Injuries to the neck that occur during an auto accident can be very severe, which is why immediate medical attention should always be sought following a serious accident of any kind. After you've undergone the medical care that you need, it's then that you should speak with personal injury attorneys to find out about your legal options. If your accident was caused by another person's negligence, it's important that the negligent party is held responsible.
Right now, we'd like to look at the basics of whiplash injuries and why those need to be taken so seriously.
What is whiplash?
Whiplash is a colloquial term that's used to describe a whole host of injuries to the neck caused by sudden stretching, extension, or distortion. The actual mechanism of a whiplash injury is referred to as "cervical acceleration-deceleration" (CAD); the symptoms or signs of the injury are referred to as "whiplash associated disorders" (WAD).
A whiplash injury can affect the vertebrae, the muscles of the neck, the spinal cord, the discs of the cervical part of the spin, and the ligaments and other tissues of the neck.
Common Causes of Whiplash in Auto Accidents
Whiplash injuries can occur as a result of any sort of auto accident, though it's most commonly associated with rear-end collisions. Essentially, any kind of accident that causes the sudden jarring of the neck can lead to serious problems.
Symptoms of Whiplash Injury
The most common symptoms of whiplash injury are as follows:
- Neck pain
- Upper back pain
- Soreness in the shoulders
- Pins and needles in the extremities
Note that it's not uncommon for whiplash symptoms to occur some time after the accident. Be sure to speak with our auto accident attorneys following your accident or the manifestation of any symptoms so that we can initiate legal proceedings against the responsible party.
Why Accident Victims Need to Take Whiplash Seriously
Whiplash injuries can lead to major discomfort and soreness that can last for a long time. The exact injury to the neck can also have major repercussions for overall mobility, range of motion, and ability to enjoy your life. There may need to be long-term physical therapy and rehabilitation in order to restore proper function to the neck and alleviate symptoms of the injury.
Whenever another person or party is responsible for your injury, they should pay for the medical treatment that you needed and any other costs associated with the accident. People need to be held accountable for negligent actions that affect other people.
How Our Legal Team Helps Injury Victims
Our legal team will fight tenaciously on your behalf to make sure that you receive just compensation for injuries that have been sustained and any losses that occurred as a result as well. We will seek both compensatory damages to cover medical bills and material losses as well as punitive damages that will deter future negligence on the part of the responsible party. As we negotiate the complexities of the legal system, you will be able to concentrate on healing and recuperation.
Speak with Our Team of Personal Injury Attorneys
For more information about serious neck injuries sustained during auto accidents and what our legal team can do for injury victims, be sure to contact our Sacramento personal injury attorneys today. Our entire team looks forward to meeting you in person and helping you with expert legal counsel.