Bentonville, AR Whiplash Car Accident Lawyer

Whiplash is one of the most iconic injuries that victims of a car accident could sustain in the crash. In many cases, whiplash injuries occur in even low-speed car accidents or crashes that do not appear severe. Regardless of the severity of the crash, the severity of your injuries should be your primary focus after an accident. You should contact an attorney for help with any car accident case that causes you severe injuries, medical bills, or pain and suffering.

For help with your whiplash injuries, contact our Bentonville, AR whiplash car accident lawyer today. Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, has decades of experience representing victims of car accidents in Bentonville and throughout Arkansas. To discuss the possibility of filing for damages after a whiplash injury in a car accident, call our law offices today. Call (479) 316-0438 to schedule a free legal consultation.

Whiplash Signs and Symptoms

Whiplash is an injury that occurs when the head is moved forward and backward suddenly in a whipping motion. This damages the tendons and muscles in the neck, causing strains and sprains. The main symptoms are not surprising, but some of the other details and signs that you suffered whiplash might be unusual, and you should keep an eye out for these kinds of signs and symptoms after a car crash.

The symptoms of whiplash include the kinds of things you would expect for any neck injury; pain and discomfort in the neck are one of the primary symptoms. Since the injury affects the muscles and tendons, you may also face stiffness, tenderness, and reduced movement in your neck. This can make bending, straining, or turning your head difficult, which may make it impossible to go back to work while you recover from your injury.

Whiplash is not always immediately identifiable after a car crash. The injury often takes a while to “set in,” and your muscles and tendons may respond normally and move normally with minimal pain or discomfort for the first minutes or even hours after a car crash. Typically, victims of whiplash do not notice that they have whiplash as opposed to a simpler neck injury until the next morning. Sleeping through the night often means your neck is not moving, which gives time for your muscles and tendons to contract, adding to the stiffness and reduced range of motion iconic in whiplash injuries.

Causes of Whiplash Injuries in a Car Accident

Since whiplash is caused by a back and forth motion of the head, it is more common in certain types of car accidents than others. The headrest on your car seat – also called a “head restraint” – works to stop your head from whipping backward, and your airbag works to stop you from moving forward too quickly. This means that more severe accidents may actually see less damage to your neck, since your body is moved all at once and your car’s safety features activate to protect you.

Low-speed collisions can actually see a higher incidence of whiplash injuries. In low-speed crashes, your airbag might not deploy and work to protect you. That means that your head is not stopped from moving forward, and you could receive whiplash injuries when you are suddenly stopped.

Moreover, rear-end collisions often cause whiplash more than other crashes. The sudden motion of being pushed forward drives the seat into your body, pushing against your head, then leaving nothing to stop you. Your seat belt works to stop your body at low speeds, but without an airbag, nothing stops your head from continuing forward. This allows your neck to suffer the whipping motion that causes whiplash injuries.

Suing for Whiplash After a Car Accident

If you were injured in a car accident, you may be entitled to take the at-fault driver to court to seek compensation for your injuries. If your auto insurance has no-fault coverage, you might be required to file your case through that coverage. However, sufficiently severe or expensive injuries can usually justify a lawsuit instead. In some cases, whiplash may involve permanent, ongoing pain and suffering that justifies significant damages.

For a car accident injury, you can claim damages for the medical expenses you faced, the wages you lost, and the pain and suffering you faced. Any other costs you had to pay because of the injury can also be compensated in a lawsuit.

Always talk to an attorney about what your case is worth before you accept any money from the other driver or the insurance company. Accepting a settlement could block your case in court, so it is vital to know what your case is worth before you accept any money for your injuries.

Call Our Bentonville Whiplash Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation

If you were injured in a whiplash car accident, contact Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, today. Ken Kieklak is a Bentonville whiplash car accident lawyer offering free legal consultations to victims of whiplash injuries. For help with your case, call our law offices today at (479) 316-0438 today to schedule a free legal consultation.