Whiplash is on the most common injuries reported after a Miami car accident. However, you can suffer whiplash anytime you’re involved in an accident that causes your head and neck to move back and forth abruptly. Whiplash can cause severe pain and keep you out of work.
Have you suffered whiplash in a Miami accident? Is someone else to blame? You may be entitled to compensation. Contact Lavent Law, P.A. to learn about your legal rights and options. Our experienced personal injury attorneys can help you fight for the money you deserve. Call our law firm to schedule a free case assessment today.
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What is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a type of neck injury that results in a sprain or strain. It occurs when your head is abruptly and violently jerked forward and backward. The jerking motion results in the hyperextension and hyperflexion of your neck.
Hyperextension: The cervical spine is forced backward, extending beyond its normal range of motion.
Hyperflexion: Your neck is thrown forward, causing the muscles, tissue, and/or ligaments to overstretch.
These sudden and violent movements cause damage to the soft tissue, muscle, vertebrae, and/or ligaments in your neck. The neck is vulnerable to this type of injury because it is so flexible and can rotate in so many different directions.
What Causes Whiplash?
Any accident where your head is thrown backward or forward suddenly can cause whiplash. Most cases of whiplash are reported after a car accident. In fact, more than 1.3 million people suffer whiplash in car accidents across the country every year.
The injury is most common in rear-end crashes. When you’re rear-ended, the force of impact can cause your head to whip back toward the headrest (hyperextension), and then toward the front of the car rapidly (hyperflexion). This back and forth motion can cause your neck to stretch and extend beyond its normal range of motion.
Whiplash isn’t only reported after traffic accidents. Other common causes of whiplash include:
- Slips and falls
- Being struck by a falling object
- Assault
- Boat accidents, and
- Recreational activities and sports.
Have you suffered whiplash in a Miami accident? Call our experienced legal team for help getting the money you deserve.
What are the Symptoms of Whiplash?
You may not realize that you have whiplash until hours or days after you are injured. If you’ve been involved in an accident, it’s important to track your health and keep an eye out for signs of whiplash. Symptoms of whiplash include:
- Neck pain
- Neck stiffness
- Limited range of motion in the neck
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty sleeping
- Tingling in the extremities, and
- Pain in the shoulders, back, or arms.
Seek medical attention if you experience any symptoms of whiplash. Getting prompt medical treatment can prevent your injury from getting worse.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Whiplash?
Whiplash can be moderate or severe. The long-term effects of your whiplash injury will often depend on:
- Your age
- Pre-existing back or neck injuries
- Prior whiplash injuries, and
- The extent of your whiplash injury.
Many whiplash victims recover from their neck injury within a few weeks of their accident. However, those who sustain severe whiplash injuries often experience chronic pain and stiffness for years. In these more situations, whiplash can disrupt your life. You may find that your injury prevents you from playing sports, roughhousing with your kids, or even going back to work.
What Compensation Can I Recover If I Have a Whiplash Injury?
It’s estimated that it costs about $30 billion to manage and treat whiplash injuries in the United States every year. Between medical bills and lost wages, your injury could easily cost you tens of thousands of dollars. You shouldn’t have to deal with the consequences of whiplash on your own. When someone else is responsible for your accident, you have the right to hold them accountable for your whiplash injury.
You may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Chronic pain
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
You are more likely to get the money you need when you work with an experienced attorney. Contact Lavent Law, P.A. to find out how our legal team can help you maximize your financial award. Your first consultation is free, so call for help today.
When Do I Have to File a Miami Whiplash Claim?
You may be entitled to compensation if someone else caused your whiplash injury. However, your right to file a claim will not last forever. Florida law imposes strict statutes of limitations in all personal injury cases.
In most cases, you will have four years from the date of the accident that caused your whiplash to file a claim for damages. You could be denied the money you need if you don’t file your claim on time.
Protect your right to obtain compensation by contacting Lavent Law, P.A. as soon as possible after your accident. We’ll determine when the statute of limitations began to run and make sure that your claim is filed on time. Call our office today to learn more.
Need Help?
Are you struggling with whiplash after a Miami accident? You may be entitled to compensation. Getting the money you need may involve tough negotiations with an insurance company. These companies will do whatever they can to limit or deny your claim. The personal injury attorneys at Lavent Law, P.A. can help.
We will advocate on your behalf and force insurance companies to take responsibility for your whiplash injury. Our aggressive approach has helped us to recover millions for our injured clients. Call our Miami whiplash injury lawyers today to find out how we can help you get the money you deserve. The first consultation is free, so call to get started on your injury case today.
