How Long Does a Whiplash Injury Last After a Car Accident?
Were you involved in an auto accident and suffered from a whiplash injury?
Do you wonder how long the effects will last, and you will suffer?
Well, there is no straightforward answer because it depends on various factors. For example, your age, weight, and pre-existing health conditions determine how long you will require recovering from it.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash occurs whenever the neck muscles jerk beyond their usual motion range, like the neck’s sudden backward and forward movement. Everyday situations that trigger whiplash include sports-related accidents, assaults, and rear-end collisions.
As whiplash stresses and strains neck muscles, they may damage the spinal discs, nerves, or joints. That’s why it’s essential you consult a medical doctor immediately after the accident and not take things lightly.
Symptoms of Whiplash after Auto Accidents
The common whiplash symptoms include:
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Muscle weakness
- Ringing in ears
- Limited motion in neck, shoulders, arms, or legs
- Problems remembering things
- Sleeping problems
As these symptoms are similar to other conditions, you may not be 100% sure you have whiplash. There’s also a chance of suffering from a more severe condition like a fracture because of the accident.
Besides, different people experience different symptoms. So it’s not easy to diagnose the injury just based on the symptoms alone. You need a doctor’s diagnosis.
The later you consult your doctor, the more you suffer and the longer your claim process takes. It is your doctor’s medical records that prove that you indeed suffer from whiplash. And that you are suffering from its related pain and suffering.
Prolonging treatment and diagnosis makes it better for the at-fault driver’s lawyer and the insurance company. They can prove that your delay was because the whiplash wasn’t a consequence of the auto accident, but something else.
Whiplash Treatment Options
Over-the-counter pain relief medication, ice, and physical therapy generally treat all whiplash cases. You may, however, require more intensive treatment if you suffer from a severe case.
Your doctor may recommend using a foam collar to immobile your neck region and keep it stable. It, in turn, prevents further injuries. Improving your posture and practicing muscle tension relief techniques also helps.
Surgery is rarely necessary for treating whiplash. Chiropractic care, massages, acupuncture, and electronic nerve stimulation instead provide better relief.
How Long Does Whiplash Last after an Auto Accident?
On average, a person needs anywhere between a few weeks to three months to heal from whiplash. However, people suffering from severe cases may require a longer recovery time. Medication and exercise can usually help relieve discomfort and help regain full movement.
Recovering Compensation for a Whiplash Injury after an Auto Accident
So as your accident was a consequence of an irresponsible driver, you can recover compensation from them or their insurer. Your Glendale auto accident attorney will help determine the accident cause, calculate the cost of damages and recover your rightly deserved compensation.
Most importantly, they help ensure you file your case on time, according to your state’s statute of limitations.
With their help, you can expect to recover maximum compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Property damage expenses
- Lost wages and future earning power
- Pain and suffering
You anyway have nothing to lose as most auto accident lawyers in Glendale offer a free initial consultation. You also need not pay them anything upfront.
Pay them only if and when they win you your compensation. It means you can pay them from the compensation amount and not from your pocket.