The car accident that left you injured could impact your life in multiple ways, and you may find yourself struggling with injuries that could limit your daily activities and leave you in constant pain. One of the most common car accident injuries is whiplash, a neck injury that can be painful and debilitating. While this injury may not seem serious at the time, it can have a serious effect on your life. It can take an extended amount of time and medical support to fully recover from whiplash.
Whiplash is seen as a minor injury, but it is important not to dismiss the potential impact that it can have on your life. The extent of your physical damage may not be immediately apparent, and you may find that your pain increases and your symptoms become more obvious in the days and weeks that follow the crash. If you are suffering because of the actions of another person, you may have grounds to pursue a full and fair recovery.
The effects of whiplash on your life
Whiplash is an injury that occurs during an impact, caused by the motion of the head whipping back and forth rapidly. While whiplash can happen during virtually any type of accident, it is common in a rear-end impact when the force of the accident is coming from behind. You may not realize that you have this injury until after the initial impact, but some of the symptoms you may exhibit include the following:
- Numbness or tingling in the arms
- Headaches, particularly those that originate at the base of the skull
- Pain that worsens with movement
- Loss of range of motion in the neck area
- Fatigue and dizziness
- Stiffness in the neck
- Soreness in the shoulder, arms or upper back
In some cases, the impact of whiplash can go far beyond physical pain. It can cause someone to have difficulty sleeping, blurred vision, irritability, depression and memory problems. If you are struggling to move forward after an accident, it may be a direct result of your whiplash injury.
Put the pieces back together
It is not easy to put your life back together after a serious car accident. If you are struggling with the effects of whiplash, you may find it beneficial to learn about the possible legal options that could be available to you. If another driver caused your accident due to reckless or negligent behavior, you may have grounds to pursue compensation through the Texas civil justice system.