One of the most common types of injury which victims typically experience in car accidents is whiplash. The sudden forward and backward movement of the neck and head causes injury to the neck joints and upper back due to overstretching, which damages ligaments and tendons located in the neck.
Every person’s whiplash injury has its own unique and different circumstances. It is impossible to make a general statement about how long an individual’s whiplash symptoms may last or what the long-term effects are likely to be. It all depends on how the injury occurred, along with the severity of it.
Common symptoms of whiplash include:
- Pain in the neck with or without reduced mobility
- Pain in the upper or lower back or both
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Numbness in the arms
- Weakness in the legs
- Sleeping difficulties
- Travel anxiety
If you were involved in a minor crash which occurred at moderate speed, you are more likely to experience short-term symptoms of whiplash. However, if you were in a more serious, violent collision at high speeds, there is a higher percentage that you may sustain more severe stiffness and pain in the neck and upper back.
With proper care, many mild whiplash cases heal within six to nine months. However, over 20% of those who suffer from whiplash injuries continue to suffer from pain, restricted movement, and weakness two years after their collision.
If you sustained a whiplash injury in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, contact our Austin personal injury lawyers at David Komie Law today.
