Whiplash: What is it, Symptoms, and Making You Whole Again

Car accidents happen every day and can have life-long lasting impacts on you and your body. If you are in a car crash and are lucky enough to walk away with just minor cuts and bruises, you should always still seek medical attention right after. Some of the most chronic and life-long injuries are from whiplash, which can take days and weeks to show symptoms.

The attorneys at Mickey Kennan, P.A. want every auto accident victim to understand what whiplash is, what the symptoms are, and how to go about making yourself whole again. Whiplash can seem benign, and a lot of victims tend to brush it off as no big deal, but it is , and if you wait too long to react you may be paying for it—both physically and financially.

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash, as the name suggests, is due to the violent nature of the head forcefully and quickly snapping back and forth in rapid succession. Whiplash is one of the most common injuries when involved in an accident.

Most often, whiplash occurs from a rear-end collision, but can also occur when you slam on the brakes too quickly and are bracing for impact. This movement is not natural for your body and causes tears in your ligaments. Even though whiplash is one of the most common injuries, the signs and symptoms often do not present themselves for days—or even weeks—after an accident.

Additionally, whiplash injuries can occur at any speed. Even accidents that occur at 5 mph can result in whiplash injuries. All that is needed is the forceful and unnatural movement of your body.

Symptoms of Whiplash

Injuries sustained from whiplash can range anywhere from minor to severe. Car crash victims most often just assume their pain is normal and just have generalized soreness, aches, and pains from the accident and do not take their injuries seriously—they may even skip a trip to the doctor’s office.

As with most whiplash injuries, the symptoms often manifest and intensify over time, and without proper treatment, they can cause lasting and long-term trauma to the body. A whiplash victim’s quality of life is greatly compromised as well as their general ability to carry out any daily activities without limitations.

Did you know approximately 43% of car accident victims live with chronic whiplash?

Common whiplash symptoms can include:

Nausea
Migraines
Amnesia/memory issues
Insomnia/sleep disruption or fatigue
Numbness in extremities
Tinnitus
Shoulder pain radiating to upper extremities
Neck and pain stiffness
Reduced mobility
Blurred vision
Vision or hearing loss
Other mental and psychological issues can occur as well, such as travel anxiety and PTSD

Making You Whole Again

It is not uncommon for whiplash injuries to go unnoticed for days or even weeks, or sometimes they are misdiagnosed and mistreated. This can lead to a lifetime of pain and suffering, that will be at your own financial expense. By immediately seeking medical attention, you are one step closer to making yourself whole again after an auto accident.

Florida law states that you have 14 days after an accident to seek medical attention or you cannot file a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance claim. This insurance claim allows victims to seek financial compensation for their injuries. With the slow onset of signs and symptoms, as just mentioned, many car accident victims do not seek immediate medical attention, and thus miss the 14-day time frame.

Whiplash injuries may go unnoticed for days or even weeks. Make sure to seek medical care within 14 days – even if you think you’re mostly unscathed after the crash.

To file a claim for financial compensation to pay for any medical bills, hospital bills, work leave, pain and suffering, and any ongoing future medical treatment it is imperative to visit a doctor right away and to seek a personal injury lawyer such as one at Mickey Keenan, P.A. The doctors will be able to do a full assessment to determine if there is any damage to your body and tell you what to look for.

Have You Experienced Whiplash from an Auto Accident?

If you have been injured in a car accident and have sustained any injuries you need to make it a priority to seek medical attention—especially within the first 24 hours but at least within 14 days. After this, reach out to the experienced personal injury lawyers at Mickey Keenan, P.A.

A successful injury claim will allow you to receive additional damages that you may not normally receive if you went through the insurance claim process alone. Severe whiplash injuries can cause lasting trauma and pain as well as compounding medical bills that you should not have to pay for out of pocket. Call us today for a free consultation at 813-871-1300 and let the injury lawyers at Mickey Keenan, P.A. get you the compensation you deserve.