An Ohio accident victim's guide to whiplash, the most common car crash injury.

Whiplash is one of the most common and most annoying injuries associated with car accidents and truck wrecks. Whiplash is a non-medical term used to describe the pain following an injury to the soft tissues of the neck. These tissues include ligaments, muscles and nerves, so the term actually encompasses a variety of neck injuries, including cervical strain, cervical sprain, neck strain, neck strain, acceleration flexion-extension neck injury, soft tissue cervical hyperextension injury, and neck hyperextension injury.

Whiplash occurs when there is a sudden distortion of the neck due to an abnormal movement or force that causes the neck to move beyond its normal range of motion. This is exactly what occurs when a car is rear-ended in a car crash.

Since the term whiplash includes a variety of injuries, the symptoms can vary. They may include:

• Neck pain

• Back pain

• Aching of the neck or back

• Muscle stiffness in the neck

• Difficulty moving the neck

• Muscle spasms in the neck

• Tenderness in the neck

• Swelling in the neck

• Shooting pains going from the neck into the shoulder and arms

• Tingling or numbness in the arms and legs

• Headaches

• Fatigue

• Blurred vision

• Dizziness

The symptoms of whiplash may not occur immediately after the injury. Sometimes they start off mild and get worse. Other times, they don’t appear at all until days after the accident The sooner the symptoms appear, the more likely they are to be serious. So if you have been in a car crash, always mention any neck pain or discomfort to your health care provider.

The doctor will test for nerve damage and order and x-rays, MRI’s or CT scans that are necessary to determine the extent of your injury. Treatment usually includes a combination of pain medication, ice and heat therapy, physical therapy, massage, immobilization of the neck and bed rest.

If you have whiplash, you should seek medical treatment. Medical documentation of your injures is important if you want to receive full compensation for your injury from the insurance companies. While whiplash is the injury most commonly covered by insurance claims, insurance companies will do everything they can to devalue your damages.

You should always seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms because they may indicate a serious problem.

• Neck pain

• Pain in one or both arms

• Shoulder pain

• Headache that doesn’t go away

• Dizziness

• Weakness, tingling, or loss of function in arms or legs.

The lawyers at Chester Law Group represents those who are injured in car accidents in Cleveland, Akron and throughout Ohio. If you have been in a car accident and have questions about insurance claims or a settlement, contact our office to speak to a personal injury attorney before agreeing to anything. The initial consultation is free and there is no obligation. You can also request our free informational DVD: What You Should Know About Motor Vehicle Injury Claims.

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