Whiplash is a common injury that car crash victims face. Since the effects of whiplash may not appear for a few days, you should try and be in-tune with your body to detect signs of it and seek medical care.
The first signal that you might have whiplash-related injuries involves the details of the car accident you were involved in. Whiplash mostly happens to victims of rear-end collisions. This is because the impact can make your neck move back and forth in quick motions. If your neck jolted during the incident, then you might have gone through whiplash. And if it hasn’t or the whole situation is a blur to you, then it doesn’t hurt to ask your doctor if they think you have any symptoms.
In fact, taking notes on how you feel or any symptoms you experience the days and weeks after will help in three different ways. The first one being that you will have notes to reference when you visit your doctor. Here are some common whiplash symptoms to be aware of:
- Neck pain, stiffness or limited range of motion
- Headaches, fatigue or dizziness
- Pain in shoulder or upper arms
- Difficulty sleeping or irritability
- Blurred vision
- Ringing ears
Secondly, helping your physician pinpoint and treat your pain, can help you learn sooner about the treatment you need. According to Mayo Clinic, whiplash injuries typically call for rest, hot or cold therapy and over-the-counter pain relievers. And more painful cases may require injections, physical therapy or a foam collar.
Lastly, you will also have medical bills or records to provide to insurance companies or courts if you plan to file for compensation. Receiving damages for the pain the accident caused is something you deserve, but it will be difficult to do if you don’t have proof of the injuries.
If you doctor tells you that you’ve experienced whiplash-related injuries, then you’ll probably also want to consult a personal injury attorney in a timely manner. This is because Texas residents only have two years from their accident date to file a personal injury complaint.
