Car accidentsWhiplash in Car Accidents (Infographic)

February 4, 20200

What is Whiplash?
Causes of Whiplash
Symptoms of Whiplash
Tips to Prevent Whiplash

Every year, approximately six million car crashes occur in the United States. Every car accident is different, and the injuries victims can sustain can vary from minor scrapes and bruises to much more severe.

Whiplash is a common injury resulting from a car accident. Each year, more than 3 million new cases of whiplash occur. It can even happen with crash speeds below 12 mph. Whiplash is more than just soreness, but severe swelling that should be addressed.

I met with Harry Brown personally and he sat with me for 20 minutes at our initial consultation to explain everything. He even called after my surgery to see how I was doing. I met with him several more times after that and was kept informed about my case throughout. I highly recommend Harry Brown as an attorney.

STEVEN SWEENY, SAVANNAH

whiplash injury after a car accident

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a soft-tissue injury that affects the ligaments, tendons, and surrounding tissues of the neck. It is also referred to as a neck strain or sprain. Muscle tissues are essential to stabilize and support your head: whiplash occurs when they are stretched beyond a reasonable range of motion. This type of injury is very common in car accidents.

After a blunt force by another car, your head could move backward and forward suddenly and violently. This creates a whip-like motion that can stretch and sprain the soft tissues in your neck and result in whiplash

Causes of Whiplash

Auto accidents are the most common cause of whiplash injuries. These are the type of car collision incidents in which whiplash injuries most commonly occur.

● Rear-End Car Accidents

A rear-end accident is the most common for causing whiplash. This type of crash occurs when a car is hit from behind, causing a sudden jolt forward and backward, causing the same motion for the passengers, which can cause potential soft tissue damage of the neck and cervical spine.

● Head-on crashes

A head-on collision, or also known as frontal crash, occurs when both vehicles hit the front end of each other’s car. Due to the nature of both cars going from a motion state to a sudden impact and stop, whiplash can occur.

● Side Crashes and Side Swipes

Side-impact and sideswipe crashes could also result in whiplash because of the direction the vehicles are sent. These incidents can also cause an abnormal movement in the cervical spine, which can cause a level of soft tissue damage depending on the speeds involved in the collision.

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Symptoms of Whiplash

Whiplash-related symptoms can appear the moment a car crash occurs, or it can happen gradually over the course of several hours, days, weeks, or even months after the accident. As the head gets thrown upon impact, the following symptoms of whiplash can occur:

● Neck Pain and Stiffness

● Headache

● Dizziness

● Shoulder or Back Pain

● Arm Pain and Weakness

● Jaw Pain

● Visual Disturbances

● Tinnitus

● Burning or Prickling Sensation

Motor vehicle accident victims can also experience emotional and mental symptoms of whiplash, including depression, frustration, anxiety, stress, anger, drug dependency, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and insomnia.

Tips to Prevent Whiplash

● Adjust your Headrest

Proper usage of the headrest of your seat carries the most significant impact in avoiding whiplash. Most cars include well-designed headrests that play a substantial role in helping you reduce whiplash symptoms, especially when they are adjusted correctly.

When riding a vehicle, the headrest should be placed directly behind your head. The top of the restraint should align to the top of your head or ears. If the driver or passenger is tall, the headrest needs to be raised to be as close to the top of the head as possible.

In cases where the occupants are too short, it’s perfectly fine for the headrest to be over the top of their heads as long as it’s lowered as far as possible.

● Sit Upright

There should also be as little space as possible between the back of your head and the headrest. Make sure you sit back in your seat until there minimum space between the headrest and the back of your head. As a rule of thumb, the headrest should have no further space from your head than two inches.

● Always wear your seatbelt

Seatbelts complement the work done by the headrests as it keeps the entire body in place during a crash. While it doesn’t prevent the head from jostling, seatbelts can help keep the torso in place. The reduction of jarring and strain minimizes the effects of whiplash despite your car being hit.

● Purchase a car with an excellent rear-crash safety rating

The actual vehicle you’re sitting in when a crash occurs can make a life-or-death difference, so make sure that your car meets the minimum safety requirements set by independent organizations such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS).

These organizations have requirement tests that evaluate the safety aspects of most of the new cars sold to show consumers how well each vehicle tested is likely to protect you in a collision.

● Don’t tailgate

Following the car in front too closely reduces the time you have to react when the driver in front decides to suddenly hit the brakes and can result in a rear-end car accident.

Drivers must maintain a safe distance from a vehicle in front of them, considering the speeds of the cars and the conditions of the road. A good rule of thumb is to allow 10 feet of distance for every increment of 10 mph you are driving.

If you need an attorney that you can rely on after a horrific car accident, don’t wait another minute and contact Brown Firm now. The Personal Injury Attorneys at the Brown Firm will be willing to assist you in any legal matters relating to these accidents.

Contact the Brown Firm today at (912) 200-9755 or visit our website at www.www.harrybrownlaw.com to learn more about our services or receive a free legal consultation. What are you waiting for? Have a free consultation now!