Long-term Effects of Whiplash and Your Case

One of the most common injuries sustained in a car accident is whiplash. There are several possible long-term effects that whiplash causes and that may become observable and increase the effects of a car accident claim in proving that injuries were severe.

According to the Mayo Clinic whiplash is defined as "a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back and forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip." When a person suffers an injury of whiplash the individual has soft tissue damage of the neck or head trauma that could accompany a concussion. The damage could increase or decrease over time depending on other noticeable symptoms that come with such injures. Whiplash injuries can range from minor to serious and untreated this could become long term and might lead to disability. Whiplash may exhibit several longer lasting symptoms that could include the following:

Dizziness in the head

Various pains and stiffness in the neck area including the shoulders

Agony in both upper and lower back locations

Throbbing of the jaw

Migraines

Trouble sleeping

Concentration problems

Problems with memory

Blurred vision

Irritability

Additionally, some areas may have numbness or weakness such as the arms or legs; while others may suffer a minor or serious ringing in the ears.

In various ways injuries could increase or decrease the strength of a claim. In most cases the injured person is unable to remain in the courtroom for long periods because of certain physical impairments. As a result this could place an overemphasis on the lawyer representing the matter against the other party. Conversely, this could also show the judge or jury panel that physical harm was significant and requires pain medication. By using a medical expert to explain what happened and how the injuries place additional strain on traumatic locations of the body this increases the awareness of the plaintiff’s symptoms, increasing the strength of the claim.

As with any personal injury case evidence is necessary in order to prove that injuries exist. If the plaintiff is suffering from long-term effects that exhibit clear symptoms it is less difficult to prove the injuries sustained from the car accident. This generally increases the strength of the claim and may explain why compensation is necessary. With proof by way of medical records these injuries may provide sufficient information on how much compensation is necessary based on the medical bills the injured person has.

However, if an individual is unable to seek treatment due to lack of insurance or funds this could lead to long-term effects that are usually unnecessary. While this harms the individual it also increases the claim for compensation that helps with future expenses. "The problem is that the plaintiff may not have the ability to remain in court or to show up when hospitalization is important to treat certain impending issues. Other long-term effects may clearly hamper the length of time for investigation, testimony or staying in a single position in the courtroom." If the claim proceeds before the victim has fully recovered they may require frequent stops for medication or food.

For legal advice and representation contact lawyer in the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.

Resource Box: For attorneys in Anchorage Alaska the author recommends the Crowson Law Group.

If you want to consult the Best Lawyers In Anchorage, Alaska, the author of this article suggests Crowson Law Group.