Whiplash Injuries After Car Accident
A car accident can result in many serious injuries, including soft-tissue damage in the neck, back and elsewhere in the body. Whiplash is a common type of neck injury diagnosed after automobile accidents – especially rear-end collisions. If you suffer a whiplash injury in Pennsylvania, you may be eligible for financial compensation for your medical costs and other damages by seeking legal help after a spinal injury.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a neck injury that affects the soft tissues that surround the top of the spinal cord. This includes muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage and spinal disks. When a motor vehicle collision occurs, the force of the crash can propel a passenger’s head and neck rapidly forward and backward. This “whipping” motion of the head and neck can cause soft-tissue damage known as whiplash. Even a low-speed rear-end collision can cause whiplash due to the neck’s sensitive tissues.
Symptoms of Whiplash
Whiplash can cause neck pain and stiffness that may get worse with movement. Pain from whiplash can radiate down the neck, upper back, shoulders and arms. Tingling or numbness in the arms is also possible. You may have a persistent headache that starts at the base of your skull or blurred vision. You may also feel dizzy, fatigued or have trouble concentrating.
Every case of whiplash is different; typical signs may not be what you personally experience. Delayed symptoms are also common with whiplash injuries. You may not notice the signs of whiplash until hours – or even days – after your auto accident. This is why skilled lawyers for injury lawsuits in Pittsburgh suggest it’s important to seek medical care right away.
Whiplash Treatments
A medical evaluation is essential, even with mild symptoms, so that you can receive proper and prompt treatment for whiplash. Treatment options vary based on the severity of the injury and the individual, but can include:
- Imaging tests to check for fractures or herniated/ruptured disks
- Immobilization of the head and neck to prevent further damage
- Heat and cold therapy
- Physical therapy and specialized exercises for mobility
- Pain relief, anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxer medications
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy
- Surgery, in severe cases
The recovery timeline for a whiplash injury can vary, but is often around one to three weeks. However, more severe whiplash can take several weeks or even months to heal. In recovery, whiplash can cause chronic or ongoing pain and inflammation in the affected area.
What Is the Average Settlement for Whiplash?
Searching for an “average” settlement is unnecessary, as averages you find online will not be tailored to your unique situation. Case values can range greatly according to the gravity of the injuries, available insurance coverage and many other factors.
Pennsylvania is a “choice no-fault” state, meaning drivers must seek financial benefits from their own car insurance companies, regardless of who is at fault. Drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance to pay for their medical bills, lost wages and other losses.
If you opted for full tort coverage or your neck injury is severe, however, you have grounds to file a claim against the driver or party who is at fault for the collision. A third-party claim against a negligent driver could result in greater compensation for your bills.
When to Hire a Car Accident Attorney
Whiplash car accident cases can be difficult to manage and win in Pennsylvania. Soft-tissue injuries are often “invisible” and do not appear on x-rays, making them harder to prove. A Pittsburgh car accident lawyer can help you gather evidence to prove the existence and extent of your neck injury, as well as its connection to the car accident. An attorney will take over negotiations with a car insurance company on your behalf to fight for maximum compensation while you heal.