whiplash

What Is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a type of injury caused by the sudden movement of the head, either forward, backward, or sideways. This can occur in car accidents, sporting events, or any other situation with a sudden impact.

Whiplash can cause various symptoms, including neck pain, stiffness, headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, irritability, and sleep disturbance. In some cases, the victim may not experience any symptoms until days or even weeks after the accident.

What Happens if Left Untreated?

If whiplash is left untreated, it can lead to the following long-term problems:

Chronic Neck Pain

If left untreated, chronic neck pain can occur. This pain persists for more than three months after the initial injury. Symptoms may include aching, stiffness, and tenderness in the neck. In some cases, chronic neck pain can lead to limitations in movement and decreased quality of life.

Loss of Mobility

Whiplash can also lead to loss of mobility, as the neck muscles may become so stiff and sore that they cannot support the head. This can cause the victim to lose balance and experience difficulty walking or performing everyday tasks. In some cases, the victim may not be able to return to work or resume their normal activities.

Persistent Headaches

Whiplash can also cause persistent headaches, which may last for weeks or even months after the initial injury. These headaches can be debilitating and interfere with your ability to function normally.

Ringing in the Ears

Whiplash can also cause ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus. This condition causes a person to hear a ringing, buzzing, or humming noise that is not actually there. Tinnitus can be very disruptive and may interfere with your ability to sleep, work, or enjoy life.

Seeking Treatment

If you are involved in a car accident, it is crucial to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Treatment for whiplash can help prevent long-term complications and improve your quality of life.

 Some treatment options for whiplash include chiropractic care, physical therapy, and medications, including painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and muscle relaxants. In some cases, surgery may be required to correct the damage caused by whiplash.

St. Louis Whiplash Attorneys

Compensation for whiplash can include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To increase your chances of fair compensation, it is highly recommended that you speak with an experienced car accident attorney.

At The Hoffmann Law Firm, we have decades of experience helping car accident victims get the compensation they deserve and can help you too. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Whiplash is often viewed as a minor injury that will go away on its own. However, here’s why you should never ignore symptoms of whiplash after a car accident.

When it comes to car accident claims, whiplash is perhaps one of the most underrated injuries. Some people see it as a minor injury and assume that those who complain about it are just exaggerating their symptoms as a way to get more compensation. Some victims treat whiplash as a mild soreness and decide not to treat it, thinking that it will go away on its own. 

The reality is different, though. Not only is whiplash one of the most common injuries in car accidents, but its long-term consequences can cause a lot of damage and affect one’s quality of life. 

What Is Whiplash? 

A broad definition of whiplash would be a neck injury caused by a forceful and sudden back and forth movement of the neck, similar to the cracking of a whip (hence the name whiplash.)

Medical books use whiplash-associated disorders (WAP) to describe injuries caused by sudden acceleration-deceleration movements. WAP can affect various points of the cervical spine, depending on the direction and force of the impact. 

Signs of Whiplash

One of the most important things you need to understand about whiplash is that, more often than not, its symptoms will not show right away. While some car accident victims will experience the first signs of whiplash within minutes or hours after the impact, for others, it can take days or even weeks for the first symptom to show. That’s why it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible after a car crash. 

Some of the early signs of whiplash include: 

• Neck and back pain
• Shoulder pain that radiates from the neck
• A feeling of pins and needles in the neck and surrounding areas;
• Headaches;
• Reduced range of motion in the neck and shoulders

The Long-Term Effects of Whiplash

In most cases, with the right treatment and care, the symptoms of whiplash will alleviate in a few weeks or months. If left untreated, the pain and restrictions caused by this injury can last for a year and significantly affect one’s quality of life. 

Some of the long-term consequences of whiplash include: 

• Chronic pain and stiffness in the neck and shoulders
• Upper and lower back pain
• Chronic headaches
• Numbness and weakness in the hand and arm
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty sleeping
• Memory problems.

Have You Been Involved in a St. Louis Car Crash?

Have you or a loved one been hurt in a St. Louis car crash? Get in touch with an experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer as soon as possible to ensure your rights are protected. As we’ve mentioned, a lot of car accident victims dismiss the signs of whiplash, thinking that it’s just a minor injury that doesn’t require medical treatment. However, the long-term consequences of whiplash can impact your health for years to come and affect your quality of life tremendously. An experienced auto accident lawyer is aware of all these potential problems and can ensure you get the compensation you are legally entitled to after an accident.

