Most car accidents happen without warning: One moment you’re sitting in traffic – the next, you’re engulfed by the shock and adrenaline of a collision.
In less than a second, a serious collision can cause severe injuries that are expensive to treat and keep victims sidelined from wok. Neck injuries can be particularly debilitating. While minor whiplash may heal without medical intervention, a serious jolt to the neck can cause a permanent physical or cognitive disability.
Nearly 120,000 people suffer whiplash in the United States each year, according to data from Right Diagnosis. By far, the leading cause of whiplash is rear-end accidents.
8 Common Symptoms of Whiplash after Car Accidents
Your neck is a complicated collection of small bones, interconnected muscles and delicate nerve endings. Due to its complexity, a neck injury can cause a wide range of symptoms.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the symptoms of a neck injury are not always apparent immediately after a car accident. For this reason, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible if you feel even minor discomfort or impaired movement in your neck.
Although many people with whiplash recover without medical intervention, other patients need intense physical rehabilitation, pain medication and other therapies. A fast diagnosis may improve the outcome of your treatment and shorten your recovery time.
If you are involved in a car accident, watch out for these eight symptoms of whiplash:
1. Pain and stiffness in the neck;
2. Lower back pain;
3. Headaches;
4. Pain between the shoulder blades;
5. Numbness in the arm or hand;
6. Dizziness;
7. Difficulty concentrating; or
8. Unusual sleep patterns.
If your neck injury was the result of another driver’s negligence, then you may be entitled to compensation for rehabilitation costs and other losses. An Albuquerque injury attorney will help you fight for the maximum settlement.
If your case goes to trial, our lawyers have the litigation experience to represent your interests in court. We will help you avoid mistakes such as accepting a low settlement, signing a general release, unknowingly admitting fault, or making a recorded statement to the insurance company.
As the victim of another person’s negligence, you should not have to pay for health-care bills, lost income and other expenses out of your own pocket.