Do You Recognize The 3 Early Warning Signs of Whiplash?

No one likes to think about auto accidents and their consequences. But unfortunately, accidents happen every day. And it’s no surprise that auto accidents often lead to serious bodily injury or even death. And while many of those injuries are immediately obvious, there are a number of other injuries caused by auto accidents that you many not even notice at first. A common one is whiplash.

Whiplash is a neck injury that is most often the results of a rear-end collision. The collision causes your head to suddenly move backward and then forward, taking the muscles and ligaments in your neck beyond their normal range of motion. Whiplash injuries can range from mild to severe and symptoms vary. However, there are some tell-tale signs of whiplash that occur within the first 24 hours of the injury.  

1. Neck Pain and Stiffness

2. Tender Neck and Shoulders

3. Headaches

The most common early symptom of whiplash is neck pain and stiffness. This may range from a mild ache to severe pain and stiffness. Neck muscles can become stiff as your body’s way of limiting movement to protect from further aggravating the injury. Depending on the severity of the injury, your neck movement could also be limited or be quite painful. This pain and stiffness can also be present in your shoulders or the area between your shoulder blades. You may also experience headaches, most commonly at the base of the skull. These are the most common early warning signs of a possible whiplash injury. Additional symptoms include:

• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory problems
• Ringing in the ears
• Sleep disturbances
• Irritability

These are not, however, the only signs of whiplash. There is a long list of other symptoms that could potentially be linked to a whiplash injury. Therefore, it’s best to seek medical attention to get a proper diagnosis.  

Seek Medical Attention for Whiplash Immediately

If you experience any of these symptoms after an auto accident, you could have whiplash and should seek medical attention for your injury immediately. The sooner you see a doctor, the soon you can begin any necessary treatment. Sometimes whiplash is only mild and may go away on its own after a short while. Other times, you may experience pain and other symptoms that last for months or even years and requires prescription medication or physical therapy. In the worst-case scenario, you may even suffer from chronic or long-term whiplash. Symptoms include:

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Persistent headache
• Dizziness
• Pins and needles (paraesthesia) in the hands and arms
• Psychological and emotional symptoms (such as depression and anxiety)

As soon as you notice the 3 early warning signs of whiplash after an auto accident, it’s important to seek medical treatment to get a proper diagnosis and treatment for your injury.    

Have you been in an auto accident that resulted in injury?

If you’ve been involved in an auto accident and you think you have suffered whiplash or any other injuries as the result of someone else’s negligence, call an experienced auto accident attorney at the Lowman Law Firm for a free consultation. Whiplash victims aren’t always taken seriously and are sometimes even accused of faking their injury. But we know just how real and just how painful a whiplash injury can be. That’s why our aggressive team of auto accident lawyers will fight to get you the compensation you need and deserve for your whiplash injury. There are no fees or costs unless we are successful. Call now!