Long-Term Side Effects of Whiplash

Car accidents can cause many different types of injury, including cuts and bruises, fractures, traumatic brain injury, or spinal injuries. One of the most common injuries people involved in car accidents sustain is known generally as “whiplash,” a neck injury that can cause long term symptoms and is notoriously difficult to treat. An injury does not need to be catastrophic in order to entitle a car accident victim to financial compensation. If an injury has caused you pain, caused you to miss work, resulted in medical bills, or damaged your property, you may have a claim against the responsible party or parties. The car accident attorneys of Shane Smith are dedicated to helping individuals injured in car crashed recover.Whiplash is a non-technical term used to refer to a wide range of neck injuries associated with a sudden distortion of the neck. The actual medical term for the event that causes whiplash is “cervical acceleration-deceleration” (CAD), and the term for the symptoms that occur after the event is “whiplash associated disorders” (WAD).

The most common type of car accident that causes whiplash is when a person is rear-ended by another vehicle. Other types of accidents can cause whiplash, however, including different types of car accidents and even accidents sustained not in car crashes.

Symptoms of whiplash

People suffering from the aftereffects of whiplash often report pain in the next and back, shoulder pain, pins and needles in the extremities, and headache. The onset of symptoms may occur immediately after the injury, but sometimes do not appear for days. The symptoms of whiplash are generally confined to the spine, and are most commonly felt in the neck and in the middle of the spine.

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How to treat whiplash

Because the cause of whiplash symptoms is not fully understood, treatment can be different depending on the medical professional you see. Common types of whiplash treatment include:

Manipulation
Massage
Range of motion exercises
Pain relievers

Muscle relaxants
Cervical collar
Heat application
Stretching

The symptoms of whiplash can last for a few days or become chronic, requiring ongoing care. In the most serious cases, whiplash can result in serious disability due to the fact that the movement of the head can be restricted. Other complications may occur as well, and the best course of action is to have a full medical evaluation done by a professional immediately after an accident that may result in whiplash.

Contact a Coweta County car accident attorney for a free consultation

If you are suffering from the aftereffects of a car accident, it is important to have your case reviewed by an experienced Coweta County auto accident lawyer. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of future earnings, or property damage. The Law Office of Shane Smith is a civil litigation law firm dedicated to helping injured people recover from those responsible. To schedule a free initial consultation, contact our office today at (980) 246-2656.