The impact of a California motor vehicle crash can cause a tremendous amount of damage. A person who was driving to work or school or a social event one minute might wind up in the back of an ambulance in the next, especially if a distracted or drunk driver caused an accident. One of the most common types of collision injuries is whiplash.
Whiplash symptoms are often delayed
Being shaken or thrust forward and backward upon impact in a collision often results in injury to a person’s upper body. Neck pain, stiffness or pain in the shoulder and upper back areas may be immediately noticeable in the aftermath of a crash. However, not feeling such symptoms in the moments or hours following a collision does not necessarily rule out whiplash injuries because symptoms often do not develop for days or even weeks later.
Additional symptoms that suggest a whiplash injury include pain in an arm or hand, ringing in the ears, dizziness, irritability, trouble sleeping or mental confusion. Readers may notice that several of these symptoms are similar to those associated with traumatic brain injuries. Any post-accident symptom merits immediate medical attention, so that a licensed physician can rule out or diagnose whiplash, brain injury or other issues.
Recovering from a collision-induced whiplash injury
It is not uncommon to have to take time off from work to recover from a whiplash injury. Missing work can spark serious financial problems during recovery. California law allows a recovering accident victim to file a personal injury claim when another driver’s negligence or reckless behavior was the proximate cause of injury.