Whiplash, also known as a neck sprain, is characterized by pain and stiffness in the neck due to an injury. A common injury in most Sacramento auto accidents, whiplash occurs when the head is suddenly forced forward or backward and then snapped back in the other direction. If you or a loved one has suffered a whiplash injury in an accident caused by another driver, you are not alone.
To begin exploring your legal options, call our personal injury lawyers today by calling (916) 777-7777.
Whiplash Symptoms and Diagnosis
Whiplash symptoms will typically appear within 24 hours of the injury. Symptoms can disappear and return a few days later, so it is important to seek medical attention after being involved in a car collision.
Common symptoms for whiplash include:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
- Difficulty concentrating
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Ringing in the ears
If an injury victim suffers from any of the following severe whiplash symptoms, they are advised to contact their physician immediately:
- Numbness or tingling in the arms
- Pain spreading to the shoulders or arms
- Pain when moving the head
In order to diagnosis whiplash, a physician will need to carefully examine a patients neck. A doctor may require an injury victim to have an X-ray performed on their neck along with an MRI or a CT scan to rule out the possibility of other injuries.
Whiplash Treatments
Most physicians will advise a whiplash patient to take an over-the-counter pain medication in order to relieve the pain. If neck pain is severe, a doctor may prescribe a prescription painkiller. It is common for physicians to prescribe physical therapy as well in order to treat this type of injury.
Occasionally, a doctor will advise a patient to wear a soft foam collar for a whiplash injury, but only for a few hours at a time. Prolonged use of a soft foam collar may lead to decreased neck strength.
Most whiplash injuries take a few weeks to heal. In severe cases, it can take up to a year for a whiplash injury to completely heal. Some whiplash injuries can develop into a chronic condition that can be disabling.
Contact an Experienced Whiplash Injury Attorney
At the Arnold Law Firm, our lawyers have the skills and resources necessary to successfully litigate a California whiplash injury claim. If you suffered a whiplash injury in a crash that was caused by the actions or negligence of another driver, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit in order to recover damages related to the accident.
With an office located in Sacramento, our firm is dedicated to fighting for the rights of all those who have been wrongfully injured in the state of California.
Our personal injury law firm operates on a contingency fee basis. This means that if you choose to hire our lawyers, there is never any cost to you, unless we obtain a favorable outcome for your claim, whether this is through a settlement with other parties and their insurance companies or by a jury verdict.
For more information on the legal rights which may be available to whiplash injury victims or to schedule a confidential, no-obligation consultation with a member our legal team, call us today at .