Whiplash in Kentucky Car Accidents

When a collision occurs, the movement of your head, neck, and shoulders is jarring and often painful. In many situations, victims end up with damage to the muscles and ligaments in these areas, even if they have no outward initial signs of injury. This is called whiplash.

Whiplash in Kentucky car accidents is not uncommon, but victims need to know what their rights are in recovering damage in these cases. Speak to a Kentucky car accident lawyer today about your case.

Understanding How Whiplash Happens in Car Accidents

Any type of accident in which there is significant force can cause serious injury to a person. Some injuries are very obvious, such as lacerations and broken bones. However, the tissues within the body can also be significantly damaged by this force.

Whiplash happens when a person’s head rapidly moves forward and backward, like the movement of a whip. When this happens, such as when you are hit from behind, it causes all of those ligaments and tendons in the area to stretch to accommodate the intense movement. The more force in the accident, the higher the risk of serious injury from whiplash.

Symptoms of Whiplash After a Car Accident

The level of force, often related to the speed of vehicles when struck, will cause various degrees of severity when it comes to whiplash. The most common whiplash symptoms, as noted by The Mayo Clinic, include:

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Tenderness or pain in the upper back, arms, and shoulders
• Headaches
• Pain that worsens as you move your arms
• Blurred vision, ringing in your ears, or changes in focus
• Trouble sleeping
• Dizziness
• Severe neck pain
• Limited range of movement of the neck due to intense pain
• Pain that seems to spread into the shoulders and down the arms

The biggest factor to know about whiplash is that these symptoms do not often happen immediately. Many times, they may not show up until the next day. The intensity of the accident and the overall adrenaline moving through your body may limit your actual symptoms of pain and discomfort.

Most people with whiplash will not have symptoms until several hours or even several days after the accident. This is one of the most important reasons to visit a medical center for treatment, even if you feel okay after an accident.

You Can Receive Compensation for Losses Related to Whiplash in Kentucky

A person with whiplash may need medical care. Though most injuries improve without significant medical intervention, it is possible that you will suffer serious injuries that require a hospital stay, rehabilitation, pain medications, and therapy. You may be able to pursue compensation for the losses you have, such as:

• Related medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage to your vehicle
• Emotional trauma

If someone else caused your accident, you may be able to file a lawsuit against them for the losses you have, depending on the severity of the accident and the type of insurance you have. This process can be confusing, especially since the lack of outward symptoms of whiplash can make it hard to prove what occurred or just how impactful it is.

Victims of car accidents, especially rear-end car accidents, benefit from going to the emergency room to be checked for whiplash or other injuries. It may also be important to contact a Kentucky personal injury lawyer to recover your damages.