What is Whiplash?
Have you ever seen one of those slow-motion videos of a crash dummy contorting during a crash test? Even though it’s just a dummy, it still can be hard to watch how its body gets bent into awkward, painful-looking positions. Of course, the reason these tests are conducted is so car manufacturers can better understand the effects of various types of car accidents in their vehicles on real people. Do you know what they have found to be one of the most common types of injuries sustained from car accidents? It may be something you haven’t heard of before, except perhaps in passing. One of the most common types of injury resulting from a car accident is something called whiplash.
Whiplash Explained
Whiplash entails damage to the soft tissues and bone structure of the neck that can lead to symptoms of chronic pain, fatigue, and limited range of motion. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms of whiplash, you may be entitled to be compensated for your injury. To find more out about your situation from a legal perspective, schedule a free consultation with The Law Office of Fredson Statmore Bitterman in New Jersey today.
Symptoms of Whiplash
If after a car accident you experience any of the following symptoms, you may have whiplash:
- Neck pain
- Arm pain
- Ringing in your ears
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Other types of head, neck, or back pain
How Common is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a common injury in two ways:
- It is common in that it is commonly sustained after a car crash, especially when your vehicle has been hit from behind.
- It is also common in that it is commonly ignored or misdiagnosed because people simply don’t understand the condition.
Recovery Time
Most people are healed of their whiplash within six weeks, but sometimes symptoms could last for ten years or even the rest of your life. It is vital that you get medical attention as soon as possible after sustaining whiplash to help you heal faster and more completely.
Whiplash and the Law
Under civil law, you are entitled to compensation when injured due to the negligence of another driver. In car accidents, there is almost always going to be some form of negligence and at least one party at fault. In cases where you have been rear-ended, whiplash is one of the most common injuries. If you have been injured in a car accident and are experiencing symptoms of whiplash, there are a number of steps you should consider going forward.
- Seek medical attention, even if you don’t feel any immediate symptoms
- Get all your documents in order
- Make sure you have your medical reports, photos from the accident, and other forms of documentation that explain what happened in as much detail as possible.
- Act ASAP
- The sooner you take legal action, the sooner you get the compensation you deserve. There is no value in waiting. Act while your memory of the incident is fresh and the statute of limitation has not passed.
Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
To help you make the strongest case you can, hire a personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer will be able to help you make your case and get the compensation you deserve. Even if you decide to represent yourself — which is ill-advised, considering how insurance companies have teams of lawyers with lots of experience minimizing payouts — it is advisable to at the very least consult with a legal expert. Here at The Law Office of Fredson Statmore Bitterman, we go out of our way to help people better understand their legal prospects. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation. It can be difficult to make a case for injuries that are traditionally ignored or misdiagnosed like whiplash. Give us a call and get legal advice from personal injury attorneys who have been helping people in New Jersey get the compensation they deserve for over 50 years.
