Whiplash and Car Accidents

Driving is the most dangerous activity that Americans engage in on a weekly basis, and many don’t realize that getting behind the wheel means they are putting others’ and their own lives at risk. Many drivers choose to listen to music or eat a snack to make the drive go by faster, but these activities can quickly lead to a wreck if they get too distracted. Other drivers speed, change lanes abruptly, and disobey traffic signals in an attempt to get to their destination faster.

There’s plenty of things that can go wrong behind the wheel that lead to a car crash in Sherman Oaks. A car accident lawyer in Sherman Oaks sees accidents every week that have a variety of causes, and some are so severe that drivers and passengers do not survive. Others leave innocent people in the hospital with severe injuries.

Injuries in a car accident are typically divided up into two different types: impact injuries and penetrating injuries. Impact injuries happen when your body collides with another object, and penetrating injuries are cuts and scrapes that happen when something sharp slices your skin. While penetrating injuries always break the skin, that doesn’t mean that impact injuries are any less serious.

Many injuries that occur during car wrecks are not immediately visible. After a car accident, it’s possible that you have injuries that will affect you for the rest of your life, even if they don’t cause you pain right away. Some impact injuries that you may suffer include:

• Brain trauma
• Internal bleeding
• Spinal cord injuries
• Soft tissue injuries

Soft tissue injuries are the most common damages claimed by auto accident attorneys in Sherman Oaks, as this category includes injuries and sprains in the body’s muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

Especially in crowded places like the Los Angeles area, the majority of car accidents are rear-ending accidents. When a car collides with the rear of another, both drivers are lurched forward and back in a sudden, violent motion. This movement can severely strain the neck, upper back, and shoulder muscles in an injury called whiplash.

Most injury attorneys in Sherman Oaks have to sue for whiplash because it’s so common and long-lasting. People who suffer whiplash can take months or years to recover, and the chronic pain that results can be debilitating.

Whiplash Symptoms

The symptoms of whiplash often do not make themselves present until the days following the accident. Your Sherman Oaks personal injury attorney will recommend that you return to the doctor’s office a week after your accident to get a second opinion on any physical trauma you may have. The first responders may have examined you at the scene of the crash, but some injuries may take a while to show up.

Signs and symptoms of whiplash include:

• Neck pain
• Worsening of pain with neck movement
• Stiffness or loss of range of motion in the neck
• Recurring headaches
• Tenderness or pain in the shoulders, upper back, or arms
• Tingling or numbness in the arms
• Fatigue
• Dizziness

Whiplash is diagnosed by CT scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that show details of your soft tissues. These kinds of tests are costly and aren’t necessary, but it’s helpful to obtain these test results as evidence for your Sherman Oaks car crash injury lawyer’s claim. Your healthcare provider can also diagnose whiplash with just a physical exam. Either way, your personal injury lawyer in Sherman Oaks should have documentation of your injuries that your doctor gives you during your medical evaluation.

Most people who experience the symptoms of whiplash recover within a few weeks by resting and avoiding strenuous activity.  Some people will experience neck pain and stiffness for several months or years after the crash happened. It’s difficult to know how long your pain will last, but your attorney can consult injury experts to get an idea so that you can sue for future medical care.

Your first symptoms can often give doctors an idea of whether or not you will have chronic pain. If you experience the following symptoms, it may take a while to recover from your injuries. These symptoms will start rapidly and intensely. They include:

• Severe neck pain
• Stiffness and pain that limits your range of motion
• Pain that spreads to the arms

Risk Factors for Whiplash

Your body’s biology can indicate whether or not you will have long-lasting symptoms. The following risk factors have been linked to chronic pain following a whiplash injury:

• Having had whiplash before
• Older age
• Existing back or neck pain
• A high-speed crash

Getting Compensation With Okhovat Law

Your lawyer can sue for both your physical damages, such as medical bills and in-house care, and your emotional damages, such as PTSD and loss of enjoyment of life. Whether the guilty party in your accident was the negligent driver or a faulty brake system in their car, your lawyer at Okhovat Law can figure out who to sue and for how much.

The multilingual legal staff at Okhovat Law Firm works hard to give clients the results they deserve. Several years ago, Anna Okhovat started her mission to establish a firm centered around personal injury law. Her goal is to provide legal counsel, support, and the highest level of care. Not only does this firm have a reputation for getting clients the results they need, but also for:

• Having a proven track record
• Providing one-on-one contact with clients
• Not charging fees unless the case is won
• Taking a personalized approach to every case

Whether you were injured in a car accident or slip and fall, or if you want to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of a deceased loved one, you can feel confident with Okhovat Law on your side. Before, during, and after every legal consultation, we will answer any questions to provide you with the best service and support possible. Don’t wait and lose your opportunity to file a claim for compensation. Instead, give us a call at 310-362-6740 or email us at info@okhovatlawfirm.com.