When you’ve been in a car accident, it’s very common to experience whiplash. Many times, we shrug this injury off as something that will just go away and was simply triggered by the jolt of the accident. However, if you’ve experienced whiplash from a car accident, we recommend using a Sacramento accident attorney to help you get the relief you need.
Whiplash has been rated as one of the most common injuries that occur in car accidents. All too often, the real side effects of whiplash don’t show up until later and you might not even make the connection to the accident when you do notice it.
Whiplash often leads to neck pain and quite possibly mobility issues as well. You need an attorney on your side.
Recognizing Whiplash Symptoms
Whiplash happens when you have a violent back and forth experience, typically with your neck. When you think about the impact of a car accident, your neck likely jolted sharply forward and backward at impact. It might have even moved back and forth more than once.
That whipping motion is not natural and tends to cause strain to muscles or ligaments around the shoulder and neck area. In some cases, whiplash can even affect your spinal cord and nerves.
Car accidents are common sources of whiplash, but whiplash can also result from falling hard or even sports injuries. These are some of the most common symptoms of whiplash:
- Dizziness or random dizzy spells
- Unusual fatigue
- Shoulder pain
- Headaches at the base of your skull
- Neck pain
- Neck stiffness
- Neck mobility issues
- Numbness or tingling of your arms
- Blurred vision
- Ear ringing
- Mental or psychological effects
If you’ve been in a car accident and begin to experience any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor right away and contact an attorney to be sure your treatments will be covered.
If left untreated, you may have chronic pain for the rest of your life, and it will only get worse over time.
Treatment of Whiplash
How whiplash is treated will heavily depend on the severity of your injury. In some cases, physical therapy may be sufficient to restore movement and ease the strain that resulted from your accident.
In more severe cases, there will likely be the need for pain treatment, extensive care, and possibly even surgery to correct the problem. Even mild conditions need to be treated by a doctor to ensure they are treated properly and that you can recover fully.
Only a medical professional will be able to determine the extent of the injury and what can be done to help treat the injury effectively.
Legal Compensation for Whiplash Injuries
In the state of California, whiplash is considered a condition that can be approved for compensation. Just like other injuries, it will require treatment and may result in medical bills or missed work.
You will need to make sure that you seek treatment as quickly as possible if you suspect whiplash. Make sure the doctor knows why you need treatment and that you think whiplash is possible.
In addition, it would be wise to get a Sacramento accident attorney to handle your case and help you get the best settlement possible. Contact insurance under the advisement of your attorney. Be mindful that insurance companies always try to settle for as little as possible, so only work with them as your legal counsel recommends.
Mild cases of whiplash can settle for anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000. This depends on the case, treatments, and your attorney. Some cases settle for even more than this when they are severe cases. Don’t look at dollar signs, but rather getting your bills and missed work covered. If you come out ahead, that’s a plus, too.
Whiplash Claims Statute of Limitations
Most claims like these do have statutes of limitations to protect individuals and companies alike. In the state of California, you are allowed to file within two years of a car accident.
Since whiplash tends to show up later and not immediately following the accident, this is a good rule to be aware of. You will need to take action as quickly as possible, but you do have two years to do so if needed.
There are some exceptions for minors and government entities, but the standard timeframe is within two years.
Hire an Attorney for Your Whiplash Case
If you or someone you know has experienced whiplash and is within their two-year timeframe, you need to contact a Sacramento accident attorney right away. Use an attorney who has experience handling this type of case and will go to bat to help you get the compensation and coverage that you deserve.
No one should have to suffer after an accident for any reason, including whiplash.
