Whiplash is a common injury suffered by Georgia drivers and passengers involved in car accidents. Symptoms of whiplash can sometimes take hours or even days to appear and can lead to chronic or long-term side effects. It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of whiplash and when to seek treatment after getting into a car accident.
Rear-end collisions are the most common cause of whiplash, but these injuries can also result from slips and falls, physical abuse or sports accidents. Whiplash occurs when a rapid change in momentum or direction causes the head to violently snap back and forth, overextending the neck's muscles, ligaments and tendons. Whiplash may also be called a neck sprain or strain, but those types of injuries may have causes other than accident-induced whiplash.
Most drivers injured in car accidents complain of neck pain immediately after the accident, but other common whiplash symptoms can take up to 24 hours to appear.
Common whiplash symptoms include:
More severe symptoms of whiplash may include:
One of the first things you should do after a car accident is seek medical attention. A doctor can properly diagnose and treat all accident-related injuries, including whiplash.
To diagnose whiplash, a doctor will need to conduct a physical examination and manual manipulation that involves touching and moving the neck, head and arms. If your doctor believes you could have additional neck injuries, they may request imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans or MRIs. Whiplash cannot always be detected on imaging tests.
Most injured drivers and passengers can recover from minor whiplash injuries with rest and home remedies. Seeking professional diagnosis and care from a medical professional can help ensure you’re prescribed the best course of treatment.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, at-home treatment recommendations may include ice, over-the-counter pain medications and the use of a soft-foam neck collars that can help alleviate whiplash pain and discomfort.
A doctor may issue prescription pain medications or recommend physical therapy if specialized whiplash treatment is required.
If your symptoms don’t improve or worsen, see a doctor immediately. Whiplash has the potential to cause long-term complications, including chronic neck pain. Prompt medical care may help minimize the potential for permanent side effects.
Whiplash is a condition defined by its symptoms. When symptoms are no longer present, whiplash is considered effectively treated. While most Georgia drivers see an improvement in their symptoms within six months, it is possible to feel the consequences of whiplash for 10 years or more. Whiplash is considered chronic if symptoms persist longer than six months.
Some medical professionals believe that the first few weeks after a car accident can provide a glimpse into the intensity of your injuries. If whiplash symptoms are excruciating for the first few weeks, it is possible that the injury could be severe enough to lead to lasting complications.
Faithfully following medical recommendations and treatment plans can increase the chance that you will recover fully from whiplash injuries.
Drivers in the Duluth area rely on the swift, expert legal advice of attorney Joseph Zdrilich. He is experienced in representing drivers who have been injured in car or truck accidents.
You deserve to be compensated for any financial, physical and emotional trauma caused by a reckless or negligent driver. Personal injury attorney Joseph Zdrilich will do everything he can to ensure you receive the compensation and medical care required to help you recover from any car accident injuries.
Schedule a free consultation with the Zdrilich Law Group online or by calling (770) 931-9604.
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Zdrilich Injury Law is committed to helping injured Georgians receive the money they need to recover physically and financially after an accident.
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