Whiplash Injury Attorney

Causes of Whiplash

The most common causes of whiplash are auto accidents. Typically, this injury occurs at the end of the crash event and frequently results from rear-end collisions. The injury itself is a result of exceptional force being applied to the neck in such a way that the neck and head are forced outside of their normal range of motion. This hyper-extension can take the form of a forced “s” shape to the spine and an untenable force and weight load to the lumbar spine and cervical spine. This is what results in injuries to the muscle, tendons, and ligaments in and around the neck.

A few other causes of whiplash injury frequently seen by our whiplash injury attorneys include:

• Truck and 18 wheeler wrecks
• Motorcycle accidents
• Train and bus crashes
• Pedestrian accidents
• Construction accidents
• Amusement park ride collisions
• Boating accidents
• Water park accidents
• Slip and fall accidents and other premises liability accidents

Regardless of how your injury occurred, a whiplash injury attorney at Thompson Law may be able to help. Call us today for a FREE CONSULTATION to tell us about your accident, and learn how our law firm can assist you.

Diagnoses and Severities of Whiplash 

Whiplash is a non-medical term used to refer to injuries of the soft tissue of the neck. Medical diagnoses of the various conditions that are colloquially described as whiplash may include specific terms of cervical strain, sprain, or hyper-extension; for example, acceleration flexion-extension neck injury or soft tissue cervical hyperextension injury. After your accident, your doctor will conduct an exam to determine the scope and severity of your neck injury and classify it accordingly. The exam may include the following:

• Observation of your movements and strength
• Assessment of your alertness and focus
• Inspection of your skin for bruises or abrasions
• Touch and pressure on your neck to test local sensitivity
• Questions about sensations in the body, such as tingling, numbness, etc.
• X-rays
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Computed Tomography (CT) scan

Whiplash can often be self-diagnosed due to its signature symptoms. However, as with all health-related matters, it is always best to confirm injuries and ailments with medical professionals. Expert diagnosis results in a better understanding of the injury, leading to ideal healing and recovery strategy. In the context of personal injury claims, it is essential that you are checked out by a medical professional who can confirm the specific medical designation of your neck/back injury and prescribe the appropriate course of treatment.

An additional reason to visit with a healthcare professional if you suspect a whiplash injury after your accident is because whiplash can range in severity depending on a range of factors. The specific circumstances of the wreck or accident that caused the injury will impact the intensity of the injury. Help your doctor predict the best recovery strategy and set expectations for the course of treatment by sharing information about your accident and following their guidance. Factors that can play a role in the severity of a neck injury include:

• The cause of the impact
• The force of the impact that caused the injury
• A prior neck or back injury
• A history of head, neck, or back injuries
• Position of the body prior to the impact
• Multiple impacts from several angles

After the injury is sustained and the doctor has completed the examination, the severity of the injury in medical terms may be classified in a 0-4 graded scale developed by the Quebec Task Force on whiplash-associated disorders and adapted by the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s Department of Neurological Surgery.

When you suffer a whiplash injury in an accident caused by a negligent person or entity, you need strong legal representation to protect your right to compensation for those injuries. Call a whiplash injury attorney at Thompson Law today for a FREE CASE REVIEW. We can answer your questions and help you understand your legal rights, with no obligation to hire our firm.

Whiplash Facts  

Who Does It Impact and Is It Preventable?

Prior to the popularization of the car, whiplash injuries were called “railway spine” because they were most frequently seen in train collisions. In the current day, car crashes are the most common reason for sustaining whiplash. Occurrence is extremely common – impacting 83% of people involved in car wrecks.

Prevention of whiplash is tremendously difficult. Adjusting the height and fit of your car headrest for you and your passengers’ height and stature can help mitigate the risk and severity of this neck injury. However, the minor successes illustrated in studies of improved head restraint systems are very insignificant – only about 5-10% improvement. More study and innovation are required and in development for multiple types of head restraints: standard, integrated, adjustable, active, and automatically adjusting.

• Whiplash injuries can happen when a car travels at very low speeds, with medical sources citing 5 – 15mph as the minimum speed required to result in neck damage.
• Females are more than twice as likely to suffer from whiplash as males when the cause is a motor vehicle incident, and they are more likely to suffer long term chronic injury from the whiplash incident.
• Children suffer the same symptoms as adults, however, they are at greater risk for damage with whiplash injuries due to their muscles and ligaments being more pliable than adults’.
• Rear-impact crashes are the most common type of crash to cause whiplash, as this type of accident most straightforwardly causes the rapid back and forth motion of the head and neck.

