Being in a car accident can have a profound impact on your life. Injuries may lead to long-term pain and suffering, loss of functioning, reduced independence, and other negative consequences. In addition to the physical pain and emotional anguish caused in a serious car accident, being hurt in a crash can also lead to major financial harm. Neck injuries are very common in car accidents – especially rear-end and T-bone accidents. Even a low-speed accident can lead to neck injuries that cause months or years of painful symptoms. If you or a loved one suffered a neck injury in an accident or the accident aggravated an existing neck injury, you may be able to seek financial compensation.

What Types of Neck Injuries May Be Caused by a Car Accident?

Most people rarely think about it, but the neck has a tremendously important function. Not only does the neck control the movement of the head, but it also encompasses important nerves, muscles, and bones. An injury to the soft tissue, muscles, ligaments, tendons, or vertebrae in the neck can lead to significant disability. Some of the most common neck injuries caused by car accidents include:

• Whiplash – When the head suddenly moves forward or backward in a crash, the soft tissues of the neck can become significantly damaged. Whiplash can be extremely painful, but it is often difficult to prove because the injury does not show up on x-rays.
• Injuries to spinal discs – The vertebrae of the neck and spine are sandwiched between fluid-filled discs that absorb shock and prevent damage to the vertebrae and spinal cord. A car accident can cause the discs to slip out of place, tear, rupture, or otherwise become damaged. Herniated discs can be severely painful -especially if the disc puts pressure on the nerves of the spinal cord.
• Nerve damage – Nerves are responsible for sending signals throughout the body. Damage to nerves in the neck and back can cause significant disability. If nerves are stretched, torn, or otherwise harmed in a car accident, the victim may experience pain, numbness, tingling, and loss of function in certain body parts.

Damages in a Neck Injury Claim

If your car accident was caused by the negligent or illegal actions of another party such as a drunk driver, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages. The most common damage in a car accident claim includes medical expenses, lost income from missed work, impairment to the victim’s future earning capacity, and pain and suffering. However, to recover compensation, you will need to show that:

Being involved in a car accident can leave major physical and psychological damage. Car accidents caused by distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI), speeding, reckless driving, and other forms of negligence can lead to brain injuries, spine and neck injuries, broken bones, post-traumatic stress disorder, and much more. Injured parties may need expensive medical treatment and be left unable to work, enjoy hobbies, or care for their children. If you or a loved one suffered “whiplash” or other injuries during a car accident caused by the careless or criminal acts of another, a personal injury claim may enable you to recover compensation.

What Are the Symptoms of Whiplash?

Whiplash is a term used to describe a neck injury caused by sudden force. During an auto accident, the muscles, ligaments, and tendons of the neck may be stretched out in an unnatural way. This hyperextension can cause pain and stiffness in the upper back, neck, and shoulders, headaches, dizziness, and tingling and numbness of the arms. Difficulty concentrating, problems with sleep, memory loss, tinnitus, and fatigue may also be caused by a severe whiplash injury. However, these symptoms are often not immediately noticeable. Pain and other symptoms may develop hours or even days after the accident. Symptoms caused by a neck injury like whiplash typically last for a few weeks but may persist for several months or several years. Many people underestimate the damage caused to their body after being in an auto accident. Even a seemingly minor accident can cause damage to tissues, muscles, and connective tissues. This is one reason why it is so important to get medical treatment after being involved in a car accident.

Proving Soft Tissue Injuries Such as Whiplash is Often Challenging

Unlike a broken bone, a soft tissue injury such as whiplash will not show up on an x-ray. Therefore, proving that the injury has occurred is often quite difficult. Insurance companies may use this as an excuse to offer a settlement that does not even come close to compensating the injured person for his or her damages. If you have suffered a neck injury that has caused you financial hardship, the best way to recover compensation may be to file a personal injury claim. An experienced injury attorney will help you gather evidence that supports your claim. Expert witnesses such as doctors or medical specialists may also be called upon to confirm the extent of your injuries.

Illinois is known for its harsh winter weather. Icy, snowy, or slushy roads can significantly increase the risk of being involved in a car accident, so it is crucial for Illinois drivers to be vigilant this winter. Rear-end collisions are especially common in icy conditions. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reports that nearly two million rear-end collisions occur every year in the United States and that these types of collisions account for about 40 percent of all car accidents. 

The most common type of injury in a rear-end collision is whiplash. If you or a loved one suffered a whiplash injury in a car accident, you may be eligible for compensation.

How Does Whiplash Happen?

Whiplash occurs when a sudden force causes a person’s head to jerk violently back and forth. The rough movement can cause serious damage to the discs, soft tissue, ligaments, and muscles of the neck. One of the biggest dangers associated with whiplash is that many people suffering from whiplash do not immediately know it. Symptoms can take up to 24 hours to develop, so many people do not immediately realize how injured their neck actually is. 

Rear-end collisions have long been a common type of car accident on the highways. They are more prevalent today than ever before, as we continue to see significant increases in rear-end collisions due to crowded highways, heavy traffic, and the rise of distracted driving incidents, such as texting while driving. Whiplash is one of the most common injuries drivers experience when involved in a rear-end accident, resulting from the forceful back-and-forth movement of the neck upon impact.

Injury Prevention Basics

More than two million Americans each year experience whiplash firsthand, but many drivers are unaware of some basic facts surrounding the condition. Whether you have recently been involved in a rear-end accident or you know someone who has, the following information is essential to whiplash awareness:

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries that can occur in a motor vehicle accident, especially a rear-end collision. There are an estimated 3 million cases of whiplash reported in the U.S. alone every year. The injury may not manifest until a few days after the accident, which is why is it important to ensure that as soon as the pain begins you are working with a legal professional on the case.

The longer that you wait to file a claim against the person whose fault the accident was, the more difficult it may be to prove your claim. You can file a legal claim against someone who causes a motor vehicle accident to cover medical bills, compensate for present and future lost wages, punitive damages for pain and suffering, and for any other costs associated with the whiplash; some cases may be so severe as to require physical therapy, for example.

But what is true whiplash? Stereotypical depictions of the injury often allude to the fact that it can be easy to pretend: in the event of a minor car accident, it is not uncommon for people to claim that they have suffered whiplash, when in fact it is not true. True whiplash is a serious condition, however. While commonly used to describe motion of and injuries to the neck, its medical definition describes a motion traveling down one’s spine, and does not, in fact, refer to neck motion.