Whiplash is a medical condition that occurs often in rear end car, truck or motorcycle accidents. As a Mission Viejo area car accident attorney I represent many people who have suffered whiplash injuries. This article is to explain to you how a whiplash injury happens and the symptoms someone who has suffered a whiplash injury usually feels.
My name is John Burns and I am a Mission Viejo area car accident and personal injury attorney. My practice is located where the towns of Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel and San Juan Capistrano all come together
Here is the answer to your question what is whiplash.
When a vehicle is struck on the rear of the vehicle the heads of the occupants are snapped backwards very quickly. The back of the head may or may not hit the vehicle headrest, depending on how high the headrest is. After the head and neck are snapped backward, they are then thrown rapidly forward until the shoulder and lap belt stops the forward progress of the body.
This rapid movement backwards and then forward causes damage to the following parts of the neck;
- Muscles
- Ligaments
- Tendons
- Spinal discs
- Spinal nerves
The following usually occur, sometimes not until the day after the accident:
Symptoms
- Headache
- Other head pain
- Neck pain
- Neck soreness
- Neck stiffness
- Pins and needles down the arms and fingers
- Shoulder pain, soreness and stiffness
Why is immediate treatment for whiplash injury important?
As a car accident and personal injury attorney I always encourage people who have received a whiplash injury to see a physician immediately. From my observations after representing hundreds of whiplash clients, I have seen that the whiplash clients who get physical therapy or chiropractic right away seem to recover more quickly and more permanently than those who do not.
I am advised that what the physical therapy or chiropractic treatment does is to prevent the formation of micro scars in the muscles, ligaments and tendons of the neck, also called the soft soft tissues of the neck. If this condition is not treated soon after a car accident you can have permanent internal scars rubbing against the nerves and tissues of the neck, causing life long pain.
If you do receive a whiplash injury I urge you to see a doctor and ask for get physical therapy or chiropractic treatment right away. I think you will be glad you did.
Conclusion
Please call me if you or someone you know has suffered a whiplash injury or has suffered personal injuries in some other type of accident. I can also obtain medical or chiropractic treatment for people with whiplash injuries or other accident injuies at no out of pocket cost, even if you do not have health insurance. Please also see my article entitled How Can I Get Medical Care After an Accident If I Don’t Have Health Insurance?
Please also take advantage of my FREE BOOK offer below to learn more about vehicle accident cases.
Hoping for your safety and well being.
John P. Burns www.johnburnslawoc.com