Most Common Types of Car Accidents That Cause Whiplash
You can get whiplash in just about any type of car accident. But if we had to pick what we see the most at The Brown Firm, rear-end collisions are the most common car accident resulting in whiplash.
Whiplash (neck sprain) is a common injury from the neck’s natural range of motion over-extension. Whiplash injuries often result in severe pain, especially if medical treatment isn’t received right away.
When you are struck from behind and suddenly jolted forward and backward, it’s very common for a whiplash injury to occur.
In the article below, we will look at whiplash and the types of car accidents that cause them.
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Key Takeaways
- Whiplash is a common injury in any car accident, but rear-end collisions are the most common cause.
- Whiplash occurs when the neck is suddenly jolted forward and backward, causing soft tissue injuries.
- Other accidents and sports injuries can also cause whiplash.
- Symptoms of whiplash may not appear immediately and can include neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and numbness.
What is Whiplash?
Whiplash and whiplash-associated disorder is a neck injury to the ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissues of the neck resulting from sudden neck distortion.
Severe whiplash, sometimes called a neck strain, often occurs during impact when a person’s vehicle is struck from behind in a car crash. Whiplash happens when a person’s body is shoved forward while their head momentarily remains in place. This causes a quick, jolting motion in the head, resulting in whiplash injuries.
A rear-end collision often causes whiplash, but any car accident can cause it. Whiplash is also one of the man sports injuries you can suffer, which can even be caused by physical abuse.
The most important thing to remember about whiplash injuries is their severity. A whiplash injury can affect the neck and cervical spine’s soft tissue, tendons, and nerves. This can cause long-term effects and damage and result in life-long expenses for whiplash victims and their loved ones.
Car Accidents That Cause Whiplash
Any car accident can cause whiplash. All it takes for a whiplash injury to occur is for your neck muscles to be stretched beyond their normal range of motion. Despite it being a very vulnerable part of the body, the neck is not well-protected during a car crash.
A seatbelt holds Your body in place, but your head and neck are unrestrained, quickly leading to a cervical spine injury. During a collision, your neck may jerk back and forth, jerk to one side, or be hit by flying debris.
If you sense a collision before it happens, your neck muscles will tense in anticipation, which can cause increased muscle strain during impact.
Rear-end collisions have the most frequent occurrence of whiplash injuries, but many other accidents can also cause whiplash. Some of them are:
- Truck accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Abuse such as shaken baby syndrome
- Skiing wipeouts
- Sports injuries
All of these result in soft tissue injuries that can affect your neck and back.
How Serious is Whiplash?
Unfortunately, whiplash is an often overlooked accident injury because the symptoms do not always present immediately. It can take days and sometimes weeks to notice symptoms, so you should always seek medical care right after an accident. Whiplash left untreated can lead to chronic pain and other adverse long-term effects.
Common Symptoms of Whiplash
There are several common symptoms of whiplash, and if you notice any of them, you should immediately see an accident doctor. The most common symptoms of whiplash injury are:
- Neck stiffness
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Loss of range of motion in your neck
- Tingling or numbness in your arms
- Dizziness
- Joint pain
- Fatigue
- Muscle spasms
- Shoulder pain
- Back pain
- Blurred vision
- Long-term pain
It may take 24 hours or more before you start to feel the symptoms of neck injuries or other soft tissue injuries. But if you seek compensation for your whiplash injury, you must have the proper medical documentation.
Always take whiplash seriously and visit a doctor right away. Sometimes these types of injuries heal on their own, but they could heal incorrectly without proper treatment. An auto injury doctor, like a chiropractor, can design a treatment plan for your injuries to restore your health after this type of accident.
What to Do After Being Involved in a Car Accident
- Always assess the situation immediately after an accident.
- If you can move, check on the other motorist, passengers, or pedestrians involved in the accident.
- Turn on flashers or some signal to help make you more visible to oncoming traffic so the accident does not worsen.
- You need to call 911 if anyone has a traumatic injury.
- It is Georgia State Law to report the accident to a local law enforcement agency if anyone is injured, anyone is killed, or the damages exceed $500.
If none of these things apply, and you and the other person involved choose to go your own way, it is good to fill out a personal report or accident form if you need to file a claim later.
No matter what, you should always:
- Exchange information
- Seek medical attention
- Get witness statements and information
- Take photos
Check out a related blog: When Do Car Accidents Happen Most Frequently and Why?
Information to Obtain From All Parties
After an accident, there is information you need to take the time to get from everyone involved, including:
- Name
- Address
- Phone number or email
- Driver license number
- The license plate number of the vehicles involved
- Auto insurance for all of the vehicles involved
Contact The Brown Firm
You should contact a personal injury lawyer to file an injury claim to cover medical expenses, property damage, or other accident-related bills.
Personal injury lawyers are skilled at helping you sort out all the details of whiplash injury claims. They will handle your injury claim while you take care of your injuries and complete healing.
Don’t talk to anyone about your automobile accident until you speak with a lawyer, especially the at-fault party’s insurance company. Unfortunately, the insurance company representing the person at fault will want to weaken your case and force you to settle at a low cost.
Contact The Brown Firm to schedule a free consultation regarding your Georgia car accident case.
No injury is too small or insignificant that you should have to put up with the discomfort due to someone else careless driving. Our experienced personal injury lawyers are here to help you get the care you deserve.
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