5 Things You Should Know About Whiplash in Louisiana

Whiplash is a soft tissue injury that can cause people serious pain and immobility. This injury is caused by the neck and head-snapping quickly forward and backward. Whiplash is an injury that is most often associated with car accidents. Rear-end car accidents are the most likely type of car accidents to cause whiplash injuries. Since whiplash is such a common injury, we compiled some facts about this injury that you may not know. It is important to always seek the advice and attention of a medical professional if you are hurt or feel unwell. Read more about whiplash below!

1. You Don’t Have to Be Going That Fast

The common misconception with whiplash, and a lot of other injuries, is that it requires a good deal of force to inflict. This is simply not true. You could be involved in a rear end car accident going 10 mph or less and still get whiplash. The amount of force required to cause a whiplash injury is actually very little. If your neck and head are able to be moved forward and backwards quickly, whiplash can happen at any speed. Proper restraint is very important when riding in a car. Seatbelts save lives, but they also help protect you from whiplash too especially at lower speeds. If you have a small child in the car it is important to make sure that they are properly restrained in a seat adequate for their age.

2. Rest May Not Be The Best Medicine

It seems counterintuitive, but in the case of whiplash injuries prolonged rest and immobility can actually prolong your pain. What happens is that while you are resting your neck, shoulder, and back muscles are getting stiffer and weaker. This leads to more pain and discomfort in your neck for a longer period of time. Be sure to always follow your doctor’s instructions. They may prescribe you physical therapy in order to increase your action and mobility following a whiplash injury. As soon as your doctor gives you the green light to return to normal activity try to move around and stay active. If you rest too much with a whiplash injury, you will only make the pain last longer.

3. It Doesn’t Appear on X-Rays

Whiplash is a soft tissue injury, which means it can be very hard to accurately diagnose. The main reason soft tissue injuries are hard to quantify empirically is that they can’t be seen or measured on x-rays. If you have been in a car accident and your neck hurts, you should raise your whiplash concerns with your doctor. It may be in your best interests to find a doctor who specializes in whiplash and soft tissue injuries. They will be able to give you specific treatments and be better able to document your injuries and the progress you make in your recovery. Documenting your injuries is an important step if you are interested in bringing a personal injury claim to court to recover damages for your injuries and medical bills.

4. Whiplash May Not Show Up Right Away

Besides being unable to see whiplash on x-rays, whiplash symptoms may not present themselves for days or weeks following a car accident. This makes it harder to prove your injury case in court, but not impossible. As soon as you start to feel stiff or sore in the neck, you need to see your doctor. Do not ignore little symptoms until they become too big to ignore. It may be a good idea to be evaluated by your doctor following a car accident even if you feel completely fine at the time. Unfortunately, insurance companies will use the fact that you didn’t seek medical attention promptly against you later if you have an injury case. Even though they know that whiplash injuries don’t always present themselves in the direct aftermath of a car accident.

5. Age Increases the Risk of Whiplash Injury

As we age we lose some of our flexibility and strength. When an accident happens that causes the neck and head to snap forward and back, there is a greater risk for serious whiplash injury to occur. The natural aging of muscles and ligaments is compounded by the fact that older people tend to suffer from other ailments as well including arthritis. All of these factors make whiplash a more serious possibility for older people. Generally, it also takes longer for older people to recover from injuries too so a whiplash injury may have a greater effect on the livelihood of an older person.

Baton Rouge Car Accident Lawyers

If you have been involved in a car accident, you should seek medical attention and consult with a car accident attorney about the potential of your case. You could receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property damages, and more. Murphy Law Firm has over 150 years of combined litigation experience. Our team of personal injury lawyers fights hard for every single one of our clients. We prepare every case for trial, and we don’t operate like a settlement mill! Don’t be a victim twice! Hire a car accident lawyer who cares about helping you get your life back on track. Call Murphy Law Firm today at (225) 928-8800 to speak with a personal injury attorney and set up a FREE consultation.