Alexandria Whiplash Injury Lawyer

What You Need to Know About Whiplash Injuries

Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs to about 3 million people in the United States each year, per the Mayo Clinic. Often, this is caused by a rapid back-and-forth movement of the head.

While these injuries are prominent in car accidents, they can also result from falls, sports injuries, or physical assaults. The abrupt force can result in the stretching and tearing of the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the neck. Sometimes, the person will experience immediate pain, but other times, the discomfort will not be apparent until days after the incident.

Some of the common symptoms of whiplash include:

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Headaches at the base of the skull
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Shoulder and back pain
• Numbness or tingling in the arms
• Difficulty concentrating or memory issues
• Fatigue

If you have a severe case, these symptoms can persist for months or even become chronic. Often, this can impact your quality of life and ability to work. While whiplash is considered a soft-tissue injury, it should not be taken lightly. If you don’t get any treatment, you could be left with long-term pain and reduced mobility.

How Car Accident Lead to This Forceful Head and Neck Injury

With the back-and-forth motion of the collision, the driver and other occupants in the vehicle are susceptible to these injuries. Below are some common car accident scenarios where whiplash injuries frequently occur:

Rear-End Collisions

The most well-known cause of whiplash is rear-end collisions, which occur when one vehicle crashes into the back of another. The sudden impact puts stress on the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the neck. Even at low speeds, rear-end accidents can cause serious whiplash injuries.

Side-Impact Collisions

Side-impact collisions, also known as T-bone accidents, can lead to severe neck injuries. When one vehicle crashes into the side of another, the force of the impact often causes the head to move violently from side to side. This lateral motion can strain the soft tissues of the neck.

Head-On Collisions

In head-on collisions, all occupants might violently throw their heads forward and snap them backward. The rapid forward and backward motion of the head can result in whiplash.

Low-Speed Collisions

Many people mistakenly believe that whiplash only occurs in high-speed accidents. However, low-speed collisions can also cause whiplash. Even at speeds as low as 5 to 10 mph, the sudden jolt can cause neck injuries due to the way the body moves during the crash.

In these cases, you might have suffered extensive injuries in addition to the whiplash. If you want to pursue legal action, you will need to determine liability and hold the other party accountable for their actions. An Alexandria whiplash injury lawyer can help with the process of recovering the costs associated with medical treatment, therapy, and lost wages.

Proving Negligence When an Alexandria Crash Causes a Soft Tissue Injury

If you have been injured, you will need to show that someone’s actions or inactions led to the incident. It is necessary to prove that the other party acted negligently and that this negligence caused the accident and your subsequent injury. In negligence claims, there are four elements that must be proven:

• Duty of care: The defendant had a legal responsibility to act in a way that would not cause harm to others. For example, a driver has a duty to follow traffic laws and operate their vehicle safely.
• Breach of duty: They failed to meet their duty of care by acting negligently. In a car accident, this might involve distracted driving, speeding, or running a red light.
• Causation: That breach of duty directly caused the accident and resulted in your whiplash injury.
• Damages: Finally, you must have suffered some type of damage, whether it is medical bills, lost income, or pain and suffering due to the injury.

At Curcio Law, we know what is needed to prove these elements and hold those negligent parties accountable for their actions. When you work with us, we will analyze evidence and examine the facts of the incident to build a strong case on your behalf.

Is Compensation Available in My Northern Virginia Case?

While we would like to give you an exact dollar amount, the type of compensation depends on the facts of the case. If you have suffered a whiplash injury, you may be entitled to various forms of compensation, including:

• Medical expenses including hospital visits, physical therapy, medication, and continuing medical care needed to treat your injury.
• Lost wages are available when the injury prevents you from working.
• Pain and suffering could be recovered if the whiplash causes chronic pain, emotional distress, and a diminished quality of life.
• Future medical costs might be awarded if the injury requires long-term care, rehabilitation, or treatment.

A whiplash injury lawyer in Alexandria will be able to evaluate the specifics of your case and calculate your maximum compensation available under the law.

Why Work With an Alexandria Whiplash Injury Lawyer

At Curcio Law, we understand how a whiplash injury can impact your life, both physically and financially. We will take the time to understand your situation and help you find those legal solutions that meet your needs. Our law firm is here to provide compassionate legal counsel throughout the process.

Whether we’re negotiating with insurance companies or litigating in court, we’ll fight for your rights. If you’ve been injured in a car accident and are suffering injuries, contact our Alexandria whiplash injury lawyer. We offer a free consultation to help you determine the next steps for your claim so call us to schedule a meeting with an attorney now.