Whiplash common in Georgia rear-end crashes
The car comes speeding in from behind and fails to stop before slamming into your vehicle’s rear. If you’ve been the victim of a car wreck like this, it’s not unusual for you to suffer one or more injuries, especially to your body’s soft tissue. One type of injury that is all-too-common from these rear-end crashes is called whiplash, and it entails painful and persistent damage to the neck.
Every year, over 2 million people suffer from whiplash in the United States. Whiplash occurs when the head is suddenly and violently snapped backward and then forward like the motion of a cracking whip, hence the name.
The severity of the injury can range from mild to extremely serious. The signs of whiplash typically develop within a few days after the wreck. Some common symptoms can include:
- Neck pain, which hurts worse when you move your neck
- Stiffness and loss of your neck’s range of movement
- Aching shoulders, upper back and arms
- Headaches, typically beginning at the bottom of the skull
Other symptoms of whiplash can be feelings of numbness or tingling in the arms, fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision, ear ringing, disturbed sleep, trouble concentrating and memory difficulties.
Whiplash is usually treated, at first, by simply placing ice packs on the injury and taking over-the-counter pain relievers. But if the pain refuses to go away, your doctor will probably prescribe medications and physical therapy or exercise. Many whiplash victims begin to feel better after a few weeks and don’t have lasting problems; however, some people continue to have chronic pain for months or even years after the damage occurred.
Helping ease the pain
If you or a loved one have been hurt in a car wreck and are suffering from whiplash or other serious injuries, it’s vital you understand your rights. Injuries like this can cost you a lot in medical bills and missed workdays. You deserve compensation. An experienced Georgia lawyer can help fight on your behalf against a negligent driver and insurance companies so that you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal.