What You Need to Know about Auto Accidents and Whiplash
Whiplash is a common auto accident injury that can happen to anyone. Whiplash from a car accident may be severe and cause chronic pain or long term complications but sometimes it can take several days for the full extent of the injury to be felt.
With this in mind, the attorneys of Chanfrau & Chanfrau would like to take a moment to discuss what you need to know about auto accidents and whiplash in Daytona Beach, FL, Palm Coast, FL, and neighboring areas.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a type of neck injury that can happen if the neck experiences a fast and forceful back and forth movement.
Whiplash is sometimes called a neck sprain or strain. Most people heal from whiplash within a few weeks with treatment, including pain management. In some cases, whiplash can cause long-term neck pain or other complications, such as permanent limited range of motion.
The Symptoms of Whiplash
There are a variety of symptoms that may develop when whiplash occurs. Some common signs and symptoms include:
- Neck pain that may become worse
- Neck stiffness that may also become worse
- Loss of range of motion in the neck
- Headaches starting at the base of the skull
- Arm numbness or tingling
- Shoulder pain or pain in the upper back
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Tinnitus
- Blurred vision
- Issues with memory or difficulty concentrating
How Do Car Accidents Cause Whiplash?
Whiplash is most commonly caused by car accidents. Whiplash is most likely to occur in rear-end accidents, in which the force of a vehicle colliding with the back of another vehicle may cause the heads of the passengers inside the vehicle to whip forward and fling back.
Although rear-end accidents tend to cause the most whiplash injuries, any auto accident that causes the occupants’ heads to fling forward and back can cause whiplash injuries.
Whiplash Injuries Can Take Days Reveal Themselves
One of the most important things to know about whiplash is that the full damage and extent of injury may not be immediately felt. It’s not unusual for people to feel fine after a whiplash injury and instead begin to feel pain hours or days later.
People may not feel pain or other symptoms immediately because of a rush of adrenaline often felt during an accident. In other cases, tissue inflammation may take several hours to reach a level where pain is felt.
Because whiplash injuries may not be immediately felt, if a person experiences whiplash during a car accident, accident victims shouldn’t assume they’re fine and should seek medical attention.
Avoid Giving Statements and Seek Medical Care
Just because someone feels fine after experiencing whiplash doesn’t mean the neck injury isn’t serious. With this in mind, it’s important not to give statements about feeling fine, especially to an insurance adjuster or investigator, immediately after an accident and without seeking medical care first.
If injuries become more severe, having a medical record can help when seeking compensation for damages.
Contact the Attorneys of Chanfrau & Chanfrau
If you have been injured in an auto accident and would like to discuss your options for recovering damages, please call our Daytona Beach law firm at (386) 258-7313 to schedule a consultation.