Car accidents happen every day on Connecticut roads and highways. Knowing what to do next matters if you are in an unfortunate situation where you are in a collision.
While it is important to contact the authorities and report the accident, you also need to make sure you seek medical care. If you plan to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party for the accident, having medical documentation of your injuries is invaluable. It will also help your Connecticut injury lawyers prove how much compensation you should receive.
One of the most common injuries that occur in car accidents is whiplash. And just like the name implies, it occurs when your head and neck are suddenly and forcefully jerked forward and back. With whiplash injuries, though, the symptoms aren’t always immediately recognizable. This is another reason you should seek medical care right away.
Some of the most common signs and symptoms you may have a whiplash injury after a car accident (or another type of accident) are listed here.
How to Identify a Whiplash Injury
Usually, an accident victim will experience some or all of these symptoms if they are affected by whiplash:
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Pain in the neck
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Pain that radiates to other parts of the body
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Shoulder pain
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Tingling
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Headaches
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Numbness
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Low or mid-back pain
After being involved in a car accident, the possibility of experiencing a whiplash injury is extremely high. Unfortunately, these injuries aren’t always easy to diagnose. That’s because whiplash injuries are considered soft tissue injuries. They can’t be seen through an MRI, CAT scan, or X-ray. They don’t involve bone but your tissues, ligaments, and muscles.
Sometimes, whiplash symptoms will take several weeks or months to appear and can worsen as scar tissue starts to form. You must seek regular treatment after an accident and let your doctor know about new pain that develops after your accident. When you do this, you can begin to build and maintain the overall value of your personal injury lawsuit (if you plan to file one).
Treatment for Whiplash Injuries
Your injury may be minor and require no treatment. However, there are other situations where more extensive physical therapy is required or some type of surgical intervention or other medical treatment. An important aspect of treating a whiplash injury is not waiting to be evaluated by a medical professional. This will help you get the best treatment possible for your condition.
When you talk to your doctor, be sure that you give them the details related to your pain, limitations, and other challenges that you have experienced after the accident. This will help your doctor create an effective treatment plan and ensure that the situation doesn’t get worse.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim After a Car Accident
If you are involved in a car accident, it’s important to seek medical care right away. This will help you get the best treatment possible and ensure that the injuries don’t get worse. It’s also recommended that you work with an accident attorney who can help you get the full value of your claim.
