The Accident Victim’s Guide to Whiplash: Symptoms, Treatment and Compensation

Perhaps you felt fine a few days ago after you were rear-ended on highway 94, but today you woke up with a stiff neck and a headache and you don't think you can get to work. You may be suffering from whiplash, one of the most common injuries sustained in car accidents.

The term "whiplash" is a non-medical term that refers toany pain following injury to the nerves, ligaments and muscles of the neck. These injuries occur when the neck is suddenly distorted or twisted because of an abnormal movement or force that causes the neck to move beyond its normal range of motion. Car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash.

The term whiplash encompasses many injuries, including:

• Neck strain
• Neck sprain
• Cervical strain
• Cervical sprain
• Acceleration flexion-extension neck injury
• Soft tissue cervical hyperextension injury
• Neck hyperextension injury

In some cases symptoms of whiplash may appear immediately after a crash, but it is common for symptoms to start off mild and get worse or to not appear at all until days after a crash. Symptoms of whiplash include:

• Neck pain
• Back pain
• Aching of neck or back
• Swelling and tenderness in the neck
• Muscle spasms in the neck
• Difficulty moving the neck
• Shooting pains going from the neck into the shoulders or arm
• Tingling in the arms and legs
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Dizziness

It is always a good idea to seek medical attention for any pain or symptoms you experienceafter a car accident. Medical documentation is often necessary in order to get full compensation for your injuries from the insurance companies. In addition some symptoms of whiplash may indicate a more serious problem. Always see a doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Neck pain
• Pain in either or both arms
• Shoulder pain
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Weakness, tingling or loss of function in arms or legs
• Loss of consciousness

Treatment for whiplash may include a combination of massage, physical therapy, ice or heat therapy, medication, immobilization of the neck, or bed rest. You may be unable to work while you recover.

For this reason, whiplash is one of the accident injuries most frequently covered by car insurance companies. After an accident, you are entitled to compensation for your medical treatment, lost wages and pain and suffering. However, the insurance company will do everything they can to minimize the amount they must pay you. This is why getting medical documentation of your injury is so important.

If you've been in a car wreck and the settlement your insurance company is offering is not enough to pay for your medical bills, contact A & L, Licker Law Firm, LLC at (636) 916-5400.Our attorneys will work with the insurance companies to get those medical bills paid and get you fair compensation for your lost wages, pain and suffering,and property damage.