How can I Tell if I got Whiplash From My Illinois Car Accident?

If you drive a vehicle, there is a good chance that you will get into a minor accident at some point during your life. Many times these minor accidents, or fender benders, occur because someone was not paying full attention to the road. Whether or not the accident is your fault, you could suffer injuries ranging from bruises to something like whiplash. Though it may seem like a relatively minor injury compared to what some other car accident victims suffer, whiplash can be extremely painful and disruptive to your daily life. If you have been in a car accident, you should be aware of the signs of whiplash and seek medical attention if necessary.

Whiplash is an injury that occurs to the neck when the head is forcefully thrown back and forth. The movement the head takes is often one of a cracking whip, which is why it is aptly referred to as whiplash. This can cause damage to the vertebrae, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and discs that are in your neck. Whiplash injuries are some of the most common injuries to occur during a car accident – especially rear-end car accidents. However, whiplash can also occur during other situations, such as a sports accident or physical altercations.

Symptoms of a whiplash injury typically appear within 24 hours after the injury, but in some cases, symptoms could delay for a couple of days. Signs that a person has whiplash commonly include:

• Neck pain and/or stiffness
• An inability to move the neck or increased pain when moved
• Pain in the shoulder or in between the shoulder blades
• Pain and/or tenderness in the arms and/or hands
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Difficulty remembering or concentrating
• Sleep disturbances

In most cases, people who suffer from whiplash injuries fully heal within weeks. Sometimes, whiplash injuries can cause chronic pain that lasts for several months or even years. This pain can be severe neck pain, but some people also have persistent pain in their arms or hands.

Getting into a car accident can be stressful both financially and emotionally. If you have suffered any type of injury from a car accident, you should speak with an Orland Park, IL, car accident injury attorney about your options for compensation. At the Law Office of John S. Fotopoulos, P.C., we have helped hundreds of clients successfully recover compensation for injuries sustained from all types of car accidents. If you are suffering from a car accident injury, do not hesitate – call our office today at 708-942-8400 to schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

Whiplash

What Causes Whiplash?

Minor Crashes and ‘Whiplash’ in the United States