An estimated three million people suffer whiplash injuries each year. Although sports injuries and violent assaults also cause whiplash, car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash injuries in Austin and elsewhere and occur even in low-speed accidents that are little more than fender-benders. Even when a low-speed collision causes whiplash, the impacts of the injury are painful and debilitating, causing reduced quality of life during the recovery period and potential long-term adverse effects.
Shaw Cowart’s skilled Austin accident attorneys are committed to protecting the rights of Austin accident victims. They navigate complex legal matters, advocate for fair compensation, and provide strong representation in cases involving negligent drivers and large commercial vehicles.
What Is Whiplash?
The human head weighs eight to ten pounds and is supported by the thin stalk of the neck made up of seven vertebrae and 30 small muscles. When a collision causes the head to propel forward and then snap back against the seat in a whip-like motion, the neck often overextends, causing damage to the delicate neck structures.
According to the NIH, whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) is the medical term for a whiplash injury, covering a range of damage to muscles, tendons, bones, and nerves in the neck. Many whiplash injuries occur at speeds as low as 12 miles an hour when a collision occurs, particularly rear-end collisions.
Crash Force In a Collision in Austin
People often underestimate the crash force of a collision. Unfortunately, insurance companies sometimes deny compensation claims for whiplash injury based on the minor damage to the crashed vehicle and the low speed at which a collision occurred, asserting that a serious injury could not have happened.
According to crash force calculations, in a collision at only 12 miles per hour, a 140-pound person becomes a 1,680-pound force, placing tremendous stress on the body’s structural support system, including the neck.
What are the Symptoms of Whiplash?
Insurance companies sometimes dispute whiplash claims for damages because the injury victim did not seek medical treatment until days after the accident. Whiplash victims may walk away from an accident without realizing they’ve suffered an injury. This occurs due to delayed symptom presentation. As inflammation builds in the damaged neck structures, it begins to put pressure on the nerves, eventually presenting symptoms such as the following:
- Pain and stiffness in the neck
- Headaches
- Numbness and tingling in the upper extremities
- Muscle spasms
- Ringing in the ears
- Dizziness
- Weakness in the arms and hands
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability, anxiety, and mood changes
Often, whiplash victims feel few symptoms immediately after the injury, but pain, stiffness, and other symptoms develop in the hours and days to follow.
Recovering From A Whiplash Injury In Austin
Most whiplash injury victims fully recover with treatment. The treatment for whiplash includes support from a cervical collar, steroid injections, anti-inflammatory medications, and rest. Still, according to a 20-year study, nearly half of all whiplash injury victims continue to experience adverse symptoms decades after the injury, including headaches and stiffness or pain in the neck, shoulder, and arm. An alarming 95% of whiplash injury victims showed degeneration in the cervical spine years after the injury.
Proving Damages In a Whiplash Injury Car Accident Claim
When a car accident occurs in Austin, the fault-based car accident laws in Texas require accident victims to file claims against the responsible driver’s auto insurance. Proving the damages caused by whiplash can be challenging when insurance companies dispute claims. The best Austin injury attorneys from Shaw Cowart LLP have access to the best medical experts and accident reconstruction specialists to prove the very real adverse impacts of whiplash.
How Can a Whiplash Accident Lawyer Help?
Proving damages like medical expenses, lost earnings, and substantial pain and suffering after a whiplash injury can be challenging when insurance companies hold a bias against those with this type of injury. Instead of leaving your claim in the hands of an insurance adjuster who prioritizes the company’s profits, call Shaw Cowart LLP for experienced representation in this complex type of accident claim.