Whiplash is One of the Most Common Injuries in Accident Claims
You may sustain many injuries during an accident, but one of the most common is whiplash. In fact, over two million Americans suffer from whiplash each year. It is a common misconception that whiplash is a minor injury. That is not always the case. A whiplash injury always has the potential to be debilitating for accident victims. It is very painful and can take months, and even years, to recover from. If you have suffered a whiplash injury due to someone else’s negligence, it is important to speak to a Miami personal injury lawyer who can advise on your claim.
What is a Whiplash Injury?
Cervical acceleration-deceleration (CAD) is the medical term for the injury most people know simply as whiplash. The injury is a result of the neck moving rapidly forwards and then backward, or vice versa. This places immense pressure on the cervical spine, and this portion of the spine becomes very stressed. A whiplash injury can damage the soft tissues, nerves, and bones within the neck. Even when the condition is only temporary, it is extremely painful and will significantly limit the accident victim’s range of motion.
Whiplash can become very serious and result in a whiplash-associated disorder. Anxiety and depression are often associated with the physical injuries in these cases because accident victims suffer from a partial disability. Recovering from the mental injuries, as well as the physical ones, takes even longer in these cases.
What Causes a Whiplash Injury?
Most people associate whiplash injuries with car accidents, particularly rear-end collisions. It is true that car accidents are one of the main causes of whiplash, but there are others, too. The most common causes of whiplash are as follows:
- Truck accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
Another person’s negligence is usually the cause of the above accidents. If you have suffered whiplash due to the careless actions or inactions of another person, it is important to know that you may be able to hold them liable for paying damages.
What are Common Damages for Whiplash Injuries?
The financial compensation you can recover in a whiplash injury claim is legally known as damages. No one can determine how much your case is worth without first fully reviewing the facts of the case, but there are some types of damages that are more common than others. These are as follows:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Cost of household services, such as housekeeping if you can no longer perform these tasks yourself
When the negligent party acted with gross recklessness, punitive damages are also sometimes available. These are much rarer than other types of damages, though, as they are intended to punish the liable party and not compensate you for your losses.
Get Help from Our Personal Injury Lawyer in Miami
A whiplash injury is a serious thing and if you have suffered one due to another person’s carelessness, you deserve compensation. At Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein, our Miami personal injury lawyer will work tirelessly to help you get it. Call us now at 305-371-2692 or reach out to us online to request a free case review and to obtain the sound legal advice you need.