High-speed wrecks are not the only crashes that can leave you in serious pain. Whiplash can be painful and long-lasting, and it can happen in crashes where a vehicle is moving as slowly as 15 miles per hour or less. Not surprisingly, whiplash in auto accidents is very common, afflicting more than 3 million people a year.
It’s important to note that the symptoms of whiplash may not be immediately obvious at the scene of the accident. The injured person has adrenaline coursing through their body, and their brain is working overtime trying to process everything that just happened. As a result, the pain from whiplash sometimes doesn’t manifest until hours or days after the accident. That’s why it’s sometimes called a delayed-onset injury.
Symptoms of Whiplash
Recognizing whiplash requires knowing the symptoms. If you were in an auto accident, even in a low-speed crash, and you begin feeling these effects, you should go to a doctor and get diagnosed:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Muscle tightness
- Headaches
- Tenderness in your neck and shoulders
- Pain when you try to move your head
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Memory or concentration problems
What to Do if You Think You Have Whiplash
You may be tempted to take it easy after a crash, but if you spend too much time lying down, your neck and the muscles around it can actually get stiffer. So, try to find a balance between resting and moving around. You shouldn’t try strenuous or athletic movements, but simple things like walking or rotating your arms in circles can help.
You should also go in for a medical exam as soon after the accident as possible so a doctor can evaluate and diagnose you properly. If the doctor confirms you have whiplash, they can give you specific advice.
Importantly, going to the doctor also creates a trail of documentation. This is crucial to strengthening any insurance or personal injury claim you may need to pursue to get compensation. A successful claim can help you recover money to cover medical expenses and lost wages for any time away from work. If the situation is severe enough, you could also get compensation for lost quality of life and pain and suffering.
Discuss Your Auto Accident With an Experienced Texas Attorney
If you suffered whiplash or any other injury in a car, truck, motorcycle or other vehicle accident in Texas, you should reach out to a lawyer to discuss your legal options. The team at Ted B. Lyon & Associates in Dallas would be happy to meet with you and explain how we might be able to help with insurance issues, a lawsuit or both.
To schedule a free consultation, please call our office at 877-Ted-Lyon / 877-833-5966 or contact us online anytime.
