Symptoms of Whiplash You Should Not Ignore

Whiplash is caused by the forceful and rapid back-and-forth movement of the head.

Although whiplash is common after car accidents, the diagnosis itself has long been controversial. Much of this controversy is a façade created by the insurance industry. Since whiplash cannot be confirmed through medical imaging or laboratory tests, adjusters are much more likely to challenge these kinds of claims than others. In some cases, they might accuse victims of either lying about or exaggerating their symptoms.

For survivors, though, one of the first and greatest challenges in winning a whiplash settlement is simply getting diagnosed. Unlike most physical injuries, whiplash is not always noticeable, at least not at first. Symptoms can take hours, days, or weeks to appear. Oftentimes, these early-warning signs are so subtle that they are either ignored or attributed to a pre-existing condition.

Here is what you need to know about:

10 Telltale Signs of Whiplash

Whiplash symptoms are incredibly diverse and typically vary from one person to the next.

Some of the most common signs of emergent whiplash include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Stiffness and tenderness around the head and neck;
2. Neck pain that radiates through your head, face, and shoulders;
3. Minor or recurring muscle spasms that make it hard to move your upper body;
4. Feelings of persistent or occasional numbness in the neck and upper back;
5. Burning and tingling sensations like “pins and needles” in the neck, upper back, shoulders, or arms;
6. Recurring headaches that start near the base of the skull;
7. Blurred vision and other eyesight problems that have no obvious cause;
8. A hoarse voice or unexpected difficulty swallowing food and water;
9. Feelings of dizziness and vertigo; and
10. Ringing in the ears, sometimes termed tinnitus.

Whiplash symptoms exist as something of a constellation.

Not all whiplash symptoms, for instance, are physical. This condition is also closely associated with sudden bouts of depression, anxiety, and insomnia, which can worsen pre-existing illnesses and detract from your overall quality of life.

Notably, most people who get whiplash do not experience every possible symptom. Some accident victims only report limited neck pain that goes away on its own after several weeks; others suffer immensely, to the point that they have to sacrifice hobbies, activities, and time with friends and family.

Why You Can Not Take Chances with Insurance

Securing compensation for whiplash is often more difficult than it needs to be.

Car insurance companies have spent decades running something of a smear campaign against whiplash. Adjusters regard whiplash claims with intense skepticism and will sometimes go to great lengths to “disprove” diagnoses. There are a few tactics beneath the insurance industry’s dignity; they will happily trawl your social media feed, send friend requests to your relatives, and assign investigators to follow you. In general, it is safe to assume that the insurance company cares more about its profitability than respecting your right to a fair recovery.

A big part of the reason that insurance companies are so predisposed to reject whiplash claims outright is that it is borderline impossible to “prove” the condition’s existence. It does not show up on X-rays or MRIs, and it cannot be detected through a blood sample or laboratory test. More often than not, doctors diagnose whiplash based on your description of the symptoms.

You do not have to take your chances with an insurance company more interested in its profits than your well-being. Since our founding in 2005, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has helped our clients across the state secure more than $300 million in compensation. We could help you, too. Call Jed Dietrich, Esq., today at 1-716-839-3939 to speak to a whiplash lawyer and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 1-716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!