If you are the victim of a whiplash injury due to someone else’s negligent actions, call a whiplash injury attorney at Thompson Law today for a FREE CASE EVALUATION.

Treatment and Recovery After a Whiplash Injury

In some cases, symptoms can be managed by home treatments to help with pain, discomfort, and disorientation. In others, doctors and chiropractors may prescribe specific medical treatments or therapies. Advised treatment is based on the severity of the neck damage, body composition and tolerances, age, health, prior or concurrent injuries, medications, and patient preferences.

Standard recommendations for treatment across the medical community include:

• Ice applications for the first 24 hours
• Cervical collar, with limited use (less than 3 hours at a time)
• Gentle, active movement after 24 hours
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
• Muscle relaxing medications
• Physical therapy

Still, some disagreement exists in the medical community around whiplash, and particularly around the treatment that should take place in the first 24-48 hours after the injury is sustained. The core of the debate has to do with how much motion is advisable in this period. Some experts maintain a belief that wearing a soft collar and limiting movement protects the neck from further damage, while others suggest that some muscle movement is beneficial to a quicker and easier recovery.

Fortunately, for most people whiplash pain is corrected or resolved within a couple of weeks to a few months. Still, lingering pain may persist for longer. There is a lack of consensus in medical research as to the duration of symptoms and injury. Some studies have indicated that 25-40% of patients experience symptoms through the 1-year mark, and others indicate about 40% of patients experience pain past the 7-year mark. Around the measurables of these studies, there are a lot of remaining questions about what patients can expect in their journey to recovery.

Despite the ongoing scientific study, it is extremely important to trust the advice of your doctor and follow their guidance for your specific recovery, and it may be helpful to keep in mind that there is a chance that your injury may be more impactful and long-lasting than initially anticipated. While you focus on your health, turn to your compassionate and expert legal team at Thompson Law.

Your Thompson Law whiplash injury attorney and their legal team will fight the insurance companies and your accident’s at-fault parties for you. Their commitment to the optimum outcome and your maximum rightful compensation drives everything they do. Being patient with the recovery process and taking good care of yourself is essential. Protect your right to compensation for your injuries and call a whiplash injury lawyer at Thompson Law today for a FREE CASE REVIEW.

Financial Impacts of Whiplash

Over ten years ago, the overall economic burden of whiplash was estimated at $3.9 billion annually and over $29 billion if litigation was added in with the factors of medical care, disability, and sick leave. In today’s dollars this would be $4,825,728,506 and $35,883,622,228 respectively.

The secondary impacts that result from this type of injury are the ramifications to your life. Pain from whiplash can result in missed work and lost wages, adding financial strain on top of physical pain. Auxiliary injuries can occur as you strain other parts of your musculature system to avoid the pain in your neck.

Thompson Law understands how difficult it can be to return to life as usual after a serious accident. Our passion is in fighting for just compensation for our clients. See our track record of successful settlements related to whiplash and other related complications and injuries.

Traumatic head injuries, closed head injuries, permanent brain injury, spinal cord injury, quadriplegia, and other skull and spine damage can interact and intertwine with whiplash injuries from an accident. If you or someone you love have suffered harm in an accident, reach out to Thompson Law right away for the help and justice you deserve.

Call a whiplash injury attorney at Thompson Law today for a FREE CONSULTATION. Protect your right to compensation for your injuries caused by another person’s negligence.

How Thompson Law Can Help You

Call Our Whiplash Injury Attorneys for a FREE CONSULT

Have you suffered a whiplash injury from a motor vehicle, workplace, slip, and fall, or another type of accident? Our whiplash injury attorneys truly understand the painful, frustrating, and expensive implications that these injuries can have on your body and your life.

An empathetic whiplash injury attorney at our firm is standing by 24/7 to speak with you about your accident and resulting injuries. The consultation is free, and there’s no fee unless your whiplash injury attorney recovers compensation for your injuries.

When you reach out to the Thompson Law firm following your whiplash injury, we will assign a whiplash injury attorney and their team to guide you every step of the way through your claim and case process. You whiplash injury attorney will be able to examine and investigate every detail of the events surrounding your injury.

Armed with this information, your whiplash injury attorney and dedicated team of paralegals and legal assistants will go to battle for your best possible settlement and your highest rightful compensation. Our results speak for themselves, and our passion to seek justice for our clients is limitless.

Suffering a traumatic whiplash injury like this after a serious accident can make recovery and healing a full-time job. Take care, focus on your health, and leave the hard work of fighting the insurance companies and at-fault parties to your trusted whiplash injury attorney at Thompson Law.