An Overview of Whiplash Injuries in Georgia Auto Accident Cases
Nearly every day, we hear stories about people who sustain all types of serious injuries in auto accidents across the United States. Specifically, the most common forms of injuries that accident victims sustain are fractures, lacerations, concussions, head and neck trauma, and a variety of soft tissue related damage. In general, many individuals fail to appreciate the severity of soft tissue damages - including whiplash - which can be serious and life threatening if not immediately treated. Unfortunately, whiplash occurs for a variety of reasons during a car accident, even when someone is wearing his or her seatbelt. In fact, a report states that approximately three million Americans sustain some form of whiplash injury in accidents each year.
Generally speaking, the severity of a whiplash injury depends upon the type of crash and the amount of force generated as a result. For instance, a rear end collision involving high speeds typically results in cases of whiplash that are severe enough to disable a person for weeks. Conversely, a side swipe accident involving lower speeds can leave a person with a stiff neck; however, they often are able to recover within a short period of time. It is important to keep in mind that low speed crashes resulting in little to no property damage can still result in a serious and painful whiplash injury.
In general, whiplash is a form of soft tissue damage that occurs when a vehicle is struck during an accident, causing a person's head to rapidly move back and forth, much like the snap of a whip. Oftentimes, people are unaware that they sustained a whiplash-related injury since it takes time for the initial trauma and shock of an accident to subside. It is not uncommon for people to notice that they are hurting hours, days or even weeks after an accident has happened. In our experience, it is common for whiplash victims to report that they did not realize just how badly their neck was injured until they woke up the next day.
As noted above, whiplash can be a serious injury and often manifests itself in a variety of different ways. For instance, there are many symptoms that indicate that a person is suffering from whiplash. Being aware of these symptoms may help mitigate the risks of permanent injuries should you sustain a whiplash injury. The most common symptoms of whiplash are:
- Mild to moderate head and neck pain;
- Difficulty remembering certain things;
- Episodes of vertigo;
- Fainting spells;
- Feeling dizzy;
- Feeling fatigued;
- Difficulty focusing or concentrating;
- Mild to severe back pain;
- Anxiety;
- Depression;
- Radiating pains that stem from the neck and affect numerous parts of the body;
- Neck stiffness;
- Numbness and tingling in various parts of the body; and
- Muscle cramps.
If you sustained a whiplash injury, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. It also is critical that you contact a skilled Georgia Whiplash Injury Attorney to help you learn more about your legal rights and to help you obtain the maximum amount of monetary damages possible.
Put Our Law Firm's 30 Years of Legal Experience to Work For Your Case!
If you or a loved one is injured in an automobile accident, the Georgia Auto Accident Attorneys at Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, are here to help. Our dedicated law firm provides essential assistance to accident victims across Georgia and in the Southeast. We have over 39 years of experience and strive to provide you with the outstanding representation you need to mount your strongest case. The sooner you act after your accident, the greater your chances of obtaining a full monetary recovery. As such, it is important that you seek the assistance of a licensed lawyer as soon as possible.
Call Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law, 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.