Is Whiplash Real?

Whiplash, often trivialized or dismissed as a minor inconvenience, is a legitimate medical condition affecting an injured person’s health and well-being. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just a ploy for compensation but a genuine concern resulting from sudden and forceful movements of the neck commonly experienced in car accidents.

However, whiplash isn’t confined to car crashes; it can also occur due to sports injuries or falls. This very real injury can have serious consequences on your life, affecting mobility, work capacity, and mental health.

If your life has been adversely affected by whiplash due to someone else’s negligence, speak with our Louisiana personal injury lawyers at Dudley DeBosier. We can review your medical records, determine the extent of the injury, and help you get a fair settlement for accident-related expenses.

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a genuine medical condition characterized by a sudden and forceful movement of the neck, similar to the motion of a whip. It’s a type of spinal cord injury referred to as a cervical sprain, affecting the upper part of the spine located just below the skull.

Whiplash can damage the neck’s soft tissues, such as muscles and ligaments. The abrupt motion can stretch, compress, or tear these tissues and may displace vertebrae. This often results in pain, stiffness, and headaches. This type of injury also affects mobility and daily life.

While often linked to rear-end car accidents, whiplash can also occur from sports injuries, physical abuse, or any traumatic event that causes the head to jerk violently.

What the Research Shows

Studies on whiplash support the idea that it is a real, debilitating injury that deserves consideration in personal injury settlements. Two recent studies looked at the long-term effects of whiplash-associated disorder (WAD), which is a series of symptoms that patients may experience following a neck injury, on those who suffered whiplash. Here’s what the research says:

• Gradual Worsening of Symptoms: A 2017 study found that approximately 50% of individuals involved in motor vehicle crashes and suffering from WAD experience ongoing pain and disability. The report discovered that many patients experienced worsening WAD symptoms slowly and unexpectedly, making it harder for them to find and receive quality, affordable healthcare to manage their long-term health issues.

• Long-Term Symptoms: A study conducted in 2021 observed that 20 years after experiencing WAD, patients were more likely to suffer from certain symptoms compared to people who did not have WAD. Specifically, WAD patients reported shoulder stiffness (72.0% vs. 45.9%), headaches (24.0% vs. 12.2%), and arm pain (13.3% vs. 3.9%). This indicates that whiplash can still severely impact quality of life for many decades after the initial injury.

Why You May Need to File a Claim for Whiplash Compensation

If you suffer whiplash in an auto accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for various complications and damages. Here’s what our attorneys at Dudley DeBosier can include in your settlement amount:

• Lingering/Chronic Pain: Persistent discomfort or pain resulting from a whiplash injury. Compensation may cover medical treatment, pain management, and rehabilitation.

• Limited Range of Motion: Difficulty moving the neck or shoulders as freely as before the injury. Your settlement can include physical therapy costs and other treatments to restore mobility.

• Headaches: Frequent or severe headaches stemming from the cervical spine injury. This may warrant compensation for medical expenses related to pain relief and specialist consultations.

• Cognitive and Emotional Issues: Problems like difficulties with concentration, memory loss, or emotional distress linked to the injury. The recovery award can address the costs of counseling, therapy, and psychological support.

• Sleep Disturbance: Trouble sleeping due to neck pain or psychological stress from the accident. We can help you seek a settlement covering treatments that help improve sleep quality, including medication or therapy.

• Fatigue: General tiredness or lack of energy accompanying chronic pain and emotional distress. Compensation may include costs for comprehensive treatment plans addressing your well-being.

• Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: The inability to work or a reduction in earning potential due to the injury. We can include compensation that covers immediate lost wages after a crash as well as future lost earnings if the injury impacts your long-term work capacity.

Take Whiplash Seriously: Get the Settlement You Deserve with Dudley DeBosier

Whiplash is undeniably real, supported by scientific research and medical evidence. If you or a loved one has suffered from a whiplash injury due to someone else’s negligence, such as a car crash, speak with our experienced attorneys at Dudley DeBosier to understand your rights and options for compensation.

We know the complexities of whiplash claims and are committed to protecting your rights, whether it’s negotiating with insurance companies or representing you in court. By using expert witnesses and thoroughly reviewing your medical records, we’ll build a strong case to help you get the fair compensation you deserve for your injury.

Contact us today for a free consultation; Let us help you as you recover.

Disclaimer: This content has been reviewed by Chad Lederman, Director of Legal Operations at our New Orleans office.

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