Whiplash Caused By Rear-End Accidents
Rear-end accidents are more than just a major hassle, they are also among the leading causes of whiplash. While whiplash is a term that gets thrown around a lot (no pun intended), it is actually a very serious medical condition that can cause long-term consequences. Of course, like all injuries, there is a spectrum of severity when it comes to whiplash injuries, ranging from pain and stiffness in the neck to serious trauma to the spine and permanent cognitive and neurological issues. If you have suffered whiplash due to another driver’s negligence, you do not have to shoulder the burden alone. There are legal options available to help you recover for the harm that you have suffered so that you can get your life back on track.
What is Whiplash?
Whiplash is trauma to the neck caused by the rapid whipping motion that can happen in a rear-end accident. This motion is caused by the force from the vehicle hitting the back of your car and then the restraint from the seatbelt. Because the neck is connected to the spine and skull, the brain and spinal cord can be affected. This can result in a wide array of symptoms, including headaches at the base of the neck, a limited range of motion when looking from side to side, nerve pain, tingling, and numbness down the arms and into the fingers, and ringing in the ears. Whiplash can also cause neurological issues like migraines, and visual disturbances. People who suffer whiplash can also develop depression, changes in mood such as increased irritability, and problems focusing and remembering simple things.
Suing for Whiplash
If you have suffered whiplash there are some criteria that must be met in order to give you standing to bring a personal injury lawsuit. First, you must not have caused the accident that resulted in your injury. Another driver must have negligently caused the accident and your injury. That means that the other driver must have been negligent (such as by speeding, driving distracted, falling asleep at the wheel, or driving under the influence) and their negligence must have directly caused your injury. Additionally, your injury must be supported by financial damages, such as medical bills or lost wages. In addition to recovering for your medical bills and expenses (known as economic damages), a personal injury lawsuit also allows you to recover compensation for pain and suffering. The more permanent and severe your whiplash injury is, the higher your pain and suffering damages will typically be.
Contact Berman, Sobin, Gross, LLP
If you have been injured due to another driver’s negligence, the experienced Maryland personal injury attorneys at Berman, Sobin, Gross, LLP want to hear from you. Our lawyers will help you collect every penny of compensation that you are entitled to so that you can get the care and support that you need to get your life back on track. Contact Berman, Sobin, Gross, LLP today to schedule your consultation.
