Car accidents can injure us in all kinds of ways. Often, these injuries are immediately obvious, such as if we suffer broken bones. In other situations, the force of a car crash can hurt us without us being fully aware of it.
This may be the case when you suffer whiplash in an accident. Whiplash is a neck injury that results from the violent, sudden movement of the neck back and forth. You may experience symptoms such as neck pain and stiffness, loss of neck mobility, and headaches. However, your whiplash symptoms may not manifest for hours to a couple of days after the actual injury.
A diagnosis of “whiplash” simply means that an X-ray or CT was done and it was determined that your neck is not broken. Other names for whiplash are cervical strain or neck sprain.
Note well: a diagnosis of whiplash can mean you have something as simple as muscle soreness or as complex as an actual damaged disc that requires surgery. “Whiplash” is an often over-generalized word but is truly not always an end-all diagnosis.
If, after suffering a neck injury diagnosed as whiplash, your symptoms do not resolve in a few weeks, then following up with medical treatment is a must. Prompt medical treatment and identification of the injury is crucial to the best recovery outcome.
If you have suffered whiplash in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, then you’ve likely incurred expenses as a result of medical treatment or lost wages. The other driver’s insurance should pay for your bills, but if it has refused to do so, then you are owed restitution.
The Cagle Law Firm’s whiplash lawyers in St. Louis, MO, will be right there when you need us to fight for your rights. Below, our personal injury lawyers detail the types of car crashes that can cause whiplash in drivers.
Rear-end accidents are common culprits of whiplash or neck injuries in victims. Why is this? It’s due to the nature of the accident and how whiplash occurs.
The force of a rear-end collision, even one at relatively low speeds, such as 10 to 15 miles per hour, can suddenly jerk a driver’s body forward and back again. That rapid movement, particularly when it’s unexpected, snaps the neck around, as well.
The sudden force can injure the neck’s ligaments, muscles, tendons, bones, and more.
Head-on accidents can also cause whiplash, depending on how the two vehicles collide.
Just as with a rear-end accident, the sudden force of a head-on collision can rock your body so violently that your neck jerks back and forth and suffers whiplash as a result.
Of course, with head-on collisions, your injuries can be far worse than just whiplash. But since this condition may not manifest for some time afterward, it’s always important for doctors to check for that.
Finally, we come to rollover accidents. As you can well imagine, crashes that cause your car to roll over on the ground will be forceful enough to cause injuries. Some of those injuries can be significant, such as broken bones or concussions.
In all the movement of a rollover, it is also entirely possible that you could suffer whiplash, as well. If a rear-end accident can do it, then a rollover accident certainly can.
If you’ve been left with whiplash after getting hit by a negligent driver, then you should not be financially responsible for your recovery. The other insurance company compensates you for your injuries. However, that is usually not a simple process. If you are hurt, then a Cagle whiplash lawyer in St. Louis, MO, wants to hear from you today.
Whiplash is no small injury. It can leave you wincing with pain every time you even think about moving your neck. To the other extreme, it can be a damaged cervical disc that may require surgery. Ongoing medical treatment is necessary so that a neck injury does not turn into life-long pain. Seeking appropriate medical treatment in a timely way to address this injury usually contributes to a better recovery. If another driver’s negligence caused your whiplash in a car accident, then you will need legal advice. Neck injuries take time; thus, do not rush to settle a claim based on the initial diagnosis of “whiplash.”
The Cagle Law Firm will fight for you to get the much-needed compensation that is due to you. If you were not at fault, then you should not need to be burdened with expenses.
Call today to schedule your consultation with us, and we will be happy to assist. You can call The Cagle Law Firm toll-free at (1-800) 685-3302 or locally (314) 276-1681.
The Cagle Law Firm serves accident and injury clients throughout St. Louis and the greater St. Louis metropolitan area, including the eastern Missouri and southern Illinois communities. If you or a loved one needs legal assistance with your personal injury case, call The Cagle Law Firm at (314) 276-1681 or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.
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