Whiplash After a Car Accident in Georgia
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries that people suffer in car accidents. Whiplash injuries are particularly prevalent in rear-end collisions when the head and neck are forcefully thrown backward and then forward in rapid succession.
Whiplash injuries may be quite painful. The forceful movement can overextend ligaments and muscles in the neck and injure bones in the spine and the discs between the bones. Most people get better within a few weeks with treatment and medication. Some people, however, may suffer chronic neck pain for months or even years.
If you have sustained a whiplash injury in a car accident in Georgia and the accident was caused by another motorist, contact the attorneys at R. Alan Cleveland, LLC. You may be entitled to demand compensation from the at-fault driver for your medical bills, missed income, and pain and suffering. Our top-rated Georgia car accident attorneys at R. Alan Cleveland, LLC have recovered more than $150 million for clients. We are ready to give you the personalized attention you deserve.
What are the symptoms of whiplash?
Contents
- 1 What are the symptoms of whiplash?
- 2 How to seek treatment for whiplash in Georgia:
- 3 Delayed symptoms of whiplash and why you should get medical treatment quickly:
- 4 Can I file a claim for whiplash and neck injuries in GA?
- 5 What kind of settlement can I expect for a whiplash injury in Georgia?
- 6 When should I seek legal help for a whiplash injury in Georgia?
One of the most common symptoms of whiplash is neck pain resulting from the violent movement of the head and neck during the accident. Other symptoms include:
- Neck stiffness and loss of range of motion
- Headaches that typically begin in the base of the skull
- Tenderness and pain in the shoulders, upper back, and arms
- A tingling sensation or numbness in the arms
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
How to seek treatment for whiplash in Georgia:
Even if your symptoms seem mild, it is crucial to seek medical treatment promptly. You may experience more swelling and pain a day or two after the accident. It’s important to make sure that there are no broken bones in the neck and shoulder area that may make whiplash worse.
The goal of treatment is to control the symptoms, restore your neck’s normal range of motion, and return to regular life and daily activities as quickly as possible. The type of treatment will depend on the seriousness of the injury.
Pain management will include things like applying heating pads and ice packs, taking over-the-counter pain medications such as Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen or prescription painkillers for serious pain, injections of numbing medication, muscle relaxants, and rest.
Physical therapy may also help to alleviate symptoms. Simple exercises and stretching can usually be done at home, but your doctor might conclude that you need physical therapy.
A physical therapist may assist you in doing exercises and helping you regain your strength and mobility. Physical therapists may also conduct transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, in which a mild electric current is applied to your injury. This is thought to relieve pain, at least temporarily.
Physical therapy can be expensive, depending on how many sessions you have to complete. You should not have to pay those bills out of pocket if another driver was responsible for your injuries. The at-fault driver should pay.
Delayed symptoms of whiplash and why you should get medical treatment quickly:
Many people with whiplash ignore the pain at first, especially if it’s mild. They dismiss the need for medical care. It’s always a good idea to see a doctor even if you think you don’t have whiplash or think it’s not serious.
Delayed symptoms of whiplash may include pain and stiffness in the upper and lower back, ringing in your ears, dizziness and blurred vision, severe headaches, jaw pain, constant fatigue, insomnia, irritability, memory and concentration problems, and even depression.
Late whiplash can present months after a car accident, even a year. If left untreated, whiplash can result in loss of movement in the head and neck, and even degenerative disc disease, where the discs between your vertebrae begin to deteriorate. That can lead to pinched nerves and chronic pain.
It’s vital to get checked out for whiplash in the immediate aftermath of a car accident.
Can I file a claim for whiplash and neck injuries in GA?
If you’ve suffered whiplash or other neck injuries in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you could be eligible to file a whiplash injury claim seeking compensation.
Whiplash can be difficult to prove because it typically presents itself through various other symptoms like chronic neck pain and stiffness. That’s why it’s crucial to seek medical attention right away after a crash to have your condition diagnosed accurately by a doctor and the collision documented as the cause
Keep in mind that Georgia has a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims. You will want to give your injury attorney enough time to investigate the accident, develop a claim, negotiate for a fair settlement, or file a personal injury lawsuit if necessary.
If you wait too long to file a lawsuit and the statute of limitations runs out, then you may be barred from pursuing your claim.
What kind of settlement can I expect for a whiplash injury in Georgia?
The amount you can receive will ultimately depend on the severity of your injury. If your injury was mild to moderate, a settlement would take that into account. If your injury was more severe and required surgeries, extensive physical therapy, and expensive treatments, you might be owed more compensation, you may be entitled to compensation for both your present medical expenses and future medical expenses for ongoing treatment.
Because the facts of each whiplash injury case are different, it’s impossible to generalize about what your claim is worth until our attorneys have a chance to review the specifics of a case.
When should I seek legal help for a whiplash injury in Georgia?
If you suffered whiplash in an accident in Georgia, contact a skilled car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Have a look at our case results, then give us a call to discuss your injury. The sooner you speak with a lawyer at R. Alan Cleveland, LLC, the sooner we can start working to build a strong claim on your behalf.
The Norcross whiplash attorneys at R. Alan Cleveland, LLC are ready to discuss your case during a free, no-obligation consultation. Call us at (706)363-4900 or reach out to us online now.
An Athens resident Alan Cleveland grew up in Rockdale County. As a founding partner of the personal injury law firm of R. Alan Cleveland, LLC he proudly serves his community and provides skilled representation to injury victims and their families all around Georgia. Alan earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and went on to graduate, summa cum laude, from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. He is also a graduate of Gerry Spence’s renowned Trial Lawyers College (TLC) in Wyoming. In his free time, Alan frequently speaks at continuing legal education seminars. He also volunteered as a youth baseball coach and assists with Georgia’s high school moot court competition held annually. Alan serves as a Trustee of Historic Athens and is a member of the Development Authority of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County.
