Pursuing Compensation for a Whiplash Injury in Illinois

 Posted on November 15, 2019 in Whiplash Injury

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. 

After a car accident, a person’s bloodstream is filled with the “fight or flight” hormone adrenaline which can mask the feeling of pain. This so-called "stress-induced analgesia" is one reason that you should always get medical treatment after an accident, even if you do not think your injuries are that severe. Furthermore, if you do end up being seriously injured, you may wish to file a personal injury claim. Personal injury lawsuits can be extremely difficult to win without medical records showing the extent of your injuries immediately after the accident.

Symptoms of Whiplash

Within a few hours or days after the initial trauma that caused the whiplash injury, you will most likely start to feel the onset of pain and other symptoms. People who have suffered whiplash may experience symptoms that include, but are not limited to:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Pain in the neck, shoulder, and/or back
• Neck stiffness
• Pain or numbness in arms and hands
• Difficulty with concentration and memory
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Sleep disturbances

Specialized tests such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs may be needed to diagnose whiplash and to determine the extent of the damage.

Contact a Waukegan Car Accident Lawyer

If you are involved in a car accident and you suffered whiplash as a result, contact an experienced Lake County personal injury attorney from Salvi and Maher, L.L.C. to learn about your legal options. We have helped many clients recover compensation for injuries sustained in auto accidents, and we are ready to help you. Call our office today at 847-662-3303 to schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

webmd.com/pain-management/guide/pain-management-whiplash

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2015/06/08/there-are-about-1-7-million-rear-end-collisions-on-u-s-roads-each-year-heres-how-to-stop-them/

https://www.hormone.org/your-health-and-hormones/glands-and-hormones-a-to-z/hormones/adrenaline