How Can Whiplash Affect a Car Accident Victim’s Health and Well-Being?

 Posted on November 16, 2021 in Personal Injury

There are multiple types of injuries that can occur in a car accident, and whiplash is one of the most common issues that can affect victims. These types of injuries may affect a person’s back and neck, as well as other parts of their body, and they can lead to a number of ongoing health issues. While whiplash often occurs in rear-end collisions, it can also affect drivers and passengers in multiple other types of accidents, including high-speed collisions or those involving relatively low speeds. By understanding the effects that whiplash can have on a person’s life and health, victims can make sure they will be able to pursue compensation that fully addresses their damages.

Effects of Whiplash

When one vehicle collides with another, the occupants of the vehicle that is struck may be suddenly and unexpectedly thrown forward, backward, or to the side. This can cause a person’s head to snap back and forth, putting a great deal of pressure on the neck and forcing it into unnatural positions. When this happens, the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the neck may be damaged. A person may also experience nerve damage, fractures to cervical vertebrae, or herniated discs.

The symptoms of whiplash may not occur right away, and a person may not begin to experience issues until hours or days after an accident. In some cases, symptoms may be temporary, and they may get better after a few weeks. However, symptoms can also persist for an extended period of time, affecting a person’s ability to work and complete daily tasks. These symptoms may include:

• Neck pain and stiffness - Damage to tissues in the neck can cause significant and chronic pain. This pain may be localized to parts of the neck, or it may also affect a person’s shoulders and arms. These issues may also cause a reduced range of motion in the neck and shoulders, affecting a person’s ability to turn their head, raise their arms, or lift objects.

• Headaches - Damage to the nerves in the neck and shoulders can cause ongoing head pain. This may be accompanied by dizziness or ringing in the ears. These issues may lead to additional health concerns such as sleep disorders and extreme fatigue.

• Numbness and tingling - Damage to the spinal cord or other nerves in the neck and shoulders may lead to a loss of sensation in the shoulders, arms, and hands, or tingling sensations may radiate from the neck to the upper limbs. These issues are often accompanied by weakness in the arms and hands, which may affect a person’s ability to complete regular tasks.

• Problems with speaking or swallowing - Injuries to the muscles around the throat and jaw may cause pain when a person swallows food or drinks, or they may struggle to form words correctly when speaking.

Because the effects of whiplash can be long-lasting, a person may not only need emergency medical care following an accident, but ongoing treatment may be necessary. In some cases, chiropractic treatment may help alleviate symptoms, or physical therapy may be needed to restore a person’s range of motion.

Contact Our Arlington Heights Whiplash Injury Lawyers

If you have been injured in a car accident, Newland & Newland, LLP can help you document how whiplash or other issues have affected your health, and we will work to ensure that you will be able to receive compensation that addresses these issues. Contact our Rolling Meadows car accident injury attorneys at 847-797-8000 to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/whiplash/symptoms-causes/syc-20378921

https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/whiplash-symptoms-and-associated-disorders 

https://www.healthline.com/health/whiplash