What Is Whiplash?
When the neck is suddenly stretched beyond its normal range of motion, the upper spine area and the soft tissue located on the neck can get damaged and cause whiplash. Whiplash is an extremely common injury for anyone who has been involved in a car accident. In this blog post, we will explain whiplash injuries after an accident and discuss some of the indicators to look for after being involved in a car accident.
Whiplash and Car Accidents
The mechanism that causes whiplash injuries usually consists chiefly of a hyperextension, followed by a rebound flexion. Most whiplash injuries are caused in car accidents where a passenger or driver is injured while sitting in a stopped vehicle that is struck from the rear. In those cases, even a relatively small speed differential between the two cars can produce very serious injuries. Research shows that even a 20mph rear end accident can cause the hyperextended head to move forward with an acceleration of 10 G’s, which is 10 times the acceleration of gravity. In whiplash injuries, the muscles and other soft tissues in front of the vertebral column usually are stretched and torn more severely than the soft tissues behind the column. The sternocleidomastoid muscles and the anterior longitudinal ligaments can get partially or totally torn. When sufficient force is applied, vertebral fractures may result with or without rupture of one or more intervertebral disks. During rebound flexion, the dorsal (posterior) ligaments may be disrupted. This type of accident does not cause direct damage to the cervical spinal cord and nerve roots, except in case of vertebral fracture or dislocation. The cord and nerve roots typically are affected later when the adjacent soft tissues become swollen.
Indication of Whiplash After a Motor Vehicle Accident
The symptoms that may be an indicator for whiplash can range from mild symptoms to more serious symptoms. In fact, surgery is sometimes required to alleviate some of the symptoms associated with whiplash. Neck injuries are not always an automatic indicator of whiplash after a crash. While neck injuries tend to be the most common symptom of whiplash, there are many different symptoms to look out for. In fact, it is possible that an injury victim may not experience symptoms until several days or weeks after the initial impact sustained in a car accident. That is why it is so important to get checked out after a car accident. Even if you feel fine at first, symptoms may develop afterwards and with a proper medical evaluation, you will have a better chance to detect any injury and begin medical treatment as soon as possible. When you explain the events that led to your accident and discuss the seriousness of the impact, your doctor will know what to look for as it pertains to indicators that you may be experiencing whiplash among other injuries. If you experience any of the following symptoms, get checked out by a medical professional: stiffness of the neck, neck pain, frequent headaches, blurry vision, dizziness, reduced range of motion in the neck, reduced range of motion in the spine, arm pain, unexplained drowsiness or insomnia.
Our Car Accident Attorneys Can Help!
Treating whiplash can be troublesome and irritating. If you are suffering from whiplash after being involved in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, our South Florida car accident lawyers may be able to alleviate some of the burden by helping you obtain compensation for your medical treatment, lost wages, and any other damages that you may be entitled to. Our firm represents car accident injury victims throughout all of South Florida. Contact us so that we can provide you with an honest and thorough case evaluation. Just call us or contact us online to receive a free consultation. We will answer your questions, conduct a thorough investigation into your accident, and help you determine the most strategic way to proceed with your claim. We are available 24/7 to give you a free, no risk case consultation! At our firm, our policy is that if you don’t recover compensation, you won’t pay any fees for our services. We serve clients throughout Florida including those in the following areas:
Miami-Dade: Aventura, Coral Gables, Doral, Fontainebleau, Hialeah, Homestead, Kendall, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Lakes, North Miami, Tamiami, and Westchester.
Broward: Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and Weston; and Palm Beach County including Boca Raton, Lake Worth, and West Palm Beach.
