Marietta Injury Lawyer Blog
Whiplash is a common issue for victims of car accidents in Georgia. While some might argue that whiplash is a minor injury, it can still lead to serious discomfort and lost earnings. This injury can also be expensive to treat due to potential visits with chiropractors, physiotherapists, and other specialists. Is it worth filing a car accident claim for this type of injury?
What is Whiplash?
The word “whiplash” refers to the motion the neck makes during a car accident in Georgia. Like a whip, the neck rolls forward before being snapped back suddenly. In the same way a whip “cracks,” your neck may also come under serious pressure during an accident. These types of injuries are typically associated with frontal and rear-end collisions.
Whiplash is classified as a soft tissue injury. In other words, the actual bones of the spine are not broken or affected by this injury. However, the neck is filled with soft tissue and muscle that can become seriously damaged by whiplash. Common complaints among whiplash patients include reduced range of motion, stiffness, and pain.
Doctors grade whiplash on a scale from relatively minor to extremely severe. Lower-grade whiplash may only take a few weeks to heal, and the symptoms may be relatively minor. More severe forms of whiplash could take months to fully heal, and the symptoms can be much worse. Specifically, severe whiplash is often associated with neurological issues (nerve damage).
Why it Might Be Worth Filing an Auto Accident Claim
Even though your symptoms might be relatively minor, it still might be worth exploring the possibility of a car accident claim. Even if you miss a few weeks of work due to whiplash, this could still represent serious financial losses. Many Americans are now living paycheck to paycheck, and the loss of even a few working days can cause serious financial pressures.
You also have to consider the cost of your treatment. Whiplash often requires attention from specialists such as physiotherapists and chiropractors. While this treatment can speed up your recovery, it may be expensive.
Both medical expenses and income loss should be covered by an auto accident claim. All you really need to do is establish that someone else was to blame for your accident, and you may not have to pay any of these costs out of your own pocket.
Even if you were partially to blame for your own accident, you could still potentially file a claim. This is thanks to Georgia’s modified comparative negligence system. For example, you might have failed to yield the right of way when making a right-hand turn. But if the person who struck you was intoxicated and texting on their phone, you are probably not entirely to blame for the accident.
The Importance of Swift Medical Treatment After Whiplash
You should always see a doctor as soon as possible after a car crash – even if you’re not sure whether you have suffered whiplash. Without medical treatment, your records will not reflect the fact that you have whiplash. As a result, it might be impossible to file a claim at a later date if you change your mind. Furthermore, you might have suffered something more serious than whiplash without realizing it, such as a traumatic brain injury.