Understanding Whiplash Injuries

Categories: Car Accidents

putting on a neck brace

Whiplash is a common accident-related injury suffered by hundreds of thousands of individuals in and across the United States each year. While TV shows and movies often suggest that whiplash is a “made up” injury people use to claim compensation that they don’t deserve, the truth is that whiplash can be a very serious condition that leads to expensive medical bills and months of pain, treatment, and rehabilitation.

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a neck injury that is common in high-impact collisions, such as car and truck accidents. The force of the collision causes the head to move either forward or backward faster than the rest of the body, and then when it can’t go any farther, it snaps back, causing a whip-like motion in the neck.

Technically, whiplash is a form of neck strain – an injury that involves damage to the muscle or tendons in the neck. Symptoms typically include pain, tenderness, decreased range of motion, and a “knot” feeling in your neck. Many whiplash victims also experience headaches that start at the base of their skull and radiate toward their forehead.

Some people recover from whiplash in as little as a few days. However, in serious auto accidents, it is not unusual for symptoms to last for weeks or even months.

What Kinds of Accidents Can Cause Whiplash?

Virtually all kinds of motor vehicle accidents can lead to whiplash. It only takes a fraction of a second for whiplash to occur, and when vehicles are sliding, skidding, and spinning out of control, the forces involved are more than enough to cause a serious neck injury. Some of the most-common accidents that cause whiplash include:

  • Accidents at intersections
  • Accidents involving distracted or drunk driving
  • Head-on collisions
  • Rear-end collisions
  • Truck accidents

While high-speed accidents are often the most dangerous, even low-speed accidents can lead to whiplash.

Can a Whiplash Injury Entitle Me to Compensation?

Yes, absolutely. Like all other injuries, if you have suffered whiplash in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you deserve to be fairly compensated for your losses. This includes compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and any other physical, financial, or emotional harm that you experience as a result of your injury. The key is proving the cause of the accident – and from eye-witness testimony to dash cam video, there are numerous sources of evidence that the team at Brian D. Guralnick Injury lawyers may be able to use to help you Demand More® for your losses.

Our Team Will Fight for Maximum Compensation for Your Whiplash Injury

If you are experiencing symptoms of whiplash after an auto accident in Palm Beach County, our experienced legal team can help you seek maximum compensation. We have the experience and resources needed to take on the top-tier insurance companies, and unlike other firms, we are not afraid to go to court to protect our clients’ rights. To find out if you have a claim for compensation, tell us your accident online or call me, Brian D. Guralnick, personally at 561-202-6673 for a free consultation today.

Were you or a loved one injured in an accident?

The law offices of Brian D. Guralnick help Florida residents and tourists seek compensation and Demand More? for their injuries.

Disclaimer: The information in this blog is not intended, and must not be taken, as legal advice on any particular set of facts or circumstances. If you need advice on specific legal issues, please consult with a licensed Personal Injury attorney.
Brian D. Guralnick

About the Author: Brian D. Guralnick

Brian D. Guralnick is a top-rated attorney practicing in the West Palm Beach, Florida area. Providing legal representation in Florida for a variety of different issues, Brian D. Guralnick was selected to Super Lawyers for 2006. He is admitted to practice before the courts in Florida since 1993.