One of the most common injuries that people experience in an automobile accident is whiplash. Whiplash occurs when some of the discs in the neck become dislocated as a result of a sudden impact. Unfortunately, the symptoms might not even show up for a couple days following the accident, and some drivers who get whiplash refuse medical treatment at the scene of the accident because of that. Here are some things you should know about whiplash from your automobile accident attorney Tucson, AZ specialist.
Symptoms of Whiplash
There are several symptoms that signal you may have whiplash following an accident. Neck pain and stiffness are the most common symptoms and the most noticeable. But other ailments like headaches, numbness in your arms or hands, ringing in your ears and even blurred vision. In some cases of whiplash, you might even experience difficulty concentrating and irregular sleeping patterns.
Diagnosing Whiplash
In order to properly and accurately diagnose whiplash, it’s important to get medical attention immediately following an automobile accident. Whether you feel any of these symptoms or not, get checked by a medical professional if there is one at the scene of the accident. They can tell you if you should go in for more extensive testing, including a CT scan or an MRI.
Treating Whiplash
There isn’t a specific treatment that is used to minimize the effects of whiplash. Generally, physical therapy is required and possibly even immobilization in more severe cases. Your doctor might recommend some over-the-counter pain medication, too, such as Aleve or Motrin. Until you can get physical therapy, the medical professionals that examine you might also recommend switching between applying heat and ice to your neck to help with the pain and swelling.
Long-Term Effects
Nearly everybody who suffers from a whiplash injury recovers 100 percent. It might take a couple months or longer, but they don’t suffer any long-term effects from whiplash. However, a very small percentage of people who get whiplash are still feeling the pain, numbness and other symptoms more than a year later.
Hiring a Lawyer
If you’ve been in an auto accident that resulted in whiplash or other injury, you shouldn’t have to pay for those medical bills. You should have an automobile accident attorney Tucson, AZ professional working on your side to fight against the insurance company for your rights to compensation. Even though whiplash may be a minor injury, it can still affect your life for weeks and even months to come so make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
If you need automobile accident attorney in Tucson AZ, at Price and Price Law you can be assured you are getting experienced attorneys who can help you with your auto accident case.
