Accidents Involving Whiplash Injuries in California
According to the Spine Research Institute of San Diego, approximately three million Americans suffer whiplash injuries yearly. Whiplash causes chronic pain to almost two million people, and 300,000 become disabled due to related pain. Whiplash can appear to be an invisible injury, but that doesn’t mean it’s not severe. Its effects can last months or even years. If you were injured in an accident and suffered whiplash, you deserve compensation for your whiplash injuries.
Causes and Symptoms of Whiplash
Whiplash is an injury to the neck commonly associated with rear-end vehicle collisions. The damage can also be caused by physical assault, slip-and-fall accidents, or high-impact sports activities. Whiplash injuries occur when a person’s neck is forcefully extended beyond its normal range of motion, damaging spinal cord ligaments, discs, and joints. Symptoms like neck pain often appear immediately following the accident, whereas neck stiffness may take several days to present. Additional signs may include back or shoulder pain, muscle and ligament damage, headaches that start at the base of the skull, and loss of sensation or pins and needles in the extremities. Psychological or cognitive conditions such as memory loss, concentration problems, or irritability are also not uncommon.
Case Result
$2,100,000 – Car Accident
$1,000,000 – Car Accident
$500,000 – Car Accident
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Whiplash Treatment Options and Recovery
Note that whiplash is usually simple to treat and recover from. Unlike many other injuries, resting for more than a few days is not recommended, as it weakens muscles and can actually prolong the pain. Apply ice to the affected area for the first 24 hours, as it may help reduce pain and inflammation. Other treatment options include a cervical collar to provide neck support, rehabilitation therapy to exercise range of motion, cervical traction to treat neck pain, and prescription of anti-inflammatory drugs, pain medications, muscle relaxants, and/or antidepressants if applicable.
Determining Compensation and Fault In a Whiplash Accident
California uses a pure comparative negligence system to compensate victims of car accidents and other tort cases. This means that even if the accident that caused whiplash was partially the victim’s fault, the victim is still legally entitled to seek damages. The personal injury statute of limitations in California is two years. Other types of damages awarded with the assistance of experienced legal teams include pain and suffering, emotional trauma, damage to property, lost wages, and current and anticipated hospital bills.
Seek Expert Legal Representation from a California Whiplash Injury Lawyer at Setareh Law
You have several decisions to make following an accident that led to your whiplash injury. Setareh Law’s lawyers are ready to assess a personal injury claim and gather relevant evidence, so we can build a solid case to fight for rightful compensation. Our practice areas include personal injury cases involving car accident claims, catastrophic injuries, premise liability, rear-end collisions, wrongful deaths, and much more. To schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help with your whiplash injury, call us at (310) 659-1826 or fill out our online contact form today. Our team also speaks Spanish.
