Signs and Symptoms of a Whiplash Injury

Whiplash injuries are a common result of various types of accidents. This includes car accidents, sports injuries, workplace accidents, slip and fall incidents, and more. However, recognizing the signs and symptoms of whiplash can be complicated. Here, we want to discuss what injury victims need to be on the lookout for after they are involved in an accident. The signs and symptoms of whiplash are sometimes subtle, and they may not appear until hours or days after an incident occurs. However, securing compensation for these injuries often revolves around seeking medical care, so we want to review what you need to know about whiplash.

Whiplash signs and symptoms you need to know

Whiplash signs and symptoms vary from case to case. They can be relatively minor, or they could be more painful and limit mobility. Some of the most common signs and symptoms that whiplash victims endure include the following:

• Severe neck pain
• Frequent or recurring headaches
• Pain that shoots down the arms
• Excessive fatigue
• Stiffness in the back or neck
• Dizziness
• Fuzzy or clouded thinking
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Blurred vision or seeing dots
• Memory issues

There are many factors that affect the severity of whiplash signs and symptoms. This includes not only the severity of the impact that caused the whiplash, but also the physical condition of the victim at the time the accident occurred. Some of the factors that could increase a person’s risk of serious whiplash symptoms include:

• Those older in age
• Anyone who has had whiplash in the past
• Those with current back or neck problems
• Having arthritis
• Those in poor general health or physical condition

However, just because a person may be more susceptible to severe whiplash symptoms does not lessen the fact that they should receive compensation if another person caused their accident.

Recovery from whiplash

Whiplash can be a serious injury, but the good news is that most people make a complete recovery. However, this recovery can take weeks or even months to occur. It is vital that whiplash injury victims work with a doctor who can create a treatment and recovery plan. Generally, a doctor will tell the whiplash victim that they must limit most types of strenuous physical activity for a few weeks.

Unfortunately, this may mean that a whiplash injury victim is unable to perform their work duties or that they should be put on “light-duty” status. This could have a negative impact on a person’s wages.

Victims who have sustained a serious whiplash injury may need to wear a neck brace for a specified amount of time after their accident. A neck brace helps to limit a victim’s mobility so they can make a complete recovery.

Compensation for a whiplash injury

There may be various types of compensation available to a person who sustains a whiplash injury caused by the careless or negligent actions of another person. Some of the compensation available could include:

• Full coverage of whiplash-related medical bills
• Lost wages if a victim cannot work
• General out-of-pocket expenses caused by the injury
• Pain and suffering damages
• Loss of personal enjoyment damages

The total dollar amount of compensation available in these cases will vary depending on the facts surrounding each particular whiplash case. If you or a loved one have been injured in an auto accident, contact an Orange County car accident lawyer to discuss possible compensation.