An estimated 869,000 vehicle accident-related cervical spine injuries are presented in hospitals each year, with an estimated 841,000 of those injuries being whiplash injuries. However, symptoms don’t always manifest immediately after a crash or fall. Sometimes symptoms can take 12 hours, a full day, or even a few days to appear.
That’s why seeing a medical professional after an accident or a hard fall is important, even if you aren’t feeling any symptoms. The doctor can perform a physical exam and conduct tests to determine medical conditions like whiplash. Once your medical injuries from the accident or fall have been documented, consulting an experienced personal injury attorney will help you get compensated for medical bills, lost income, or pain and suffering resulting from your whiplash injury.
The unexpected slip-and-fall event or the impact of a vehicle accident can cause you to wrench your neck and upper spine in an irregular position that causes injury. This spontaneous neck movement can cause the ligaments and muscles that connect the spinal column bones in your cervical and upper spine to sprain or stretch abnormally. Sometimes whiplash conditions can be more severe, resulting in torn ligaments, herniated discs, or spinal fractures.
While symptoms may not present themselves right away, eventually, they may manifest. Symptoms that may show over a period of time include:
Sometimes the symptoms can worsen, resulting in neurological symptoms if the injuries to the spine are severe. Neurological symptoms can result from any swelling or inflammation that interferes with the operation of nerves. Neurological symptoms your whiplash condition can cause are:
More severe manifestations of these symptoms can occur if at least one of the cervical spine bones or vertebrae is out of alignment or has shifted out of place. This condition can happen because the attached ligaments and muscles that are stretched or torn no longer support the bone they are connected to.
The doctor will consider your history, closely examining pre-existing conditions and previous injuries. Next, the medical provider will ask you questions about how the injury may have occurred, when symptoms appeared, and the nature of the symptoms. A physical exam will be conducted to determine whether there are misalignments or abnormalities, tenderness or tightness in the injured area, or limited range of motion.
If you report neurological symptoms related to the neck injury, the physician will check for reflex responses and muscle weakness. The location of tingling or burning sensations may be able to tell the doctor which cervical spine segment may be causing the problem. If a fracture or a neurological problem, such as a pinched or damaged nerve, is suspected, the doctor will perform diagnostic imaging tests with X-ray, MRI, and CT scan technology.
Depending on how severe your whiplash injury is will depend on the level of treatment you’ll require. The first thing to do is to immobilize your neck. The constant motion of your head and neck may continue aggravating the injury, not allowing it to heal or worsening it. You may have to wear a C-collar that holds your head and neck in alignment while keeping your neck muscles from bearing the weight of your head.
If you’re feeling pain, your doctor will likely prescribe painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and muscle relaxers. Other medications might be prescribed as needed. The doctor may recommend applying cold and hot compresses for the first seven to 10 days to decrease swelling and inflammation further. Physical therapy and exercise will strengthen injured areas, regain mobility, and help relieve symptoms.
More expensive treatment options may be required if you experience chronic or severe pain symptoms. Your doctor might prescribe nerve block medication or recommend radiofrequency (RF) nerve ablation or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy for pain. If these treatments aren’t helping, you may need spinal surgery to prevent further nerve damage and pain.
As you can see, the amount of medical attention that you may need for your whiplash condition can add up to the medical bills that you’ll have to find a way to pay. And if your condition is chronic and severe, this may lead to a loss of income, future treatment needs, and noneconomical issues that you wouldn’t have had to deal with had it not been for your whiplash condition.
A whiplash attorney can advise you on the best course of legal action to get the maximum compensation for any financial losses and nonfinancial experiences, such as pain and suffering, you may have to endure. Your whiplash lawyer will know how to use the documentation and evidence collected to support your claim and negotiate on your behalf.
Once you have documentation and evidence of your whiplash condition and its impact on your circumstances, you’ll want to consult with the whiplash lawyers at Kash Legal. They know cervical spine injuries can cause severe financial and nonfinancial problems. They will use the documentation and evidence to help you get compensation for your whiplash injuries.
The attorneys at Kash Legal are dedicated to helping injured victims. They can provide the legal expertise and representation to obtain maximum compensation for your injuries. If another has caused a car accident or a slip-and-fall event that resulted in your whiplash condition, call Kash Legal at (888) 527-4128 or complete our contact form for a free consultation today.
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