Columbia Car Accident Whiplash Lawyer
After a car accident, you might feel pain and stiffness in your neck and shoulders. This is whiplash, one of the more serious car accident injuries. What starts as minor pain or irritation could soon become disabling. At The Stanley Law Group, we have met with countless whiplash victims, each of whom has a story to tell. We have heard tearful complaints about unending pain and frustration. Whiplash can keep someone away from work for months. Contact a Columbia car accident whiplash lawyer today to find out more about your legal right to compensation after a crash. Claims adjusters might minimize your whiplash, but we can speak up and amplify your voice in the claims process.
What Is Whiplash—And Is It Serious?
The name “whiplash” comes from the motion of a whip, especially the tip, which rapidly goes back and forth. In a car accident, your head can snap back and forth like the tip of a whip. After crashing, a passenger’s head extends forward before rebounding back. Many occupants can also suffer whiplash in a “side to side” motion.
Whiplash can damage all sorts of soft tissue in the shoulders, upper back, and neck, including:
- Ligaments
- Muscles
- Tendons
- Nerves
The tearing, stretching, and pulling can lead to pain and swelling. Many people will immediately cry out “OW!” when they move their head. But whiplash can also slowly increase in intensity over the coming days. You might feel “okay” immediately after a crash, only to wake up the next day unable to tip your chin or move your head. This is whiplash.
Other whiplash symptoms include:
- Dizziness
- Unfocused vision
- Disrupted sleep schedules
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Memory lapses
- Difficulty concentrating
In extreme cases, the violent motion can damage the pads in between your vertebrae, causing them to tear or bulge. The material might press on the spinal cord, leading to paralysis or numbness. The vertebrae in your neck could also crack or become displaced, which can require immediate surgical intervention to keep all bones aligned.
Go to the hospital after a crash. A doctor can use imaging tests to observe the damage in your neck.
Can You Receive Compensation for Whiplash?
Yes. Many of our clients suffer whiplash in:
- Rear end collisions
- Sideswipes
- Side-impact crashes
- Rollovers
Our legal team can review the facts and seek financial compensation for your medical care, income loss, and car damage. We also will request compensation for pain and suffering and emotional distress.
Whiplash ranges from relatively moderate to crippling. The amount of compensation will depend on how disruptive your condition is, as well as the full cost of medical care. Someone who needs surgery will often receive more than someone who only needs to wear a brace for a week.
Call for a Free Consultation
The Stanley Law Group has helped hundreds of motorists with car accident cases, including those which cause neck and head injuries. Let us review your legal rights in a free consultation with a Columbia car accident whiplash lawyer at our firm.
