There are many injuries you can suffer in a car accident, but whiplash is one of the most common. Approximately 65 percent of all car accident victims, and about three million Americans, suffer whiplash injuries every year.
In 2023, there were more than 125,000 car accidents in Virginia, and more than 60,000 of those resulted in injury. Given the prevalence of catastrophic injuries after a car accident, the connotation of a whiplash injury may not seem like a severe injury. However, even mild whiplash injuries can cause serious long-term health problems, so it’s important to know the signs, symptoms, treatments, and prevention techniques. The full extent of these injuries may take some time to fully manifest, so it is important to consult a Virginia car accident attorney if you think you may have suffered a whiplash injury.
What Causes Whiplash?
Whiplash is a neck/spine injury that occurs when a sudden force bounces the head back and forth quickly, most commonly in a rear-end collision. It can also happen during contact sports, falls, or physical assault. The sudden force can stretch or tear tendons, ligaments, and muscles. You don’t have to be rear-ended to get whiplash; it can happen after head-on, side-impact, or even low-impact collisions. In fact, most whiplash injuries occur at crash speeds under 12 miles per hour, and a study found that five years after a car accident, whiplash victims have the poorest quality of life compared to other mild traffic crash injuries.
The dangerous part of whiplash injuries is that they can cause a contrecoup brain injury. This occurs when the force of whiplash causes your brain to smack against the inside of your skull, resulting in a brain injury. Your neck acts as a shock absorber for your head; when the inertia of a sudden jolt makes your head and neck move at different speeds, your neck compresses or extends too quickly for your spine to tolerate. Severe whiplash can even snap vertebrae.
Whiplash Symptoms, Complications and Treatment
It may take days, weeks, or even months to feel or realize the true extent of a whiplash injury. This makes it especially dangerous because any trauma to the neck, head, or spinal cord can have devastating life-long impacts. The severity of whiplash injury is graded from 0-5 as follows:
- 0: no injury
- 1: pain only
- 2: pain plus signs of injury
- 3: pain plus signs of injury and neurological effects
- 4: severe pain and signs of serious or dangerous neurological effects
At level zero, there are no signs or symptoms. As the levels progress, so do the symptoms. Mild symptoms include:
- Stiffness when moving and tenderness at the injury site
- Pain radiating to your head, face, back, and shoulder
- Muscle spasms
- Bruising and swelling
Level three and above whiplash can also include neurological signs like:
- Muscle weakness and numbness
- Inability to feel cold, hot, or pain
- Tingling, burning, or “pins and needles” feeling
- Headaches and vision problems
- Hoarseness or trouble swallowing
- Dizziness or vertigo
While whiplash is unpredictable and cannot be entirely prevented, there are ways to reduce your risk. One way is to adjust your car seats and headrests to the right position, which is usually detailed in your vehicle’s manual. Another is to wear your seat belt properly and exercise caution while driving.
Do I Need a Virginia Whiplash Attorney?
The first call you make after any car accident should be 911 or a healthcare provider as taking care of your physical health is the most important aspect of a car crash. You deserve compensation if you or a loved one suffered a whiplash injury due to someone else’s reckless driving. Possible damages in a whiplash injury lawsuit include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
A Virginia personal injury lawyer with experience handling whiplash cases is your best chance at recovering full and fair compensation after an accident. The team at Curcio Law understands the challenges and requirements of a whiplash injury lawsuit. We will handle your case with compassion and efficiency. Our free consultation can point you in the right direction. Call or text us at 703-836-3366 or fill out our contact form to get started.
Rakin Hamad joined Curcio Law as an associate in August 2018 after graduating from George Mason Law School. During law school, Rakin demonstrated his dedication to client advocacy and was a member of the trial advocacy association, the pro bono society, and the George Mason Law Review. His approach to the law mirrors the firm’s philosophy of treating each client with commitment, compassion and character. Contact Rakin at rhamad@curciolaw.com.
