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Whiplash Injuries and Car Accidents in Flint: What You Need to Know

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What is Whiplash? What You Need to Know

Key Points of This Article:

  • Whiplash is one of the most common injuries sustained after a car accident.
  • Whiplash injuries can range from mild to severe and can even lead to death.
  • Always seek immediate medical attention after sustaining a whiplash injury, even if your symptoms are mild.
  • A whiplash injury attorney can help ensure you receive adequate compensation for your medical expenses and other losses.

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries that victims sustain after being involved in a car accident. In fact, over one million people suffer from whiplash injuries every year. Even the most minor car accidents in Flint and Michigan can lead to a whiplash injury due to the sensitive nature of the neck muscles.

Whiplash injuries occur when the soft tissues in your neck are extended beyond their normal range of motion. This injury is also known as a neck sprain or a neck strain. Most often, they happen when your head and neck jerk in a sudden back and forth motion during a car accident. While minor whiplash injuries can be easily treated, some neck injuries can be more severe than others and lead to major complications or even death.

It’s important to work with an attorney following an accident that results in a neck injury to ensure you receive the necessary compensation to cover your medical expenses. The team at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm has years of experience helping the victims of car accidents in Flint recover compensation for their injuries and other losses. We’re here to guide you through the process of filing a claim so you can focus on what’s most important—your health and recovery.

What is Whiplash and How Do Whiplash Injuries Occur in Flint, Michigan?

Generally, whiplash injuries occur when there are acceleration-deceleration forces of energy transferred to the neck. This can happen in any number of situations, such as from playing sports or experiencing a fall, but most often, whiplash occurs from car accidents. Any type of car accident in Flint or Michigan can result in a whiplash injury, but rear-end accidents tend to be the leading cause. This is because the force from a rear-end impact often causes the head and neck to whip violently forward and backward.

What Are the Symptoms of Whiplash?

The symptoms of whiplash can vary depending on the severity of the injury. Some injuries may produce only mild symptoms such as pain and stiffness, while others can be more severe and even fatal.

The most common symptoms of whiplash include:

  • Neck pain and stiffness
  • Limited range of motion
  • Muscle spasm in your neck
  • Pain that worsens with movement
  • Throbbing pain
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Headaches
  • Tenderness in the neck, shoulders, or upper back
  • Tingling or numbness in the arms
  • Fatigue
  • Shooting pain
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Memory problems
  • Blurred vision
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Irritability and mood changes
  • Depression

How is Whiplash Treated?

Similar to the symptoms you may experience, the treatments for whiplash will also vary depending on the severity. However, even if your pain is mild, you should always seek immediate medical attention as you never know how the injury could progress or develop later on.

When you first see a doctor or go to the ER, they will likely use X-rays, CT scans, and/or an MRI to determine the extent of your injury and its precise location. From there, your doctor may prescribe any number of treatments, including:

  • Rest and the application of a heating pad or ice packs
  • Pain medications
  • Muscle relaxants
  • Numbing injections
  • Steroid injections
  • A neck brace
  • An exercise/stretching regime
  • Chiropractic care
  • Physical therapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Massage
  • Electric nerve stimulation
  • Surgery (if the spine or discs were affected)

What You Should Do Following a Whiplash Injury in Flint, Michigan

Following an accident, you should take a few steps to ensure your health and safety and to make sure you will have all the information needed to file a personal injury claim. If you don’t take the proper steps, it could negatively impact your case and make receiving the full compensation you deserve more challenging.

  1. Seek immediate medical attention: Not only is this crucial for your own health and wellbeing but medical documents and reports of your injury are needed to help support your case.
  1. Be sure the police arrive: After being examined by emergency medical responders, you should ensure that the authorities arrive so a police report can be filed. This report is further evidence that can help prove fault and win you your case.
  1. Collect evidence: Not only will the police gather information for the report, but you should also be sure to gather as much evidence as possible to ensure nothing is missed. This can include photos of the accident scene, the damage to the vehicles and any property, as well as your injuries. It’s also helpful to gather witness statements if possible and take down their contact information in case they need to be contacted later.
  1. File a claim with your insurance: You will need to contact your insurance company to report the incident and get a claim started. However, if the guilty party’s insurance tries to contact you and asks for information, do not give it to them. They are likely trying to scam you into giving away something that can help them deny fault and reduce your claim amount. Always tell them you need to speak with your attorney first.
  1. Contact an attorney: Working with an attorney that has experience handling whiplash injury cases will be crucial. They will help guide you through the process to ensure everything is done correctly. They can also advise you on how to speak with your insurance as well as the guilty party’s insurance so as not to say anything that can hurt your case.

The Lee Steinberg Law Firm: Helping Victims of Car Accidents in Flint, Michigan

If you or a loved one has experienced a whiplash injury as the result of an accident, the team at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm can help win your case. For over 40 years, our attorneys have handled a number of car accident cases, including those involving whiplash and other neck injuries. We care about the safety and comfort of our clients and will fight tirelessly for their cause.

Call our Flint, Michigan personal injury lawyers at 1-800-LEE-FREE (1-800-533-3733) to speak with an experienced attorney. Our consultations are free and confidential, and you’ll pay nothing until we settle your personal injury case.