Soft tissue injuries to the neck and upper spine are more common than you may realize—and they may be more serious, as well. While whiplash is most commonly associated with a rear-end collision, your doctor may diagnose you with this type of soft tissue neck injury after almost any car crash. Whiplash occurs when the force of a collision causes your head to whip back and forth beyond its normal range of motion. Some people who suffer whiplash injuries miss weeks of work and endure pain for months or even years. Occasionally, chronic pain continues throughout their lifetime and requires long-term prescription pain management.
If your doctor diagnosed you with whiplash after a car accident, the attorneys at Bressman Law may be able to help you file a claim to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. Call us today at (614) 538-1116 to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our whiplash injury lawyers in Columbus, OH.
How can I tell if I have a whiplash injury after a car crash?
Whiplash symptoms are not always immediately apparent. When they are, car accident victims may complain of neck discomfort, shoulder pain, and headaches. Later, the neck may feel stiff and the pain may get worse. There are a number of other accident injuries that can cause similar symptoms, however. Only a doctor can diagnose whiplash and rule out other serious spinal cord injuries.
Your doctor will also begin treatment to soothe your discomfort and help you recover as quickly as possible. This is important because some people who suffer whiplash injuries may have chronic pain for months after their accident. While pain serious enough to require prescription painkillers is rare, it can keep you out of work or away from your normal activities until your injuries heal. Occasionally, whiplash sufferers also develop other medical conditions affecting the neck and spine. These may include spinal joint dysfunction, disc herniation, and even problems with memory and recall.
For a free legal consultation with a whiplash injury attorney in Columbus, call (614) 538-1116
Why is it important to see a doctor immediately after any car accident?
We always recommend anyone involved in a collision see a doctor immediately following the crash. In fact, we advise you to receive care at the scene of the crash from paramedics and allow them to transfer you to the nearest emergency department via ambulance. One reason we make this recommendation is because many severe car accident injuries are not apparent immediately after a crash.
The other reason is we must prove your injuries occurred in the crash to win your auto accident claim for compensation. The easiest way to do this is seek an official diagnosis immediately after the accident. If there is any delay, the at-fault driver’s insurance company may try to say your injuries occurred after the accident but before you saw a doctor.
While this is important with any car accident, it is especially important with a whiplash injury. This is because whiplash often has delayed symptoms that are easy to overlook on the scene of a crash. You should always get a full examination at the emergency room after an accident, even if you only believe you suffered minor cuts and bruises. Having a doctor diagnose your injuries within a few hours of the crash can make or break a car accident case in Ohio.
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How expensive is it to treat whiplash after an auto accident?
Most whiplash injuries are fairly mild and only require over-the-counter pain medication, ice, and, heat to lessen discomfort. For some victims of mild whiplash, the soft tissues heal over a few weeks, the pain dissipates, and their full range of motion returns. These accident victims may miss a week or more of work and have medical bills from their time spent in the emergency department.
More serious whiplash injuries require more in-depth treatment. If you suffered a moderate or severe whiplash injury, you may need prescription pain relief, muscle relaxing medication, and physical therapy to regain your normal range of motion. In some cases, whiplash injuries may take several months to resolve.
Occasionally, people still suffer from chronic neck and shoulder pain, as well as headaches, after an injury. This type of whiplash injury can cost you thousands of dollars in prescription drug payments and therapy expenses, in addition to your emergency room visit costs. You may miss weeks or even months from work.
These expenses—combined with the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle, renting a car while it is in the shop, and covering your pain and suffering—add up quickly. We can help you hold the at-fault driver liable and recover compensation you need to pay for your full range of damages.
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How can I recover compensation for my injuries?
We can help you file an auto insurance claim to cover your damages if a careless or negligent driver caused your car accident. Because whiplash injuries only affect the soft tissues, they are often difficult to build a strong case around. Many insurance companies do not take them seriously and may attempt to deny these claims outright. However, we will present enough documentation of your injuries and treatment that they cannot ignore you or try to write you a check for significantly less than you deserve.
We collect any available evidence to support a full payout in your case, including the police report from your crash, your medical records, and testimony from accident reconstructionists and expert medical witnesses. If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, we are not afraid to take them to court to get the compensation you need.
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Bressman Law can help you file for compensation for your whiplash injuries.
At Bressman Law, our legal team understands you suffered a painful and debilitating injury, even if the other driver’s insurer refuses to acknowledge your suffering. We can build a strong case to prove your whiplash injuries and fight aggressively for the compensation you deserve. Let us get started on your claim today. Call us at (614) 538-1116 to schedule a free claim evaluation with one of our attorneys in Columbus.
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