Whiplash

There are millions of car accidents each year, resulting in thousands of deaths and even more serious injuries. While some injuries are immediately apparent, others may not show symptoms until hours after the accident has ended and the victim has calmed down. A whiplash injury is caused by an abrupt jerk to the head and neck, often caused by the impact of car accidents. Symptoms of whiplash may not even appear until up to 24 hours after the accident.

Symptoms of Whiplash

A whiplash injury can cause serious damage to the muscles and ligaments in the neck, as well as to the roots of nerves, vertebrae discs, and the joints between the vertebrae. Symptoms of whiplash injuries include:

• Neck pain, stiffness, tenderness, swelling, or muscle spasms.
• Pain shooting from the neck down into the shoulder.
• Pain or soreness in the shoulder, shoulder blade, or lower back.
• Weakness, numbness, tingling, or loss of function in the limbs.
• Difficulty turning the head.
• Dizziness, headaches, blurred vision, or difficulty focusing on tasks or remembering events.

Whiplash injuries are determined not by the speed of the crash, but by the dynamics of the impact. Therefore, a victim can sustain a whiplash injury even after a minor car accident at low speeds. If you have suffered a whiplash injury, it is important to seek medical attention immediately in order to prevent the injury from escalating into something more serious.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, contact the Chicago personal injury lawyers of Friedman & Bonebrake at 312-466-8200 to discuss your legal options.