Even a slow speed “fender bender” can cause your head and neck to lunge forward and back in rapid succession. At higher speeds, the force can be more violent and lead to a whiplash injury; one of the most common injuries associated with car crashes. Depending on its severity, a whiplash injury can damage the bone structure and soft tissues on the head, neck and spine.
While whiplash is rarely life threatening, it can lead to long-term discomfort and chronic pain. Whiplash victims often incur medical costs in the thousands of dollars and end up missing a significant amount of work because of it. After a car accident, watch for the following symptoms of whiplash injury:
· Neck pain and stiffness
· Headaches
· Fatigue and dizziness
· Ringing in the ears
· Arm and pack pain
In addition, whiplash victims can experience anger, frustration, difficulty sleeping, drug dependency and social isolation.
Because whiplash is so common in car accident, people tend to treat it lightly or ignore it entirely. Failing to address and treat the condition can lead to bigger and more expensive problems down the road.
If you suffer any type of injury in a car crash, contact one of our personal injury attorneys for a free case review.
Harrell & Nowak, L.L.C. – New Orleans injury lawyers