Whiplash: a Serious Injury

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2.3 million people suffer serious injuries due to car accidents each year, many of which include whiplash, which costs the U.S. $30 billion annually. The severity of a whiplash injury from a car accident depends on varying circumstances, but severe cases of whiplash can be debilitating, forcing the victim to miss out on normal life, work, and time spent with loved ones. If you have been injured in a car accident and are suffering from whiplash, you may be entitled to damages that can help pay for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. Whiplash is a serious soft tissue injury, and complications can arise afterwards such as lost range of mobility, chronic stiffness, or weakened neck muscles due to the prolonged use of a neck collar or neck brace.

Whiplash occurs during a rapid acceleration or deceleration of the head. When such an accident occurs, great forces are put on the neck in order to support the head, which, on average, weighs 11 pounds. The strain put on the neck damages or stretches muscles and ligaments that can take weeks to heal. Sometimes the pain of whiplash does not become present until hours or even a few days after the auto wreck, which is why it is important to always exchange contact and insurance information with the other party, no matter how minor the incident seems at the time. Injuries can appear days later once the adrenaline has worn off and debilitating soreness has time to seep in. If you experience any of the following symptoms after an auto crash, you may have suffered whiplash and should seek medical attention and the advice of an experienced car accident attorney.

• Neck pain;
• Tight or immobile neck;
• Pain during head rotation or other neck/head movement; and
• Headaches at the base of the skull.

If you have been injured in a car accident and suffered whiplash as a result, you may be entitled to damages. A bad whiplash injury can accrue serious medical bills, therapy bills, and lost time at work, not to mention a temporary inability to enjoy life’s normal activities. If you were not at fault in the auto accident, the negligent party should be responsible for paying these bills. However, in order to receive the maximum amount that you are owed, it is important to contact an experienced Florida car accident attorney at Gillette Law, P.A. today at 888-366-5904. We serve clients in Brunswick, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida.