Auto Accidents: Whiplash

Alaska averages more than 12,000 motor vehicle accidents annually, according to the Traffic Safety Statistics 2010 report —that’s an average of 35 car accidents per day. Of those 12,000 annual accidents, some 5,000 drivers, passengers, and pedestrians suffer injuries. Some injuries are so minor that they scarcely merit medical attention, while others are severe enough to result in permanent disability. The following factors can heavily influence the type and severity of car accident injuries:Wearing a seat beltPoint of impact on the vehicle: front, side, or rearThe direction the occupant was facing in his/her seatWhether the occupant’s head or body turned in a specific directionSpeed of the vehicle(s) at the moment of impactThe presence and functionality of airbags in the car

Injuries sustained in vehicular accidents can generally be classified as either impact injuries or penetrating injuries. Impact injuries occur when the person’s body hits or is hit by something else. Impact injury scenarios include the head hitting the side window, the knee hitting the dashboard, or two people’s heads colliding. Penetrating injuries are cuts and bruises caused by shattered glass or loose objects flung about by the force of the collision.

One of the most common car accident injuries cannot be easily categorized as an impact or penetrating injury. Whiplash is a neck injury caused by severe jerking or jolting of the head and neck. Slamming on the brakes, colliding with another car, crashing into a guardrail, and any number of accident scenarios will violently jolt the head and neck.

A whiplash injury can be a minor injury which it causes soft tissue damage and can be severe to cause bone structure damage. The soft tissue damage occurs to the neck and upper back as a result of ligaments and muscles stretching beyond their normal elasticity. Whiplash is not a life threatening injury but in severe cases it may lead to prolonged periods of disability. Symptoms associated with whiplash are:

Neck pain and stiffnessShoulder pain and stiffnessHeadachesTendernessArm pain and weaknessJaw painBack painFatigueRinging earsBrain fogSleep disorders

Whiplash may not be felt immediately, it may take days, weeks or even months for the symptoms to surface.

Health problems associated with whiplash include:Joint dysfunction – this is where joints in the spine or limbs lose their normal strength and shock absorption; this can lead to restricted range of movement and pain. Faulty movement patterns – the injury may cause the nervous system to change the way it controls the function of the muscles.Cognitive dysfunction – in severe cases whiplash could lead to brain dysfunction, which could cause problems with concentration, communication skills as well as sensitivity to sound. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) - as a result of whiplash nerves that exit the brain may be pulled, stretched or cut off during an accident thus causing traumatic brain injury

If you are looking for attorneys in Anchorage, Alaska to help you with your claim; find a renowned law firm that will get you the compensation you deserve.

For personal injury lawyers in Anchorage, AK, the author recommends Crowson Law Group.

Are you a victim of medical malpractice? If you are looking for accident claims advice, the author recommends the Crowson Law Group.