
When car accidents happen, victims can encounter any injury, including whiplash. Whiplash is a condition that occurs when the impact of strong force moves the neck back and forth rapidly, as the Mayo Clinic explains. Further, the painful soft tissue injury is common in rear-end accidents, and it can be minor or severe. It can ease up with medication and exercise over several weeks in minor cases. Severe cases can last for periods longer than three months and have lasting effects on the body.
Whiplash injuries can mean having to undergo treatments and therapies that result in significant medical bills and lost wages due to recovering from the injury away from work, either in the hospital or at home. Medical treatment is expensive, and without money coming in, this can put car accident victims in a challenging financial position.
If you or a loved one is suffering from whiplash injuries after a car accident that occurred because of someone else’s negligence, you might be able to pursue financial awards that could help you recover from the accident financially. You should not have to pay the cost of injuries that someone else caused.
If you are interested in taking legal action to hold the person who caused your accident responsible, consider calling Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 223-5115 for a free case consultation. We can help you explore your legal options in your car accident and explain how the services of an Arlington Heights whiplash injury lawyer might be able to help you.
Recognizing Whiplash Symptoms
Whiplash injuries can be challenging to detect. When they first occur, a person might not realize they have the injury. Sometimes, people report feeling little to no pain after a car accident. People who have been in car accidents can feel an adrenaline rush during the event that can mask symptoms of injuries that emerge after things have settled and the person has had a chance to rest. Whiplash is one of those conditions. MedlinePlus writes that hours or weeks can pass before symptoms of whiplash present themselves. These symptoms include:
- Headache (particularly at the skull’s base)
- Dizziness
- Pain or stiffness in the arms, jaw, neck, or shoulders
- Tiredness
- Muscle spasms
A person may also feel pain when they move their neck or have a tingling or numbness in their arm. According to the Mayo Clinic, they also might experience:
- Blurry vision
- Ear ringing
- Trouble sleeping
- Concentration difficulties
- Irritability
- Memory issues
- Depression
You might have received medical treatment immediately after the accident occurred, either at the scene or shortly after. If you find that you are feeling whiplash symptoms or feeling worse after your initial examination, reach out to your physician and promptly seek medical attention. Proper treatment can improve your chances of improving your condition.
It can be challenging to focus on recovering from whiplash while considering whether to pursue legal action. If you are suffering from an accident that you did not cause, you should not have to pay for the treatment of your injuries. An Arlington Heights whiplash lawyer can help you navigate the legal process to seek justice and compensation for your losses.
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today to schedule a free case evaluation. You can share the details of your whiplash car accident with us and ask questions that can help you decide what path you should take next.
Treatment for Whiplash Injuries
According to the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, treatment for a whiplash injury could include medications for pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and antidepressants. A physician may also prescribe wearing a cervical collar for several weeks and attending physical therapy sessions.
People who suffer from it might also apply heat to help relieve muscle tension. A physician could also prescribe lidocaine injections to numb painful areas of the muscle to help you attend physical therapy, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The clinic also explains that during a medical exam, a doctor could ask patients with whiplash to do simple tasks so that the doctor can detect the range of motion in the neck and shoulders as well as any tenderness in those areas and the back as well. They also will check reflexes and the strength and feelings in the limbs.
Physicians may request you undergo imaging tests, such as X-rays, computerized tomography (CT) scan, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to eliminate other reasons for your neck pain. While these procedures might be necessary in your case, they also will add to your financial responsibility after an accident. If you have chronic pain in your shoulders or neck, you might need to have surgery, and this, too, only increases your medical expenses.
For a free legal consultation with a Whiplash Injury Lawyer serving Arlington Heights, call (800) 223-5115
Working with an Arlington Heights Whiplash Injury Lawyer
Some people never fully recover from whiplash after an accident, which means they will have to live with pain or discomfort for the rest of their lives. Seeking compensation for medical bills could help manage some of the financial responsibility that comes with treating a whiplash injury. Accident victims can also seek awards for losses in an accident, such as their car and other damaged or destroyed items.
After you decide to take legal action, you may have to file a personal injury claim with the other party’s insurance company and negotiate with them on a settlement. You have to consider that some insurance companies offer settlement amounts that do not adequately cover your expenses. The back-and-forth with an insurer can last several months, costing you time and putting no money into your pocket to pay your bills.
An Arlington Heights whiplash injury lawyer can negotiate with insurers or the negligent party for you so that you will have more time to tend to your injury and focus on getting back to work and your life. Hiring an attorney can also:
- Investigate the car accident scene
- Gather evidence to establish liability in the accident
- Review police reports, medical records
- Interview accident witnesses
- Retain an accident reconstructionist or other expert witness
- File a lawsuit against the liable driver in court if a fair settlement is unreachable
An attorney can keep you updated on the status of your case and answer your questions.
An Arlington Heights whiplash injury lawyer can also explain what a financial award could mean for you if you can file a personal injury lawsuit. You might be able to recover payment for economic damages, such as:
- Medical bills for doctor’s visits, imaging tests, therapies, surgeries
- Prescription medications
- Household care costs
- Lost income due to being out of work for recovery
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property repairs, property damage (Your vehicle might have to be repaired or replaced.)
There are also noneconomic damages you might be able to recover, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disability or disfigurement
- Loss of companionship, loss of consortium
- Loss of life enjoyment
It can be challenging to put a dollar amount on these kinds of damages, so an attorney can help you accurately calculate them.
Arlington Heights Whiplash Injury Lawyer Near Me (800) 223-5115
Illinois’ Statute of Limitations Sets Two Year Deadline
States set deadlines on how long individuals can file their complaint in civil court. Per 735 Illinois Compiled Statutes section 5/13-202, Illinois allows only two years to sue the responsible party for injuries and losses from the accident. Keep in mind that the statute expires two years after the date of the accident. If this deadline expires, you could lose your opportunity to sue. An attorney will help ensure that your paperwork is in order so that you do not miss this deadline.
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Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Today
It may be beneficial to have an attorney fight for your compensation on your behalf. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm does not shy away from tough cases, and we will seek to make the defendant pay for your treatment and damages.
We know recovering from an accident can be stressful, but you do not have to face this challenge alone. Call a member of our team today at (800) 223-5115 to schedule a free case evaluation and learn more about how we might be able to help you.
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