04/14/2021 Minor Collisions with Major Consequences: Whiplash, The Law, and You
Imagine you’re waiting patiently at a red light when suddenly WHAM! You’ve been rear-ended. It wasn’t a catastrophe, thankfully, since the driver wasn’t going very fast. And since there’s just a small scratch on your bumper, you may even think it’s not worth the trouble of exchanging insurance information. But before you decide to skip calling the police or visiting the E.R., remember that while a low-impact collision might not do much damage to your car, your body is much more fragile. In fact, minor car accidents are one of the main causes of whiplash. In this article, I’ll describe whiplash and its serious effects, as well as how a Passaic County car accident lawyer at Bavagnoli & Bavagnoli can help you if you’re suffering from this type of injury.
How Common is Whiplash?
We all know road traffic accidents can be dangerous. In fact, the most recent New Jersey Department of Transportation data shows that in 2019, there were 59,850 injury-causing traffic accidents in New Jersey. What’s more, 4,038 of these were in Passaic County alone. And even in low-impact accidents, whiplash is one of the most common injuries you will experience.
It’s estimated that in the United States there are more than 1.2 million cases of whiplash annually, and more than 33,000 spinal disc injuries. Whiplash occurs when a sudden impact forces your neck into hyperextension and hyperflexion. In other words, the sudden jolt from a car accident, for example, knocks your head so as to bend your neck too far backwards (hyperextension) and too far forward (hyperflexion), straining the tissues in the neck.
Is Whiplash Serious?
Furthermore, whiplash injuries can occur when vehicles are traveling at very slow speeds, under 10 miles per hour, and symptoms may not appear for a few days. Most often, whiplash is relatively minor, and symptoms are limited to mild pain and stiffness for a few days. It’s not that different from a sprained wrist or ankle.
Sometimes, however, these symptoms last for an extended period of time, and can become chronic injuries. According to a 2020 meta-analysis, 38 percent of individuals with whiplash still have neck pain after 12 months.
More severe cases of whiplash may also result in serious symptoms such as headaches and dizziness, not to mention severe damage to the spine. In rare instances, whiplash can result in paralysis or death.
In any of these cases, if you fail to visit the E.R. after your accident, this can jeopardize your case, as the defendant’s lawyer or insurance company can claim that your injuries are pre-existing and had nothing to do with your accident. Additionally, it is important to get prompt treatment for the best outcome for your health.
When to Seek Legal Help
While whiplash may seem like a minor injury, a car accident attorney in Passaic County will tell you that it can have significant effects on your finances and quality of life. Chronic pain and disability, common in whiplash sufferers, may lead to significant medical expenses, for example. Also, the injury may impair your ability to work, leading to lost wages. Nevertheless, it can also be very difficult to receive adequate and just compensation for your pain and suffering. An experienced car accident lawyer serving Passaic County will be able to help you build a strong case.
If you find yourself in a fender-bender, even if your car isn’t damaged and you feel fine afterwards, you could wake up the next day or later in the week with a severe case of whiplash. At the time it might seem like no big deal, but you never know, and it’s always best to exchange information, notify the authorities, and discuss your options with a Passaic County car accident lawyer.
Bavagnoli & Bavagnoli has successfully handled hundreds of car accident cases over the years. We believe in treating each and every one of our clients like family.
Reach out to us today at (973) 785-9522.
