. Andrew is a member of the American Association for Justice, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, and the Virginia Beach Bar Association.
