If you were recently in a car accident, Uber accident, or taxi accident in New York City, and are now suffering from persistent neck pain, back pain, or other discomfort, you may be a victim of a common and serious injury known as whiplash. If your crash was caused by the other driver, he or she may be liable for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost earnings. To find out if you could have a whiplash claim for your car accident neck injury in New York, call the law offices of Sullivan & Galleshaw at (718) 843-0300 for a free legal consultation.
What Are the Warning Signs of Whiplash After a Car Crash?
Whiplash is a soft tissue injury that affects the neck’s muscles and ligaments, which are short bands of connective tissue that help to connect bones and control movement. When a vehicle is impacted at high or even low speeds, the force may be sufficient to stretch or tear muscles and ligaments, resulting in an injury colloquially known as whiplash. Whiplash can also be described as a sprained neck or neck sprain, if the ligaments are damaged. If the victim pulls a neck muscle or has muscle tearing, the injury is a strained neck or neck strain injury.
Whiplash is generally associated with rear-end collisions, which occur every day in New York City when impatient drivers aggressively tailgate each other, or carelessly become distracted by text messages at intersections. While rear-end collisions are a major source of whiplash, serious neck injuries can occur in various types of crashes, such as:
- Head-On Collisions
- Left Turn Accidents
- Multi-Vehicle Pileups
- Rollover Accidents
- T-Bone Accidents (Side Collisions)
Neck pain is a key indicator of a possible whiplash injury. The pain may be accompanied by stiffness, tenderness, and reduced flexibility in the affected area. It may extend into the upper back, shoulders, and even arms, depending on the severity of the injury. Other, less obvious warning signs you may be suffering from whiplash after an auto accident include:
- Blurry Vision
- Depression
- Difficulty Balancing
- Dizziness
- Facial Pain
- Fatigue/Lethargy
- Jaw Pain
- Light Sensitivity
- Muscle Weakness
- Ringing Ears (Tinnitus)
- Vertigo
How is a Sprained Neck Treated?
As with any injury, the treatment for whiplash depends on the severity of the damage. In order to consistently diagnose and describe them, doctors divide whiplash injuries and whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) into four categories:
- Grade 1 — The patient experiences pain, but no physical signs of an injury are detectable upon examination.
- Grade 2 — The injury is severe enough to leave discernible evidence of musculoskeletal damage.
- Grade 3 — The injury is severe enough to leave discernible evidence of neurological problems, such as decreased sensation or lack of tendon reflexes.
- Grade 4 — This is a very severe injury resulting in a dislocation or broken neck, called a vertebral fracture or cervical fracture (fracture of the cervical spine, which is the portion of the spine contained in the neck).
The anterior longitudinal ligament, platysma muscle, longus colli muscle, and other components of the neck can all be severely damaged. The resulting pain and rigidity may last for many weeks or months, making it impossible for the victim to work and earn income during this time. Our Queens whiplash attorneys will fight vigorously to recover the maximum compensation for your financial losses and hardships, including missed time at work.
Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following treatments for your whiplash neck injury:
- Cervical Facet Injections
- Chiropractic Treatment
- Massage
- Muscle Relaxants
- Over-the-Counter Drugs
- Physical Therapy
- Prescription Painkiller Medications
- Steroid Injections
- Stretching
Basic home remedies, such as the occasional application of ice or heat packs, can help to provide temporary relief. However, it is critically important that you see a doctor as soon as possible if you are experiencing any pain, discomfort, loss of sensation, or any other disturbances after a car accident. You could have suffered an extremely serious injury, such as a vertebral fracture, requiring urgent professional care. In addition to protecting your health, which is obviously the most important reason to seek prompt treatment after a crash, receiving timely medical care is also essential for building the strongest claim or lawsuit possible.
Suffering Neck Pain After an Auto Accident? Contact Our Brooklyn Personal Injury Attorneys
Supported by more than 30 years of experience aggressively handling personal injury claims in New York City, the knowledgeable Brooklyn whiplash lawyers of Sullivan & Galleshaw are here to help you recover the compensation you could be entitled to. Our effective, accomplished personal injury law firm has successfully assisted numerous car accident victims, recovering millions of dollars for injury survivors.
To find out if you could have a whiplash claim, call our law offices at (718) 843-0300 for a free legal consultation. We proudly represent New York City whiplash victims in Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. We can provide an honest and straightforward assessment of your car accident claim to help you determine what your next steps might be.