Macon Whiplash Injury Lawyer

Whiplash That Turns Into Chronic Neck and Shoulder Dysfunction

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries people suffer in car accidents and also one of the most misunderstood.

The painful neck and spine injury is named for the sudden, whip-like movement of the neck that causes it. Whiplash is most commonly seen in car accidents, especially rear-end collisions.

The problem is that many people are told they’re “fine” at the scene of a crash, only to wake up days later with severe neck pain, headaches, stiffness or neurological symptoms. Others are unfairly made to feel as if they are exaggerating the effects of a “minor” injury, even when the pain and limits on daily activities it causes are very real.

The Macon whiplash injury lawyers at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm help people and families whose lives have been disrupted by a wide range of collisions. Our attorneys understand the pain and stress that can come with being involved in an accident, both for the person injured and his or her family. We are experienced attorneys who have dedicated our careers to getting our clients the full compensation available under the law.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a traffic accident, you are not alone. Our Macon whiplash injury lawyers are just a phone call away. Call us today at 478-845-6464 to speak with an attorney about your rights and options.

How Whiplash Happens in Car Accidents

Whiplash is often associated with certain types of crashes, but it occurs in a variety of collisions.

Safety protections like seat belts and airbags in modern vehicles are meant to prevent catastrophic injuries. Those features can increase the likelihood of whiplash. That is because they largely protect people’s bodies from being suddenly launched forward and leave necks unprotected from the force of crashes.

Whiplash can happen even in low-speed collisions. Such crashes may generate enough force to injure the soft tissues of the neck.

Here are some of the most common types of crashes to cause whiplash.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end accidents happen when one vehicle strikes the back of another vehicle in front of it. Nearly one-third of all traffic accidents are rear-end collisions, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Most of those collisions happen when the lead car – the vehicle being rear-ended – is moving slowly or stopped completely.

Whiplash is a common injury in rear-end accidents because the sudden impact throws the body forward first while the head snaps back and forth.

Head-On Crashes

These accidents typically occur when vehicles traveling directly toward each other collide at the front ends. They also include single-car collisions in which vehicles strike trees, utility poles or other stationary objects.

Head-on collisions are among the most deadly types of crashes. They are responsible for about 14% of all traffic accident deaths nationwide each year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The crashes tend to be severe because of the intense force of the impact. Drivers and front-seat passengers may hit their heads on steering wheels, dashboards or windshields. The collisions also can cause people to be ejected from their vehicles, leading to additional injuries when they hit other objects or the ground.

T-Bone Collisions

These are side impact crashes that occur when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another, forming the shape of a “T” at the point of impact.

T-bone accidents often happen at intersections, when one driver tries to beat a traffic light or blows through a stop sign. They can cause serious injuries because of the speeds at which one or both cars is often traveling and the limited side impact protection in many vehicles.

Chain Reaction Pileups

Multi-vehicle accidents often are chain reactions caused by one driver’s mistake and potentially compounded by others.

One car slams into the rear end of another, for example, causing the lead car to collide with a vehicle or vehicles in front of it. The series of collisions may push cars into other lanes or even oncoming traffic, with little or no warning for other drivers.

Rollovers

A rollover accident happens when a vehicle tips onto its side or flips completely onto its roof. They can happen in a number of different ways, including in single-vehicle incidents.

Rollovers are some of the most likely crashes to be fatal or catastrophic because of the risk that people are thrown from vehicles or that cars’ roofs collapse. The crashes account for nearly one-third of all vehicle occupant fatalities each year, according to NHTSA.

Whiplash Is Not a ‘Minor’ Injury

Whiplash is sometimes dismissed as a “minor” injury. Many people who have experienced the injury first-hand know that it can be painful and debilitating, with long-lasting consequences.

Whiplash is routinely misunderstood as an injury because of how it develops. The injury appears immediately in some crashes, while it may not come on for hours or even days after a collision in other situations.

Some of the most common whiplash symptoms include:

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Reduced range of motion
• Headaches
• Shoulder and upper back pain
• Jaw pain
• Muscle spasms
• Tingling or numbness in the arms or hands
• Dizziness or balance issues
• Fatigue

These symptoms can persist for long periods of time in some cases. They can cause chronic pain, disc injuries and migraines. Whiplash also can significantly impact a person’s mobility, limiting his or her ability to perform daily activities or earn a living.

It is quite common for people to feel “OK” immediately after a car accident, only to experience worsening pain later. Adrenaline, shock and stress can mask symptoms in the hours following a crash.

Inflammation also takes time to develop. As swelling increases in injured tissues, pain and stiffness become more noticeable. This delay does not mean the injury is less real or less serious.

How Whiplash Can Snowball Into Chronic Neck and Shoulder Dysfunction

For a significant number of accident victims, whiplash does not simply fade away. The injury instead evolves into chronic neck and shoulder dysfunction that affects movement, sleep, work and quality of life long after a crash.

The violent jerking of the head and neck then whiplash happens puts extreme stress on the muscles, ligaments, joints, discs and cervical spine nerves. Injuries that begin as inflammation and soft-tissue damage can develop into long-term mechanical and neurological problems if not properly treated and allowed to heal.

Tiny tears in muscles and ligaments around the neck and upper back are frequently a part of whiplash. These injuries may not be visible on imaging studies, but they can significantly alter how the neck and shoulders function. When they do not properly heal, it can result in longer-term damage that reduces flexibility and causes muscles and ligaments to weaken. This leads over time to stiffness, limited range of motion and chronic pain that spreads into the shoulders and upper back.

Chronic dysfunction often develops not from the original injury alone, but from months of moving incorrectly in response to pain. The body instinctively changes how it moves to protect injured areas. Without even noticing they are doing it, people who have suffered whiplash may avoid fully turning their heads, elevate one shoulder or use their upper back instead of injured muscles. This puts extra strain on the shoulders, shoulder blades and trapezius muscles.

Documenting a Whiplash Injury After a Car Accident

Anyone who suffers whiplash or other injuries in car accidents has the right to seek compensation from those responsible, whether it is a negligent driver and his or her insurer or another person or entity.

The money damages commonly awarded in personal injury cases generally are meant to put an injured person back in the financial position that he or she was in at the time of the accident. They cover current and future medical costs, including for doctor visits, treatment, physical therapy and rehabilitation. They also cover missed earnings due to time away from work and any longer-term limits on the injured person’s ability to do a job.

To successfully pursue a car accident injury claim, you have to be able to identify those responsible for the crash and establish their legal liability. You also have to trace your injuries to the accident and detail the impact on your daily life.

Documenting whiplash is crucial because of the nature of the injury, how it develops and how it is diagnosed and treated. Medical records help demonstrate that the injury is real, ongoing and connected to the accident.

Anyone involved in an accident should seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you initially feel “OK.” You should closely follow prescribed treatment plans and attend follow-up appointments. You also should keep records of your symptoms and limitations, including notes of how the injury affects your work and daily activities.

Merritt & Merritt Law Firm Helps People Get Back on Their Feet

At Merritt & Merritt Law Firm, our Macon whiplash injury lawyers are dedicated to helping people and families who have been injured through no fault of their own. We fight diligently to protect and defend our clients rights.

Our goal is to help you move on with your life after an accident by getting the full compensation available under the law. Call our team at 478-845-6464 for a free, no-risk consultation.