Sudden Motions and Whiplash Injuries

Countless clients have entered my office with injuries that aren’t visible, such as pain from whiplash following a car accident. If you’ve been involved in a collision, you may be familiar with the neck pain and discomfort that often follows. With years of practice as a New Orleans personal injury lawyer, I can share with you how to recover physically and financially.

Common Scenarios for Whiplash Injuries

Whiplash is often associated with car accidents, and for good reason. When you’re hit, your neck can experience a rapid back-and-forth motion. This sudden motion can strain or tear the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in your neck. While rear-end collisions are the most common cause of whiplash vehicular harm, whiplash can also occur in other types of accidents as well.

• T-bone accidents. A side-impact collision can cause your head to violently jerk to one side, leading to neck injuries.
• High-speed crashes. The faster the vehicles are going, the more violent the sudden motion, which can increase the likelihood and severity of a whiplash injury.
• Low-speed accidents. Surprisingly, even low-speed accidents can cause whiplash. While the damage to your vehicle might be minimal, the impact on your body can still be significant.
• Slip and fall. Sudden, unexpected falls can cause your neck to jerk in similar ways, especially if you hit the ground hard or try to brace yourself during the fall.

While whiplash is often used as a catch-all term, it can involve a wide range of injuries. The pain and stiffness in your neck are just the start.

For example, there may be harm to soft tissues, like muscles and ligaments. This is a common diagnosis and often comes with pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion. There is also the possibility that the force of the impact causes discs within the spine to bulge, slip, or even rupture. This can lead to severe pain and potentially nerve damage, which might require long-term treatment or surgery.

Some individuals never fully recover from their whiplash injuries and continue to experience pain and limited movement for months or even years. In these cases, physical therapy, pain management, and even psychological support might be necessary to help cope with the long-term effects.

Not Taken Seriously by Insurance Companies

Insurance companies often try to downplay non-visible injuries. That’s why it’s important to get proper medical attention immediately following an accident, even if you don’t feel excruciating pain right away. The sooner you get diagnosed, the easier it will be to prove your injury when filing a personal injury claim.

As your New Orleans personal injury lawyer, I’ll work to make sure that all your medical bills are covered, including any long-term care you might need. You shouldn’t have to go through this alone. Let me help you get the compensation you need to fully recover.

Are you coping with neck and back pain after a New Orleans, Metairie, or Gretna auto accident? Don’t ignore your symptoms. Instead, call 504-433-1442 to book a confidential consultation. Here at Palazzo Law Firm, we are available to help.