Here’s whiplash can be more serious than you think, and how costly it can get if the impact was serious, or if you don’t treat it in a timely manner.

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries in a car accident. The problem with it is that it can often be overlooked because the symptoms might appear late. It’s a kind of injury that some victims consider to be minor discomfort, only to notice that it gets worse with time.

Here’s whiplash can be more serious than you think, and how costly it can get if the impact was serious, or if you don’t treat it in a timely manner.

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a name given to a certain type of trauma to the neck or spine that involves a rapid back-and-forth movement of the head when your car crashes into something. It’s a common type of injury in rear-end accidents since your head will inevitably move forward, with nothing else absorbing the shock. 

Unfortunately, whiplash cannot be prevented by the use of the seatbelt, but properly adjusted headrests and functioning airbags can reduce the impact your neck or back is taking

What Are the Complications of Whiplash?

One of the issues with whiplash is that it might be noticed later, with many of the victims thinking they don’t really need a doctor’s visit. This can adversely affect your health and your car accident claim. It is always a good idea to go to see a doctor after an accident, even if you think you feel ok after an accident.

If left untreated, whiplash can lead to degenerative problems with your back and neck. You might experience stiffness and chronic pain, and even more serious back problems that might affect your nerves or bones. Other side effects of an untreated whiplash are migraines, depression, and sleep deprivation. 

As you might suspect, whiplash doesn’t appear to be so harmless anymore once you start feeling its effects every single day, for months after the accident. 

Treatments for Whiplash

To give you an idea about the settlement that should cover a whiplash injury, here are some of the treatments a victim if whiplash might need:

• Physical therapy
• Operation
• Medication
• Rest 

How Much Is the Average Settlement for Whiplash?

Depending on how serious whiplash is, and how much medical treatment it needs, whiplash can get you a more or less substantial settlement. In order to calculate the amount you will get, you have to include your missed working hours, all medical bills, pain and suffering, property damage, all the economic and non-economic damages you have suffered. Because each case is unique, it is important to have an experienced attorney review your claim to help you determine the full amount you are entitled to.

Speak With an Experienced Attorney

Speak with a St. Louis whiplash attorney as soon as possible to ensure your legal right is protected.

Whiplash can cause a lot of pain, nausea, confusion, and in some cases memory loss. Here are 5 steps to take when filing a whiplash claim after a car accident.

Whiplash is a soft tissue injury to the neck. Although it may seem like a small deal, it’s far from it. It can result in a lot of pain, nausea, confusion, and in some cases in memory loss.

To make matters worse, whiplash doesn’t always present immediate symptoms. When your condition is caused by a car accident and you have the right to get compensated, it’s essential to take these 5 steps to be successful: 

1. Go to the Doctor

Even if you believe you’re fine after the accident and may have gotten away scot-free, it’s still a good idea to seek immediate medical attention. Whiplash and other conditions may not present symptoms right away, and you could be making matters worse by not seeing a professional.

It will also make for a stronger case. The more you wait, the more opportunities you give the insurance company to poke holes in your claim and think of other events that may have lead to whiplash or at least made it worse.

2. Choose the Right Doctor

After a car accident, you may not be able to see your own doctor, especially if you want to file a compensation claim. For one thing, your doctor may not be very experienced with trauma injuries like those resulting from a car accident. 

There are a lot of practices that not only specialize in such injuries but can also help you put together a case for the insurance company by preparing all your relevant medical documents.

3. Start Gathering Evidence As Soon As Possible

Apart from your medical files, you’ll also likely need other pieces of evidence to create a strong case, such as:

• Photos from the scene 
• Witness testimonies
• Surveillance footage
• Medical history records
• Driving records, etc.

Some of this evidence is time-sensitive, such as the photos of the scene. Skidmarks can fade away, witnesses can be hard to track down after the fact, so it’s best to start taking photos of the scene right after the accident if possible.

4. File an Injury Claim As Soon As Possible

The longer you wait, the harder it will be to argue your case. Even you may start to forget the details of the case, which can create inconsistencies in your story.

5. Don’t Talk to the Insurance Company – Talk to a Lawyer Instead

The at-fault party’s insurance company will try to contact you over the phone to talk about your case. It’s important to understand that nothing is off the record and anything you say will be used against you by the insurance company.

Instead of discussing the case with the insurance company, reach out to an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney for assistance in building your case and negotiating your settlement. It’s your best shot at winning your whiplash claim and getting properly compensated for all of the expenses you are legally entitled to.