Whiplash is a common injury after car accidents. Though, it can also occur during other types of trauma, such as a fall, physical abuse, sports injury, or any other situation where the head suddenly moves and causes severe pain.
Many car accident victims who experience whiplash don’t know what it feels like and don’t realize they’ve been injured until hours or days after the incident. It’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of a whiplash injury so that you can seek medical treatment immediately.
If you or a loved one are experiencing whiplash after an auto accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer with Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. today for what steps to take next and whether or not you have the right to file a personal injury claim.
How Do I Know If I Have Whiplash?
The best way to know if you are experiencing whiplash is to seek medical treatment immediately after your accident. What might seem like whiplash could be a much more serious, potentially life-threatening neck injury or spinal cord injury.
Whiplash Associated Disorders
Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) is a term used to describe the range of symptoms that can occur due to whiplash. WAD can cause significant disability and affect your ability to work or participate in your normal activities.
Whiplash Symptoms
The symptoms of whiplash don’t always manifest immediately. It’s not uncommon for victims to go days without noticing the signs of a neck strain injury. If you’ve been in an accident, it’s important to be aware of these symptoms and seek medical attention if they occur.
The most common symptoms of whiplash are:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Worsening of pain with neck movement
- Loss of range of motion in the neck
- Headaches, most often starting at the base of the skull
- Tenderness or pain in the shoulder, upper back, or arms
- Tingling or numbness in the arms, hands, and fingers
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
Whiplash doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some other signs of whiplash to look out for include:
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Sleep disturbances
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory problems
- Muscle spasms
If you have been in an auto accident and are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, you should seek medical treatment. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent further injury and improve your prognosis.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Whiplash?
Whiplash can often be a very painful and debilitating injury. It can lead to long-term chronic pain and other complications. Some of the more serious complications associated with whiplash include:
- Chronic neck pain
- Difficulty sleeping
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Fatigue
- Memory problems
- Depression
- Numbness or weakness in hands or fingers
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms after your car accident, be sure to speak with your doctor about treatment options.
How is Whiplash Diagnosed?
Most injuries are to soft tissues such as the discs, muscles, and ligaments and cannot be seen on standard X-rays. A doctor may order specialized imaging tests, such as CT scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose whiplash.
How is Whiplash Treated?
The treatment options for whiplash will vary depending on the severity of the condition. However, in most cases, conservative treatments, such as pain medication and physical therapy, are effective.
- Physical Therapy – A physical therapist will help relieve pain, strengthen sore neck muscles, and improve range of motion through exercises and other treatments.
- Injections – Corticosteroid or lidocaine injections can help relieve muscle pain or spasms.
- Pain Medication – Your doctor may prescribe over-the-counter or prescription pain medication to help relieve your pain.
Though surgery is not an option for a whiplash injury, if your condition is more serious, you may be a surgical candidate for other neck injuries caused or aggravated by the whiplash. Surgery is usually only recommended if other treatments have not effectively relieved your symptoms.
Can I Sue for a Whiplash Injury?
You may be able to sue for a whiplash injury if the accident that caused your injury was someone else’s fault.
To determine whether you have a case, it is important to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer who can review the facts of your situation and advise you on your best course of action. If you decide to file a lawsuit, your attorney will help you gather evidence to support your whiplash injury claim and negotiate with the other driver’s insurance company for fair compensation.
What Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Can Do For You
The Washington, D.C. car accident lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. have a proven track record of success helping clients obtain the maximum compensation possible for injuries they have suffered due to the negligence of others. Our firm has consistently demonstrated we have the expertise needed to help our clients see that justice is served. We have the resources needed to conduct thorough investigations of all the circumstances contributing to a motor vehicle accident, gathering the evidence to establish liability and negligence.
Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. has achieved more than $500 million in verdicts and settlements, and our attorneys have more than a century of combined legal experience. Two of our partners are certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Our firm has also earned the highest AV® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, one of the most respected attorney-ranking service organizations in the United States. Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. attorneys work passionately on behalf of our clients to help them secure fair compensation – there is no type of case that is too complex for us to litigate.
Recovering Damages for Whiplash Injuries
Many factors go into determining the value of your case. These include medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our attorneys have experience evaluating cases just like yours to determine what they may be worth and will work hard to get you fair compensation for your injuries.
We Get You Results
Here are a few of our case results:
- $6 million for a client who suffered a brain injury after being involved in a rear-end collision.
- $4.8 million for a severely injured client after another vehicle struck his motorcycle.
- $1.9 million for a client who suffered a permanent back injury due to a car accident.
- $1.5 million for a client who had to undergo multiple surgeries after a negligent motorist cut off his motorcycle.
- $1 million settlement obtained on behalf of our 19-year-old client who was a passenger in a car in which the driver lost control, causing a collision. As a result, our client suffered extensive brain damage with cognitive impairment. He was in a coma for an extended period of time. Although he has regained consciousness, he is unable to care for himself. The law firm asked the Court to appoint him a guardian to care for him. The law firm is helping to establish a special needs trust so that the proceeds from the settlement will be protected against any medical liens.
- $1 million settlement on behalf of a client who suffered a brain injury when the driver of the car in which he was a passenger lost control of his vehicle.
Contact an Accident Lawyer Today
If you are looking for the highest level representation available for your personal injury case, turn to Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Our firm has helped clients recover more than $500 million in compensation, and we have more than 100 years of combined experience. All of our partners are recognized by Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers®, and our firm includes three past presidents of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.We work to help our clients obtain fair settlement offers to compensate them for the injuries they’ve suffered, but our attorneys are extremely well-equipped to go to trial if needed. Call (202) 659-8600 or contact us online to get the proven legal representation you deserve.