Whiplash Is Not a “Minor Injury”

If you have been injured in an auto accident, especially an accident in which you have been rear-ended, it is likely that you have experienced whiplash. Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a rapid back-and-forth (or side-to-side) motion of the head, like the cracking of a whip. The medical term is cervical acceleration-deceleration (CAD) syndrome, and the symptoms of CAD syndrome are called whiplash-associated disorder (WAD). WAD symptoms vary, depending on the severity of your injury and any pre-existing conditions. But no whiplash injury should be taken lightly or ignored.

Whiplash symptoms

In Florida, your PIP insurance requires that you see an approved medical provider within two weeks of your accident in order to receive coverage from your auto insurance. You should always receive a thorough examination after an accident, even if you feel fine immediately afterwards. Symptoms of whiplash may not appear immediately, as your adrenaline is likely elevated for the first day or two. But after a few days, you may begin to feel tightness in your neck or any of the following common symptoms:

Pain or stiffness in the neck when sitting, standing, or moving
Loss of flexibility and range of motion of the neck
Headaches or migraines starting at the base of the skull
Pain or tenderness at the base of the skull, face, jaw, shoulder, upper back, or arms
Numbness or tingling sensations in the arms and hands
Extreme tiredness, general fatigue
Dizziness, vertigo, and balance issues
Difficulty sleeping
Blurred vision or ringing in the ears
Difficulty focusing, memory loss
Mood changes, depression
Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking
Traumatic brain injury

Any of these symptoms could become long-term issues and could worsen over time. Some can become debilitating and limit your ability to work. Conditions that may complicate or worsen your symptoms include having had whiplash before, having an existing back or neck problem, and being older. The severity of the accident is also a factor, as high-speed accidents or multi-car accidents can lead to severe damage to ligaments, discs, or joints as well as a more severe inflammatory response to the whiplash.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) lists five classifications of whiplash:

Grade 0: No complaints about the neck. No physical sign(s).
Grade I: Neck complaint of pain, stiffness, or tenderness only. No physical sign(s).
Grade II: Neck complaint AND musculoskeletal sign(s). Musculoskeletal signs include decreased range of motion and point tenderness.
Grade III: Neck complaint AND neurological sign(s). Neurological signs include decreased range of motion and point tenderness.
Grade IV: Neck complaint AND fracture or dislocation.

According to the NIH, one review estimates that 20-40% of whiplash patients develop chronic symptoms. Since the neck is the gateway between the brain and the rest of the body, whiplash can cause serious damage to many systems. These include damage to ligaments and discs; pressure on nerves; messages from the brain to senses, muscles, and organs; blood flow; and the autonomic nervous system that controls the heart, digestion, breathing, and immune system.

Receiving compensation for your injuries

Your PIP insurance is the first place from which you will receive compensation, and if your injury is mild and you heal quickly, PIP may cover all your medical expenses and lost wages. However, PIP is often insufficient.

As an experienced personal injury attorney serving Florida residents all over the state, I have helped numerous whiplash patients receive the compensation they deserve. Whiplash is rarely the only injury that has occurred in an accident, and I leave no stone unturned to carefully document every injury and every complication in order to maximize my client’s compensation claim.

As with any personal injury case, if someone else’s negligence caused your injury, you can sue for any of the following that apply:

Medical expenses, current and future
Mental health expenses, current and future
Lost wages and future lost earnings
Property damage
Other expenses caused by the accident, such as necessary changes to your home to accommodate your injuries
Pain and suffering: physical, emotional, and relational
Loss of companionship in the case of serious permanent injury or death

Every case I take on becomes personal to me, as if one of my own friends or loved ones had been injured, and I work vigorously to uncover every possible expense or complication for my clients to help them get the maximum settlement for their injuries. Though most insurance companies would rather settle a case, I will go to court if necessary to get fair compensation, and I have a track record of winning significant awards. Contact me today, 24/7, at (954) 448-7288 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.