Whiplash injuries from car accidents occur because of the basic law of physics: forced inertia. When a car comes to a sudden stop because of a collision, the inertia of the impact jolts the driver forward and back.
Depending on the severity of the impact, that motion can trigger a whiplash.
You might not feel the effects of whiplash immediately after the accident. Those symptoms can show up in a few hours or the next day.
The initial symptoms of a whiplash injury could include the following:
- Neck pain, which increases with movement
- Neck stiffness
- Headaches that start at the base of the skull
- Tingling or numbness in the arms
- Tenderness in the shoulders, upper back, or arms
- Dizziness
Those are the exact type of symptoms you should be seeing a doctor for. If another driver’s negligence caused the injury, this is also something you should discuss with an attorney, and you should consult with the attorneys at McCoy & Hiestand. We’re dedicated car accident attorneys who have a lot of experience helping clients file insurance claims for damages associated with whiplash injuries.
In addition to the medical damages that you are entitled to recover from your whiplash accident, you can also recover lost wages during your recovery time.
So, how long should you be off work for whiplash? Here are some general guidelines for consideration.
How Long Does Whiplash Last?
As the Cleveland Clinic explains, “Whiplash is a condition that happens when sudden movement changes force your neck (cervical spine) and upper spine to move in ways that cause injury. This causes a form of neck sprain. Whiplash refers to a single concept but can have a wide range of effects. Experts refer to conditions that happen due to whiplash as “whiplash-associated disorders.” Whiplash can also happen with sudden movement changes in any direction.”
In order to determine how long the whiplash recovery might last, you need to consider the following factors:
- The severity of the injury
- The whiplash victim’s overall health
- The whiplash victim’s physical demands of their work
Doctors classify the severity of a whiplash into one of the following categories:
- Grade 0: No injury.
- Grade 1: Pain only.
- Grade 2: Pain plus signs of injury.
- Grade 3: Pain plus signs of injury and neurological effects.
- Grade 4: Severe pain and signs of serious or dangerous neurological effects.
If you’re in reasonably good health, you might improve in as little as a couple of weeks. Other victims might be sidelined for several months during their recovery.
The condition could also worsen if you go back to work or normal routines too quickly. It’s recommended that you get clearance from your doctor. You can be cleared to return to work only after they’ve thoroughly examined you and checked your range of motion.
Available Whiplash Treatments
Your chances of reducing your recovery time depend on following your prescribed treatment. That could mean simply resting and not putting yourself in any situation where you might strain your neck or spine.
Here are some of the other available whiplash treatments that your doctor might recommend:
- Pain medication
- Icing your neck to reduce swelling
- Stabilizing your neck with a brace
- Applying moist heat to the injury
- Massaging the affected area
Unfortunately, even with following those recommendations for reducing the inflammation, you could experience some of the following long-term symptoms of whiplash:
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Tinnitus
- Depression
- Lapses in memory
- Poor sleep quality
Getting the Right Support for a Whiplash Injury
The most important support you’ll get for your whiplash injury is from your doctor. At the scene of the accident, you might immediately be put in a neck brace by the EMT responders. When the condition has been confirmed, your doctor will provide you with a detailed list of the course of treatment they want you to follow to heal.
As you recover, you’ll be kept from work, adding financial stress if you run out of sick days. You shouldn’t have to endure those losses if your injury was caused by another driver’s negligence. The McCoy & Hiestand PLC team is standing by to discuss your options.
Call for a free consultation today.
