Did you know that a seemingly innocent fender bender in your car could lead to serious injury and chronic pain? A whiplash injury can occur in a car crash at less than five miles per hour. Unfortunately, some victims do not seek treatment right away because they think they got away with just a few aches and pains. It is not until two or three days later, when the victim realizes they cannot move their neck without significant pain.
A rear impact in a car, even at slow speeds, moves the neck beyond its normal range of motion. This movement can cause soft tissue damage and spinal misalignment in some victims, especially children. Any type of alignment can lead to chronic pain and future injuries.
Even if you feel uninjured after a car crash, see a doctor immediately. Taking precautionary measures can avoid long-term health problems in the future. An untreated whiplash injury can result in neck pain, headaches and migraines. Some cases of chronic pain did not develop in patients until months after the initial car crash. If the victims had consulted a doctor right after the car accident, the doctor could have diagnosed their spinal misalignment or soft tissue injuries. This early diagnosis would have saved months of pain and missed time from work, in some cases.
If a careless or reckless driver injured you or a loved one, call our office for a free case review with an experience personal injury attorney.
Harrell & Nowak, L.L.C. – New Orleans injury attorneys