Whiplash is often thought of as simple neck pain after a car accident. If you get hit from behind, for instance, your head may snap back and forth violently during the crash. Even if you do not break anything, you could still experience whiplash and need medical treatment.
While neck pain is the main symptom, the overall impact may be much worse than you imagined. The Mayo Clinic notes that you could also face other symptoms, including:
- Neck stiffness
- Reduced range of neck motion
- Increased pain whenever you move your head or neck
- Pain and tenderness in your arms and shoulders
- Headaches, which often begin at the lower portion of your skull, where it meets your neck
- Dizziness and related issues
- Fatigue and drowsiness after the crash
- Numbness and tingling in your arms
- Blurry vision that makes it hard to focus on anything
- Increased irritability, even over things that did not bother you before
- Tinnitus, which is a ringing in your ears
- Problems concentrating
- Issues with your sleep cycle and disturbances to your sleep pattern
- Clinical depression
- Problems with your memory
Every accident is different, and everyone could face a different combination of these symptoms. The important thing to remember is that whiplash may not just involve minor neck pain. You do not just need to tough it out. You may have a serious medical condition that requires treatment and takes a long time to heal.
When this happens, you could face a lot of costs, such as lost wages and medical bills. Make sure you fully understand all of the legal rights you have to seek financial compensation.
