Among the types of personal injuries that can result from an auto accident, whiplash pain is not the most damaging. But it can be an uncomfortable and painful condition which could take days, weeks or even months to resolve. Whiplash pain is often the basis for a personal injury claim.

What is Whiplash Pain Like?

Whiplash pain has a variety of symptoms, including:

• Neck pain
• Stiffness
• Worsening pain with movement of the neck
• Loss of range of neck motion
• Headaches starting at the base of the skull
• Shoulder, upper back, or arm pain
• Tingling/numbness in the arms
• Fatigue
• Dizziness

According to Mayo Clinic, related symptoms may include blurred vision, ringing in the ears, sleep problems, irritability, difficulty concentrating, memory issues, and depression.

In some cases, people will recover from whiplash within a few weeks. In other cases, pain can continue for months or even years.

Chronic whiplash pain can be preempted by the intense and rapid onset of symptoms following an accident. People may be at a higher risk for chronic pain following whiplash if they have had whiplash before, if they are older in age, or if they have existing pain in the neck or low back.

What Causes Whiplash?

Whiplash can occur as a result of any forceful, rapid back and forth movement of the neck. This movement causes injury to the structures in the neck due to the sudden and irregular movement.

Part of the reason that whiplash causes so much pain, according to Harvard Health, is the “S-Phase” of the injury. For a long time, doctors thought that whiplash was caused when the back to front movement injured the neck. However, Harvard Health notes that high-speed cameras and other testing have shown that the S-phase before this back and forth movement is part of the reason that the muscles, ligaments, and joints of the neck are injured.

In the S-phase, the neck temporarily looks like an elongated S shape as impact forces the upper and lower neck in opposite directions.

A variety of situations could lead to whiplash, including falls, the movement of an amusement park ride, blows to the face, and sports-related collisions. However, the most common cause of whiplash is a car accident.

When people survive a car accident without major visible injuries, it can seem like everything is just fine. But after a car accident, even a minor one, there may be injuries that do not immediately present themselves. It can take days for symptoms like headaches, neck pain, or numbness to emerge. Those who begin experiencing neck pain or numbness after a car accident may require x-rays, CT scans, or MRIs for proper diagnosis.

Just because an injury seems mild doesn’t mean it can’t be serious. Indeed, whiplash injuries can have long-lasting effects. It is essential to pay attention to your symptoms in the aftermath of a car accident—not just for your health, but also so that you will be able to file a complaint by your state’s deadlines.

What Are Other Car Accident Injuries?

Common car accident injuries may include brain and head injuries, neck and back injuries, chest injuries, abdominal and pelvic injuries, and leg, knee and foot injuries. In mild fender-bender accidents, these injuries may be less serious. However, a catastrophic accident can cause more serious harm to drivers and passengers. In some cases, the consequences of the damage can last years.

Millions of Americans are sent to the hospital each year for car accident injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 2.5 million people went to the emergency room for crash injuries in 2012. Additionally, the injuries sustained by nearly 200,000 people that year required hospitalization.

It’s common to incur significant expenses following a car accident. The CDC notes that each crash-related emergency room visit costs about $3,300, and each hospitalization is approximately $57,000. Additionally, those who may be unable to work following a car accident have to deal with lost wages. Filing an injury claim can help with costs, and an experienced car accident lawyer can help recover expenses following an accident.

Filing a Car Accident Injury Lawsuit

If you or someone you love has suffered an injury in a car accident, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation for your pain and suffering.

A plaintiff’s “pain and suffering” takes into account a few factors, such as the extent, severity, and permanence of physical injuries as well as the amount of medical debt incurred.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

This article is not legal advice or medical advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.