Whiplash Lawyers in Arkansas

What is Whiplash?

Each year, more than two million Americans suffer from a whiplash injury. Whiplash is a non-medical term used to describe a wide range of neck symptoms and injuries. Whiplash is a type of neck injury that involves damage to the bone structures and soft tissues in the neck. It typically occurs after a rear-end accident.

When a driver or passenger is involved in a rear-end accident, their head and neck may whip back and forth violently. This motion can damage the delicate structures in the neck and cause serious injury. The whip-like motion over-stretches the joints, muscles, and ligaments in the neck. The result is a painful and debilitating injury that could last weeks, months or even a lifetime.

While the majority of whiplash injuries will resolve fully with the right medical treatment, 25 percent of all accident victims will suffer from long-term pain and disability. Whiplash-associated disorders from car accidents affect many Little Rock citizens, as well as more than four million Americans every year. These injuries damage their quality of life and cost an estimated $30 billion in medical and rehabilitative care every year.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Whiplash

When you visit the doctor, they will ask you about your event and the symptoms you are experiencing. Your doctor will then perform a complete examination of your head and neck. This examination will help them determine the range of motion in your neck and shoulders, the degree of motion that results in pain, and the location of tenderness in your neck and upper body.

With whiplash, imaging tests, such as X-rays and MRIs, do not always show any abnormal changes. However, your doctor may order these tests to rule out other conditions that may be contributing to your neck pain.

Unfortunately, since many imaging tests do not show abnormal changes, your doctor will need to make a diagnosis of whiplash based on clinical findings and the examination. As such, insurance companies are usually skeptical of a whiplash diagnosis and may try to deny these claims without cause. A dedicated personal injury lawyer can help fight for your compensation and ensure your claim is accepted.

What to Do If You Think You Have Whiplash

If you believe that you have suffered whiplash after a car accident or other accident, the steps you take can have a significant impact on your health and your ability to file a claim. After a whiplash injury, it is important to take the following steps:

• Seek medical attention immediately
• Remain calm
• Gather “at fault” driver’s contact information
• Follow all doctor’s orders precisely
• Attend all doctor and therapy appointments
• Gather evidence of injury and car accident
• Request a copy of police report
• Contact an experienced car accident attorney or law firm immediately
• Do not sign any settlement with the insurance company

Unfortunately, insurance companies are often skeptical of whiplash claims. Even when you do everything right, they still deny whiplash claims more frequently than others. As such, the most important things you can do after a car accident is to seek medical help and contact a personal injury attorney. Your attorney will be able to ensure that you do not miss any deadlines or details when filing your claim. In addition, your personal injury lawyer will be able to gather the evidence needed to build a strong case that is designed to obtain maximum compensation. When insurance companies are skeptical, you need a trusted personal injury attorney fighting aggressively in your corner.