Whiplash is a relatively common type of neck injury in which the soft tissue of the neck becomes stretched beyond its normal range of motion. Despite being relatively common, whiplash can cause permanent and long-lasting injuries. While whiplash is most commonly related to a car accident, it can occur from any type of impact that suddenly causes the head to jerk forward and backward.
Contact a Los Angeles Whiplash Attorney
If you or your loved one has suffered a whiplash injury, it’s important that you reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and more. Navigating the process of obtaining compensation is challenging, especially as you try to recover from your injuries. The skilled Los Angeles whiplash attorneys at Saeedian Law Group are here to help. Contact us today to schedule your free case evaluation.
What is Whiplash?
The term whiplash isn’t a recognized medical diagnosis. However, it’s often used to describe injuries such as neck strains and sprains. Whiplash is a soft tissue injury that affects a person’s neck. Ligaments, muscles, soft tissue, intervertebral discs, joints, and even a person’s spinal cord can be damaged in whiplash injuries.
Common Causes
Car accidents are one of the most common causes of whiplash. However, it’s possible to suffer a whiplash injury even if you weren’t involved in a car accident. One of the biggest misconceptions about these injuries is that it takes significant force to cause them. Many whiplash injuries occur in car accidents involving speeds as low as 5 to 10 mph. As a result, fender benders that may not seem serious can cause significant whiplash injuries. Other causes include the following:
- Boating accidents
- Bus accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Recreational vehicle accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Assault and battery
- Sports accidents
- Construction zone accidents
Symptoms of Whiplash
Whiplash injuries can appear immediately after an accident, but not always. In other cases, symptoms may not develop until days or weeks after the accident. If you’ve been in a car accident or any other type of accident in Los Angeles, it’s important that you’re aware of the signs and symptoms. If you begin to experience any of these symptoms, it’s crucial that you undergo a medical evaluation and reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. Some of the most common symptoms of serious whiplash injuries include the following:
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Limited range of motion in the neck
- Neck pain
- Stiff neck
- Muscle spasms
- Sleep disturbances
- Memory problems
- Neck pain becomes more pronounced with movement
- Irritability
- Depression and anxiety
If you experience pain or numbness that radiates through your arms, shoulders, or back, it’s crucial that you seek medical attention immediately. These are signs of a severe injury; the sooner you receive medical treatment, the better.
The Long-Term Effects
Whiplash may seem like a minor injury because it’s so common, however, victims can suffer neck injury symptoms for months. In some cases, symptoms can continue for more than six months. It can be difficult to live your life while recovering from whiplash. Limited range of movement and chronic pain, which are both symptoms of a serious whiplash injury, can make it difficult to work and continue living a normal life. Even when the injury isn’t severe, victims can miss work, making it challenging to pay mounting medical bills.
Proving Liability After an Accident
If another person or company causes your whiplash injury through their negligent or reckless behavior, you can pursue compensation from them through a personal injury lawsuit. In car accident cases, victims can pursue compensation from the at-fault driver’s auto insurance company.
To recover compensation, you must show that the person who caused your injuries failed to use reasonable care under the circumstances. For example, suppose you were in a car accident that caused your whiplash injuries. In that case, you will need to prove that the driver who collided with you was driving negligently and caused the accident that resulted in your injuries.
For example, if a driver was texting and driving and rear-ended you, you can prove that the driver was negligent and recover compensation for your injuries. Proving liability isn’t always easy, and working with an attorney who can investigate your case and gather evidence proving that the defendant is liable is essential.
Damages Available to Whiplash Victims
Pursuing a lawsuit may seem overwhelming, but recovering a financial settlement from the person responsible for your injuries can make your life easier and help you pay all your medical bills. There are two main categories of damages available in personal injury lawsuits: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are awarded to help you with the financial cost of your accidents.
Economic damages are easily quantifiable damages related to the financial cost of your accident and injuries. Receiving economic damages should help put you back in the financial situation before the accident that caused your injury. The following types of damages are considered economic damages:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Property damage
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages during recovery
- Reduced earning capacity
Not all damages are easy to quantify. If you’ve been involved in an accident, you may have to cope with your injury’s physical and emotional trauma. Patients who have chronic neck pain can experience a significant amount of pain and suffering. Non-economic damages compensate for the pain and suffering, depression, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of life that a victim suffers.
Contact a Whiplash Attorney in Los Angeles Today
At Saeedian Law Group, our attorneys are dedicated to obtaining the compensation our clients deserve. We work closely with financial experts to identify all the current and future damages you will incur, ensuring your claim is appropriately valued. We don’t just consider your damages today, but we will also carefully assess how your injury will affect you in the future. Contact Saeedian Law Group today to schedule your free case evaluation and learn more about your legal options.
