Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorders
Of all the medical problems that could result from a Lakeland car accident, whiplash is one of the most common.
What is Whiplash?
Whiplash is an injury resulting from a sudden, forceful back-and-forth head movement. The most common whiplash symptoms include pain and neck and shoulders stiffness.
Whiplash can continue to cause problems long after the accident has occurred. Recent data show that up to 50% of people who suffer whiplash injuries will never fully recover, and up to 30% will be moderately to severely disabled.
In addition to the most common symptoms, whiplash injuries can also lead to a number of other problems and complications. These other problems and complications are known as Whiplash Associated Disorders (WADs).
Types of Whiplash Associated Disorders
These disorders typically include things like:
- Lower back pain
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Visual disturbances
- Poor memory
- Poor concentration
- Weakness
- Tinnitus
- Secondary psychological changes like depression
Causes of Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorders
While whiplash is most often caused by the impact of a rear-end automobile accident, it can also stem from any action resulting in a rapid back-and-forth head movement.
Other actions that can cause whiplash include physical abuse, assault, sports-related collisions, and other types of physical trauma. Whiplash from sports-related collisions most often occurs due to a football hit. However, it can occur anytime there is a collision in any sport.
Recovering from Whiplash
For many people, it takes only days or weeks to recover from whiplash fully. For some, the process takes much longer. Others, still, may never fully recover. The best way to maximize your recovery potential is to seek treatment for possible whiplash injuries as soon as possible.
When going for treatment, you must communicate your pain’s exact location and severity with the doctor to the best of your abilities. This is because whiplash injuries are not apparent on imaging tests and are usually diagnosed based on the patient’s report of pain and discomfort.
Even if you have little to no pain following an accident, it is imperative that you still seek treatment. Whiplash, like many other injuries, sometimes does not present immediate symptoms. When presented with the accident facts, your treating physician will know to check for signs of whiplash that you might not have noticed.
Trust a Qualified Whiplash Injury Attorney at Dismuke Law
If you’ve sustained a whiplash injury due to an accident, you’re entitled to compensation for your injuries. Dismuke Law is home to a team of highly qualified personal injury attorneys who will fight to secure the best possible outcome on your behalf.