Whiplash Injuries

Chances are that unless you’ve personally experienced it, when someone mentions whiplash, you minimize what they’re saying and regard it as a sort of phantom injury. And while it is a non-medical term describing general pain following an injury to the neck’s soft tissues, the truth is that whiplash can be very painful and disruptive. Caused by an abnormal motion or force that moves the neck beyond its normal range of motion, whiplash is commonly associated with rear-end vehicle collisions though it can be sustained in many other ways, including sporting activities, accidental falls and assault.

At the Mann Law Firm, we have over 50 years of experience helping people whose loved ones have suffered from various personal injuries, including whiplash. Attorney David Mann is personally involved in every case and is committed to getting clients the compensation they deserve. He is a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, past president of the Middle Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and he’s ready to help you.

Affecting about 2 million people in the United States each year, whiplash is a common car accident injury that can happen regardless of seatbelt use or rate of speed at the time of collision. Whiplash can affect your quality of life and make it very difficult to perform day-to-day functions, like working, sleeping and exercising. The pain and inconvenience of a whiplash injury can have serious effects on the victim’s well-being and mental health—not to mention the medical costs associated with treating such an injury. Soft tissue injuries do not appear on X-rays, so you may not know if you have been injured until symptoms appear. The chief complaint of a person with whiplash is neck, back or shoulder pain.

Other whiplash injury symptoms may include:

• Difficulty moving the neck
• Headache
• Tenderness along the back of the neck
• Swelling
• Dizziness (nausea/vomiting)
• Problems thinking or remembering
• Numbness and tingling in arms or hands
• Jaw pain
• Hip pain
• Impaired vision
• Muscle spasms.

If left untreated, soft-tissue injuries stemming from whiplash can have serious and long-lasting effects.

Getting proper medical care and regaining your health should be the most important concern if you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident.

Recommended treatment for whiplash includes:

• Heat therapy
• Pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen
• Neck massage
• Applying ice to the neck several times a day for as long as 30 minutes for the first day or two, then alternating ice and heat
• Short-term rest.

Neck braces are not often used by today’s medical professionals, because immobilizing the neck for a long time can weaken the muscles and delay improvement. Due to the nature of whiplash injuries, there is no reliable way to predict how long it will take to recover. Though they typically heal in three months or so, other symptoms that are related to the injury may continue for much longer if left untreated.

The ideal position for head restraints is even with the top of the head. If the restraint cannot be adjusted to that height, it should be positioned at least 3.5 inches below the top of the head or level with the top of the ears. The horizontal position of the restraint is also important. The distance between the head and the restraint should be less than four inches. If your car is not equipped with horizontally adjusting head restraints, you can adjust that distance by changing the recline angle of seat. Although we are based in the seat of Bibb County, our Macon GA whiplash injury attorneys are pleased to assist clients in communities across Georgia. If you have a medically-documented case of whiplash, you may be entitled to compensation for your injury, including for medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost income. The best way to protect your rights is to seek the advice of a qualified attorney as soon after the accident as possible. Call (478) 742-3381 or use our online form to begin the process.