You got into a car accident but felt fine initially, so you did not bother getting checked. A few hours later, a sharp pain in your neck sent you to the ER. The diagnosis? Whiplash.
Whiplash: Common causes in car accidents
Whiplash, medically known as a cervical sprain, occurs when a sudden jolt forces your neck to move back and forth rapidly. This injury often happens in rear-end collisions, where the impact causes your head to snap violently—the force strains muscles and ligaments, leading to pain and stiffness.
Symptoms to watch out for after whiplash
After a car accident, watch for symptoms like neck pain, stiffness, headaches and dizziness. These signs may not appear immediately but can worsen over time. Early detection can prevent long-term complications, which may be tricky as whiplash manifests after some time.
Challenges in pursuing a whiplash injury claim
After returning from the ER, you think of a way to pursue your injury claim, but several factors can make this quite challenging. They are:
- Proving the extent of the injury: Whiplash involves soft tissues, and it can be difficult to demonstrate damage through medical imaging.
- Delayed onset of symptoms: Symptoms of whiplash do not appear immediately after the accident.
- Skepticism from insurance companies: The delay in symptom presentation can lead to skepticism from the insurance company, which may argue that the injury is not related to the accident.
- Lengthy claim process: Insurance companies often take longer to process these claims, which may delay compensation.
- Need for comprehensive medical documentation: Inadequate medical documentation can weaken your claim.
Navigating these challenges requires persistence and the support of a personal injury attorney who can push through with the claim and make sure you receive the proper compensation. Allow them to handle the legal work while you focus on recovering faster.