A person suffers a whiplash injury when their head is caused to overextend and violently jerks forward, backward or sideways. The force that causes this snapping motion results in muscles, tendons and ligaments stretching and tearing. That usually results in classification of the whiplash injury as a strain or sprain of the cervical spine involving the top seven spinal vertebrae and the soft tissue around them. Whiplash is the most common injury suffered in motor vehicle accidents.
Symptoms
Whiplash victims commonly complain of muscle pain, tenderness and loss of range of motion. Other symptoms might include jaw pain, headaches, dizziness, blurred vision and numbness in the arms and fingers. Whiplash in television and movies might be characterized as a faking or malingering, but it’s a very real and painful condition.
Treatment
Different doctors have different recommendations for treatment of whiplash. Icing, painkillers, chiropractic treatment, acupuncture and physical therapy are all common ways of treating the injury. Most symptoms will resolve in six weeks to two months, but some people might experience whiplash symptoms for a longer period of time. That might indicate serious damage to ligaments, discs or nerve roots of the cervical spine. Those types of injuries don’t just go away over time. They might even require fusion surgery. Even spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries can result from whiplash.
We know how to prove your whiplash
Cervical spine injuries can involve extensive diagnostics and treatment. When somebody else has been careless and negligent, you have every right to bring a personal injury claim seeking compensation from that person. We know how to prove whiplash injuries. We’ve proven many, and you might be facing a long and painful recovery.
Don’t help the opposing insurance company’s case
Expect an adjuster from the opposing insurer to send you a medical authorization for signature and return. Ignore it. Washington law doesn’t require you to sign and return it. That insurer is only looking for a prior injury to the same part of your body that it can blame your symptoms on. That adjuster might even phone you and ask for a recorded statement about the accident and your injuries. Don’t consent to giving that statement. That insurer will only try to use your own words against you in the future.
Contact a Spokane Personal Injury Lawyer
Contact us by phone or email right away about any whiplash injury that you suffered in the State of Washington. The legislature has set strict time limits on claims, so you’ll be far better off contacting us sooner rather than later. We offer free case consultations and evaluations with no obligation from you, and if you retain us, we don’t even charge any legal fees unless we obtain a settlement or verdict on your behalf. We’ll be pleased to tell you what we might be able to do for you.
