Whiplash Lawyers in Arkansas
Auto, Truck, Equipment, and Workers’ Comp Accidents in Little Rock and Beyond
The forces of an accident can be severe and can damage the delicate muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the neck. The same can occur with trauma from a slip and fall, equipment accident, nursing home abuse, or assault. Due to the nature of these injuries, the full extent of damage is not always fully apparent right after a crash or other accident. However, in the hours and days following the accident, victims may begin to experience pain, stiffness, and numbness in their neck and extremities. Whether you feel all the effects of whiplash right away or start to experience them later, it is important to seek medical help immediately and then speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
Neck injuries, such as whiplash, can result in a lifetime of pain and disability if they are not treated promptly. Even with good medical care, some injured accident victims will develop chronic neck pain and impairment. As such, it is important to contact an experienced Arkansas car accident lawyer as soon as you can after your accident. Your personal injury lawyer will be able to protect your rights to full and complete compensation, no matter how serious your injuries may be.
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.
Common Causes of Whiplash
Since it does not take much force to cause a whiplash injury, there are numerous causes. Even accidents that occur at low speeds can cause whiplash damage. However, the most common causes of whiplash and neck injuries include:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Slip and fall
- Sports accidents
- Abuse or assault
Signs and Symptoms of Whiplash
Signs and symptoms of whiplash can often take hours or even days to become apparent. That is because the adrenaline after an accident often masks the true extent of the injury. Whiplash victims may experience one or many of the following symptoms:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Increased pain with movement
- Loss of range of motion in the neck
- Headaches
- Tenderness or pain in the back or upper extremities
- Tingling or numbness in the arms and fingertips
- Fatigue
Some people also experience:
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Trouble sleeping
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Trouble with memory
- Depression and anxiety
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.
Compensation for Whiplash Injuries
The amount of compensation you can obtain after a whiplash injury depends largely on the extent of your injury and the long-term effects you face. Many whiplash injuries will fully resolve with proper medical treatment. However, some whiplash injuries can turn into chronic conditions or concerns.
It is difficult to know how each person will recover after a whiplash injury, so your car accident lawyer will need to work with your doctor closely to determine the full extent of your injury. By working together, your doctor and personal injury lawyer can foresee any long-term complications you may face and include those future expenses in your claim.
The “at fault” driver’s insurance company is responsible for the damages they caused. This means you are eligible to seek compensation to help pay for:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Rehabilitation
- Long-term care
- Disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earnings
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.
Our Experience Matters
At Rainwater, Holt & Sexton law firm, our Little Rock, Arkansas whiplash lawyers have the experience and resources needed to tackle these complex cases. Our track record of success speaks for itself, and we are vigorous legal advocates for our injured clients. We have helped numerous injured accident victims in Arkansas and Tennessee obtain the money they needed to put their lives together again after a serious accident. We know that whiplash injury victims often fight an uphill battle when it comes to collecting compensation for whiplash. That’s why we work tirelessly 24/7 to help them in their quest for justice
Accident Resources
We’re There When You Need Us
If you’ve sustained a whiplash injury you may not obtain the money you need to tackle all of your long-term injuries and complications without the help of a trusted law firm and experienced personal injury lawyer. Our whiplash attorneys fight aggressively for your future. We are not afraid to go toe-to-toe with insurance companies. And we win.
With eight offices conveniently located throughout Arkansas and Tennessee—Little Rock- Main Office, Little Rock- Corporate Hill, Springdale, Conway, Hot Springs, Jacksonville, Bryant, and Memphis—our personal injury lawyers are there whenever you need us.
Tell us how we can help.
Rainwater, Holt & Sexton Injury Law Blog
The Most Dangerous Roads, Interstates & Intersections in Arkansas
More than 16,000 miles of state and U.S. highways and interstates run through the state of Arkansas. This doesn’t include the thousands of small city streets, county roads, and suburban neighborhoods. With all of these intersecting roads and freeways, it’s no wonder, so many car accidents occur here in this state. In 2019 alone, over… Read more »
How to Choose the Best Personal Injury Lawyer in Arkansas
When you suffer an injury in an accident, it can seem like your whole world is crashing down around you. Life as you know it may never be the same, and you need someone on your side to help you navigate this new path. As you focus on your recovery and on rebuilding your life,… Read more »
Will My Personal Injury Case Settle or Go To Trial?
When you suffer an injury in an accident, you may need to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit to obtain the compensation you need. With the right personal injury lawyer on your team, you can typically get significantly more money for your accident and injuries. Your lawyer will work to negotiate the best possible… Read more »