Whiplash is the term used to describe neck injuries that happen when the neck is whipped violently forward and then backwards, overstretching or even tearing the ligaments and muscles holding up the neck. This type of injury is often seen in people who have been involved in car accidents; in particular, rear-end collision crashes.
In accidents like these, the neck and upper back muscles, ligaments, tendons, and soft tissue are stretched and strained far beyond their normal ability. This can lead to Inflammation, sprains, and strains of the neck.
Since there is no obvious symptom like a broken bone or a bleeding arm, for example, people often think they are just fine after an accident in which they were jerked forward and backward in a whiplash-like manner. A person may not think that he is injured, as it is fairly common for the symptoms of whiplash to not be actually felt for hours, or even days, after the initial accident trauma.
Most common symptoms are stiffness and pain in the neck. These painful feelings are often found in the area where the neck was whiplashed, which is at the base of the skull, in most situations. People who suffer whiplash may also have difficulty turning their head without pain.
Even if the car that has struck your vehicle from behind has been traveling at a very slow speed such as less than 5 MPH, you can still suffer painful soft tissue damage and whiplash. In fact, low speed rear-impact studies demonstrated that up to 29% of people did experience symptoms of when struck at a speed of 2.5 MPH.
Symptoms of Whiplash
In addition to neck pain and neck stiffness, other whiplash symptoms include:
- Decreased ability to turn the head
- Headaches, in particular at the base of skull or either side of the base of the head
- Back, shoulder, or arm pain
- Sensations such as tingling in arms, burning, or feeling numb
- Nausea
- Blurred vision Dizziness and vertigo
- A ringing in ears
- Jaw pain
- Depression, overtiredness, irritability, difficulty focusing
Contact The Pryor Law Firm
The Pryor Law Firm maintains offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Nassau County. We handle personal injury cases exclusively on a contingency fee basis (meaning you pay no fee unless we recover compensation for you), and we can visit you or your loved one at home or at a hospital if travel is too difficult. To contact us for confidential advice following a serious injury or fatal accident, submit our online contact form or call (855) 889-5311.
Firm founder Kenneth A. Pryor is a member of the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Mr. Pryor is an experienced trial lawyer who teaches trial skills as an adjunct law school professor. Our firm can provide the knowledgeable and experienced legal representation you need.
+Disclaimer: The above case results are samples of some of the verdicts and settlements that were obtained through the efforts of Kenneth A. Pryor during his career as lead counsel or co-counsel and the results were dependent on the specific facts of each individual case. Prior results are no guarantee of a similar outcome or future success. Each case is unique and the final outcome of negotiations or trial is never guaranteed. In some cases, the verdicts may have been reduced by a court or settled by the parties for a lesser amount.