What Do You Need To Know About Whiplash?

Can you answer “yes” to one or more of these questions:

• Have you been injured in a car crash?
• Were you shopping and fell over something left in the middle of the aisle?
• Did a driver cut you off while you were riding your motorcycle?
• Were you in a bicycle crash because a motorist got too close and caused you to run off the road?
• Are you now suffering from neck pain? Is your neck stiff?
• Are you having a difficult time moving?
• Do you have pain in your upper back or shoulders?
• Are you experiencing numbness or tingling in your arms or hands?

If so, you may be suffering from whiplash. Whiplash is a common injury in many personal injury accidents. However, the insurance company for the other driver or the party who caused your accident may not approve your claim. Insurance adjusters often deny whiplash claims as insignificant injuries or exaggerated injuries.

You need a personal injury attorney on your side who understands how insurance companies work.

Gordon R. Levinson worked for some of the largest insurance companies in the United States. Now he puts his knowledge and experience to use for injury victims throughout California. For your free consultation call (760) 642-5475 today. We accept cases on a contingent fee. That means that if there is no recovery in your case you pay no fee. And in most cases, we even advance the costs.

What is Whiplash?

WebMD defines whiplash as a neck strain or neck sprain that can be caused by any blow or impact that causes your head to jerk backward or forward. The Mayo Clinic also refers to whiplash being caused by a “rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip” that can occur in a rear-end car crash. However, a whiplash injury can occur as the result of a slip and fall, sports injury, bicycle accident, boating accident, or motorcycle crash.

Whiplash is a soft tissue injury; therefore, may insurance adjusters dismiss whiplash as a minor injury. While most cases of whiplash heal within a few months, some accident victims are unable to resume their daily lives due to the ongoing, chronic pain and reduced mobility caused by a severe case of whiplash. Because of the risk of long-term effects, it is always best to be checked by a medical professional after being involved in any personal injury accident.

What Are The Symptoms of Whiplash?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the symptoms of whiplash include:

• Stiffness and pain in the neck
• Fatigue
• Tenderness in your upper back, shoulders, or arms
• Dizziness
• Pain that become worse when you move your neck
• Loss of range of motion in the neck
• Numbness and/or tingling in your arms
• Headaches — The headaches may start at the base of your skull

WebMD also adds that you may experience pain when moving your head from side to side or backward and forward. The headaches that begin at the base of your skull can radiate towards your forward. You may also experience pain or stiffness when you move your head to look over your shoulder.

Whiplash symptoms may not always be present immediately after an accident. It could take several hours or days for you to begin noticing symptoms. In many cases, the symptoms will persist and/or grow worse, even with rest, medication, and other treatments such as ice, moist heat, massage, and neck braces.

What Can I Do If I Have Whiplash?

The most important thing you can do is seek medical treatment. Your health and well-being are your top priorities. After seeing a doctor, contact our office to speak with a Carlsbad personal injury attorney. Because whiplash has been reduced to a “minor” injury, you want someone on your side who will fight to ensure you are treated fairly by the insurance company for the responsible party. If you are injured, you are entitled to be compensated for your injuries, losses, and damages.

Whether you need a rear-end accident attorney for your whiplash injury, a San Diego slip and fall lawyer, or a slip and fall lawyer near me, the team at Levinson Law Group can provide the expertise and representation you need.