What Causes a Whiplash Injury? How Do Know If You’ve Suffered Whiplash? What Are the Potential Consequences of a Whiplash Injury?

Whiplash injury—it’s the most common physical consequence of a motor vehicle accident. It’s estimated that more than three million people seek medical treatment every year for whiplash, with most of them suffering their injuries in a car, truck or motorcycle crash. The impact of the collision doesn’t need to be that significant, either. You can suffer whiplash even if you were traveling at a relatively slow speed at the time of the crash.

What Is Whiplash?

According to WebMD, whiplash involves injury to the muscles and connective tissue in and around the neck and shoulders.  It’s typically caused when you’re moving in one direction and your movement is suddenly impeded. Your momentum keeps your head moving forward, but it can only go so far before it snaps back in the other direction, much like the movement of a whip. The sudden and violent back and forth can strain or tear connective tissue in your neck, leading to significant pain, inflammation and loss of range of motion.

What Are the Symptoms of a Whiplash Injury?

Whiplash is one of those conditions that typically takes a while to fully develop. In the immediate aftermath of the accident, you may have some tenderness in your neck and shoulders, particularly in the muscles and tendons that connect your head to your torso. Within a short period of time, you may experience headaches and experience stiffness or loss or flexibility/range of motion in your neck and shoulders. People who suffer from whiplash frequently report lower back pain, and there can often be numbness in your upper extremities. You may experience vertigo or dizziness, have changes in your sleep patterns, or have difficulty remembering or focusing on cognitive issues.

Protecting Your Rights When You’ve Suffered a Whiplash Injury

At the Law Office of Michael R. De La Paz, we have more than 26 years of experience protecting the rights of personal injury victims in South Padre Island, McAllen, Laredo and Houston, across Texas and nationwide. We understand the symptoms and consequences of a whiplash injury and will use our considerable experience, skill, knowledge and resources to help you get full and fair compensation for all your losses. Arrange a free consultation today to evaluate your potential case.

Handling Accident Cases Nationwide, Including, But Not Limited to Texas, Florida, New Mexico, Illinois and Oklahoma