A fairly common injury in Louisiana and other areas of the United States, whiplash can result in a wide variety of symptoms, ranging from dizziness and fatigue to neck pain and visual disturbances. Although whiplash is typically not fatal, it can result in permanent and temporary disabilities. Due to lost productivity, litigation, disability, medical care and other consequences stemming from whiplash, it is considered a significant economic expense in the United States.
Whiplash is caused by a sudden impact that causes an individual’s neck to move forward and backward in a rapid, unrestrained fashion. Car accidents are the primary source of whiplash injuries, but train accidents and other circumstances can result in whiplash and whiplash associated disorders.
By using state of the art crash test dummies and high-speed cameras, researchers are able to investigate whiplash in a very detail-oriented fashion. One thing they have determined is that during a rear impact, the lower bones of the neck become hyper extended while the upper bones of the neck become hyper flexed. These motions cause the neck to temporarily form into an S-shape and can damage soft tissues located within the vertebrae.
Due to the pervasiveness of car accidents, many individuals find themselves faced with unexpected expenses and injuries. If an individual believes that he or she deserves compensation for damages caused by a motor vehicle accident, a personal injury attorney may be able to assess and file a claim if there is sufficient evidence of wrongdoing and a defendant to take action against. In the event that the defendant is found to have been negligent, the plaintiff may be awarded damages including payment of medical expenses and lost wages.
Source: Medicine.net, “What causes whiplash?“, December 12, 2014
